The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1907-08-31

edges of the grains must DC sharp
and not round or worn of, AZ will Of
ten be the case with sand found IN
the bed of IL stream. Coarse sand is
better than fine sand. Fine sand,
even If clean. makes II poorer mortar
or concrete and requires more cement
to thoroughly coat the grains. A
large proportion OF the grains should
measure from l-32 to I-l8 Of an inch
In diameter. Some fine sand IL neces-
sary to help fill the spaces between
the larger grains, thus saving cement.
Water.-The water used should be
clean and free from acids or alkalis.
For making the hest concrete, add
Just enough water so that when all
the concrete is IN the form and Is
well tnnpcd, moisture will show on
the surface. The tamping is very
important operation and the quality
Of the work is dependent upon how
we'll this is done. Unless this is
thoroughly accomplished the con-
crete is likely to be honeycombed and
imperfect, especially near the forms.
Proportions.--F ordinary farm
construction, us the making OF floors,
walls, walks, cutters etc, the follow
ing PROPORTION is to he recommended:
part cement, 2 l-2 parts clean loose
sand. and parts of loose gravel or
broken stone. For floors this should
be tamped in to II depth of from 3 to 8
inches. This should be finished with
II surface coat to l-2 inches In
thickness, composed Of part cement
and l-2 to2 parts of clean, coarse
sand, mixed. Nearly all construc-
tious which come in contact with
water should be covered with IL NOR
tar at least rs rich as the proportion
last named. For engine foundations,
/ part cement, 2 parts sand and 4
parts broken stone is best.
In estimating the amount of mate
rial necessary for certain constrmc-
ton do not make the mistake Of
thinking that II mixture of barrel OF
cement, l-2 barrels Of loose sand
ard barrels of gravel or broken
stone will make IL barrels of con-
crete. The sand will fill the voids
between the gravel or broken stone
and the cement fills the voids be-
tween the grains Of sand. The total
amount of concrete will be but slight
ly more than the amount of gravel or
broken stone used.
To make one cubic yard of concrete
of the following prportions-1 part
cement, 2 l-2 parts sand and g parts
gravel-requires about IA barrels Of
cement Is saclss), 3 IA barrels of
sand, aud 8 liz barrels Of gravel.
Mixing.-Be very careful in meas
uring the proportions. Mix the CON
crete us near the place 1t Is to be used
- possible. Use ~ soon as mixed.
Do not mix too much ut once.
Measure the sand drst, and spread
1t in an even layer In mixing box,
place the cement on top and turn 1t
with shovel ut least three times.
Then add the broken stone or gravel
which has previously been wet, and
turn the whole at least three times.
Begin to add the water on the second
turning, not too much at once. a
sprinkling pot is better than hose
for adding the water, as IL does not
wash away the cement.
Concrete work should be avoided
In freezing weather us frost damages
1t. Where it is absolutely necessary
to do the work Mt this time, small
amount of salt added to the water
will prevent freezing; this does not
damage the concrete where used in
small quantities.
An objection lis sometimes raised
that concrete floors and walls are too
smooth and become slippery when
wet, This fault is largely due to the
fact that the finishing surface was
completed with steel smoothing
trOwel, instead of u wood trowel, or
smoothing board, which would have
left the surface rough. This fault is
also overcome in great measure by
dividing the wearing surface into
small squares about four inches OH
each side, by means Of triangular
grooves three-eights of all inch in
depth. This not only makes neat
appearance, but furnishes u good foot
hold for stock.--H. NJ. Banner in Ag-
ricultural College Bulletin.
Feeding Values Of Colorado Folders.