Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-10-11
Clements. Niastic. and Concretes.

Many of our readers have occasion tn use
cementS or maSttcS. especially In putting down
cellar 1loors or making old walls tight. They
VIII find the following hints upon The subject
valuable:
A cement of one part sand two parts ashes
ard three parts Clay, mixed with Oil, makes q
very hard and durable substance like stone, and
is said to resist the weather almost like marble
Damp brick walls are common, especially in
houses in the country where they are exposed
upon the north and east sides. SO common Is
this that, In many places In the cOuutry, a
strong prejudice exists against brick houses on
account OF their constant dampness. Last year
a gentleman having brick house exposed on
all sides, and suffering from dampneSS In the
kitchen, which was In wing upon the most eX-
posed side, tried an experiment which has
proved very satisfactory. A barrel of the
best English Portland cement was purchased.
and common tin wash basin used for mix
ing it. The cement was mixed with wafer
ana AMEN them applied ns's shlcfIy with cream
large paint brush. OF course the mix
ture had to be constantly stirred to pre-
vent the cement from settling to the bottom.
And on account Of its very rapid settling 1t
could only be mixed In very small quantities;
half gallon Is about as large quantity as can
be readily handled at time: When first dried
it seemed somewhat of failure, because it
could be so easily brushed Off, but after it had
had "a hours to harden it formed strong,
double coating. The color is a neutral tint, some
what like Ohio stone. This coating kept the wall
perfectly dry, and as it is not expensive
and does not need skilled labor in its applica-
ton, ought to be extensively used. We do not
know lust what Portland cement (Engllsh) Is
worth at the present time. but the last quota
ton was about 50 per barrel in New York Tae
gentleman who put on the cement suggests
that damp or foggy or misty Day is best for
its application. The coating should be brushed
into all the crevices and openings OF the work,
and it may be found desirable to apply two
coats, in order that all the openings. &c, may
be completely closed
Cement is much stronger than mortar, and
can be used to great advantage in MANY places
instead OF lime, even in the face of the fact that
IL is mucn more costly than lime, except In a
few favored localities, where it is made. The
usual proportions are part Of the hydraulic
lime to OF sand In potHting, the proportion
is sometimes as low as 8 parts sand to l OF The
almost pebbles-can be used to the extent OF 3
parts to / Of the cement. Some advise NOR
Tar, to be allowed to set and then wet and
worked again. This course vii, not answer
a method Of working. The greatest enemy OF
both mortar and cement is the frost. Tue
power " it'll which water expands at the freezing
point is practically unlimited and where iC
peLetrateS into the crevices and pores Of NOR
tar and freezes, or when mortar Is allowed to
freeze, its strength is destroyed.
For making floors, the following method
Is said to produce very desirable results
-Four parts coarse gravel, or broken stone and
sand, ard one part each OF lime and cement,
over from end to end. The sand, gravel and
cement are mixed together dry. Tne lime Is
slaked separately and mixed with just mortar
enough TO cement it well together Six or
eight inches OF the mixture Is then put on the
bottom, and when well set another coating is
put on consisting of one part cement and Two
Of sand. This will answer for making the bot
tom Of cistern that is to be cemenIed up d.
rectly upon the ground without a lining OF
bricks. This will also form very good cellar
fiOOr-TIT0n Ge