The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1909-02-25
CONCRETE ON The FARM
Usefulness Has Wide Range and IL
as Durable as Stone.


material, has fully demonstrated its
usefulness in wide and varied field.
In durability for most purposes it
stands on a par with the best and hard
est stone, while for cheapness it sur
passes almost any other form of con-
strueticn approaching it in perm6nency.
The great railroads and other large
construction companies have come to
fully anderstand its value, and are
adopting concrete construction TO a
surprising extent.
The farmer in general has, however,
as yet failed to avail himself Of the
advantages which concrete offers.
There are a great many constructions
ABOUT the farm for which concrete is
especially fitted, and where experience
has demonstrated its superiority above
anything else when both cheapuess and
permanency are considered, For found
atioBs for farm buildings, barn and cell
lar floors, walks. drain tiles, watering
troughs, fence posts and even silos,
the use Of concrete is no longer an ex-
pertinent, but demonstrated success.
One Of the chief reasons why con-
crete should be more generally adopted
on the farm is the ease with which it
can be handled and placed by the farm
er himself without the need Of skilled
and high priced labor. Any farmer
who Is handy with saw and hand ak
can make the ferns required for most
OF the constructions on the farm, while
mixing and placing Of the concrete can
also be done by the farmer himself or
BY the hired man. Slack times Of the
year can thus be utilized for improve
ments instead Of being lost as for
nerly.
After the general lines of eonstrue-
ton are determined upon. the first step
is TO prepare the form The purpose
Of the form is 10 hold the wet, slushy
concrete in place until It hardens or
sets.
In other words, the form is the mold
into which the wet concrete is tamped
and allowed to harden. The inside OF
the form therefore must have exactly
che shape and dimensions desired OF
the finished product. For ground floors
and walks no forms are required, only
such as viii keep the concrete from
spreading beyond the limits.
For walks and foundations above the
ground the form required is a smooth
tight board frame on each side of the
desired wall. This board frame or form
must be tight enough to keep the wet
semi-1uid concrete from leaking out,
and strong enough to prevent spreading
while the concrete is being tamped.
The forms may be built TO their full
height at once, or a few boards added I
at the time as the work of placing the
concrete progresses. Usually it is a
good policy to spend extra time and
care on the forms. A good form in
sures a neat, clean looking wall, pro-
viding a spade is used freely along the
boards so ~ to work the larger stones
back from the surface and leave a
smooth compact face.
If particularly smooth job is desir-
ed, the forms should be made of dress
ed lumber and ftted very closely.
shiplGp is very good for forms of this
class. If one inch lumber is used for
the forml, the studding must not ex-
coed two feet apart. nor five feet if
two inch lumber is used. II the wall /
is to be more than four or five feet in
height il is well to set the studs to
gether with battling wire" in order to
prevent thri- spreading, When the
forms are removed, the wires can be /
cut with pair Of nippers so close to
the wall as to never show.
For ordinary walls of low height and |
not Immediately subject to heavy load
ING. the forms may be safely removed (
in from two two three days. In very
Try weather the concrete should be /
sprinkled often enough to keep it
moist for at least a week after placing. /
A light covering Of straw, earth or old /
nurlap viii help 10 retain the moisture 1
and retard evaporation from the con-
crete.
Too much emphasis cannot be laid
On the need OF care in selecting the I
and properly mixing the con
crete. The cement should be stand ]
ard brand which has demonstrated its I
value through years OF use, which re-
liable tests show 10 be perfectly sound, /
and should be free from humps.
The sand should be fairly coarse,
reasonably clean and entirely free
from vegetable matter. The gravel I
should be clean, free from vegetable
and for most farm uses the /
arger pebbles should not exceed one
md half inches in diameter. Or, /
IN absence Of suitable gravel, broken
stone Of similar size may be used.
The proportions most generally 7
adapted for farp purposes are mix
lures Of one part cement, two parts
land and three parts gravel, called
1928 mixture; or enc part cement, two
and half pA-ts sand and FIVE parts
gravel. called a1-2 s mixture; and
1ne part cement, three parts sand and
'ix parts gravel. or a 1876 mixture.
For floors, thin walls, or where water
.ightress is required, or parts requir-
nggreat strength a 1928 or l-24
mixture is preferable For parts re-
Juiring bulk rather than strength,
1916 mixture may be employed, or in
some cases even 4 lbs mixture. If
he gravel contains much sand, the
mount Of sard should be reduced the \