Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-07-12
FLOORS eoR BARNS


I -
sens e the AAvassaess - WAat 4
knowa - the Cement R1oos.
/ Such floors. when properly made.
are very valuable for barns and out
buildings. In the first place. they are
impervious to liquids. and will retain
all the manurial matter that is placed
On them In the second place. rats
and other vermim can not burrow
through them, and, so far as my ex-
tperience goes, viii not burrow under
them to any great extent Floors
made with American cement will not
generally be tough enough to with
stand the trcading of animals and
should be protected by covering Of
boards. A covering of English Port
land cement. about two inches in thick
ness. made by mixing three parts OF
sharp sand to one part of cement
with water just sufficient to damp il.
and thoroughly rammed in place. will
stand treading of animals. but will. I
think. in most places hc more expen-
siye than a board covering.
A foundation for such floors should
first he made; this is done by laying n
course of small stones from two to
four inches in diameter. Ram these
in place with ram made of block Of
wood about ten inches in diameter at
the lower end and two or three feet
feet long. After this course of stones
is in place. make a mortar by using
one par. by measure Of quick-lime. one
part of American cement ten parts OF
sand and sufficient water to make it
very thin. Pour this water as soon as
mixed on the course of stones, and
with a common hoe work the mortar
into all the cracks. Sufficient mortar
will be used when the cracks are full.
After the first course is completed. u
second one should be put on. TIL 5
will make a total thickness of about
six or eight inches. If n floor is to be
laid for stable, joists of two ly four
scantling should he bedded in the up
per course and allowed to project
about onc-half inch above the course.
Before the floO- is laid mortar made
of one part quick-lime. one part Amer
lean cement and six parts sharp sand.
is spread over the surface and leveled
of from joist to joist. The boards or
planks for the floor should be laid ut
once while the mortar is soft. This
last course of mortar may. with adj
vantage, be replaced by mortar made
of hot coal tar and sand. mixed and
applied while hot
If the floor Is not to be trodden on
by animals. it will do to finish it with
coat of cement mortar, about one
inch thick. The mortar for this finish
ing coat should be one part sand TO
one part cement and no lime. If a
cement floor is needed for stable. a
covering of Portland cement mortar.
as described. should be placed upon
the stones.
Ihave seen very good floors made
by mixing hot coal tar with sand and
stones, instead of lime or cement. rs
described. This floor will give off its
characteristic odor for a long time.
however. and can not be recommended
when such odor IS Objectionable. The
floors under the cattle stable and also
the piggery at the Michigan Agricult-
ural College were constructed sub
stantially as described. All the SUR
faces of woodwork in contact with
the mortar were first coated with hot
coal tar. This work was done in 1871.
In 1886 it become necessary to remove
the piggery to a new site; the floor
was well preserved. but the joists
bedded in the mortar were badly
rotted. The cattle stable floor is ar.
parcntly in as good condition as when
first put down. Nc doubt the piggery
floor would have lasted indefinitely.
had the building not been moved.
wish to say just a word regarding
the use Of cement and lime. Cement
should be used as soon as mixed with
water, AS it very soon hardens or sets:
this operation should not be disturbed.
and II it takes place even in a small
degree. before the mortar is deposited
in its permanent place. it will never
become as hard rs though it had not
been disturbed. Lime mortar is rather
improved than injured by allowing il
to remain a long time after being
mixed. In this article ! recommend
the use Of equal quantities of lime and
cement, solely on the ground of econ
omy. If the foundation is. however.
in the water. the lime should be re.
placed by cement. but for all ordinary
circumstances a mixture of half lime
and cement gives better satisfaction
than pure cement-such . compound
forms water lime that although il
will not set under water, still when
once it is set. will not be affected by
water. For ordinary floors. think il
becomes in time harder than pure
cemcnt.-RurGl Nesc Yorker.