The Delta independent., 1909-03-12
Professors of
Che State College
Impart Useful
y u " Information
Cement On the Farm.

the Portland cement industry during
the past fifteen years comes one of the
most ideal building materials ever pro-
This is the beginning
of the Cement Age"
The price of lumber is advancing to
almost prohibitive figures: it is there
fore natural that substitute material
with the advantages of moderate cost,
durability, and beauty should be de-
veloped and looked upon with favor.
Today, cement can be successfully
used on the farm in the place of wood
in the construction of floors, troughs,
cutters, tanks, bitches, dams, walks,
posts, building blocks, etc.
Cement. Use nothing but the best
cement that can be obtained. 1t
should be in fine, powdery condition
and contain no Jumps. Cement should
be stored in dry place, as dampness
is an element of great danger.
Sand.-The sand used should be
clean, sharp, and not too fine. 1t
should be free from loan or clay, as
these will tend to destroy the adhesive
quality and to retard the setting of
the cement. Clay mixed with the
sand may be removed, to some extent,
by washing.
By sharp sand, we mean that the
edges of the grains must be sharp and
not round or worn off, as will often
be the case in sand found in the bed
of a stream. Coarse sand is better
than fine sand. Fine sand, even if
clean, makes a poorer mortar or con-
crete, and requires more cement to
thoroughly coat the grains. A large
proportion of the grains should meas
ure from 1-32 to Lie of an inch in di-
ameter. Some fine sand is necessary
to help fill the spaces between the
larger grains, and will thus save ce-
ment.
Water.-The water used should be
clean and free from acids or alkalies.
Mixtures. There are two general
classes of mixtures, the tamped. or
dry, and the poured, or vet. For
the tamped add just enough water 80
that when all the cor crete is in the
form or mold and is well tamped, wa
ter will show on the surface. This
kind of mixture is usually used for
floors, sidewalks, etc. For the wet or
poured mixture enough water is add
ed TO make it thin enough to pour
from pail. This is poured into the
mold, and the mold must be left on it
long enough for the mixture to set,
which is from one to two days Of sum-
mer weather. This last mixture is
adapted to use in the construction Of
fence post, watering troughs. founda-
tions, etc.
Proportions. For ordinary farm con-
struction, as the making Of floors,
foundations, walks, etc., the following
proportion is recommended. One part
cement, 21a parts clean, sharp sand,
and parts of loose gravel OF broken
stone. For floors this should be tamped
in to depth of from to inches.
This should be finished with surface
coat / to ~ inches IN thickness, COM
posed of / part cement and IL to
| pal 10 VI CiCdh. Noai DC ohho, iiiS tb-
Nearly all constructions which come
in contact with water should be COW
cred with mortar at least as rich as
the proportion last named. For en-
gine foundation, part cement, parts
sand, and parts broken stone is
good.
In estimating the amount of mater
ial necessary for certain construc-
tion, do not make the mistake of
thinking that a mixture of l barrel
of cement, IN barrels of loose sand,
and barrels of gravel or broken stone
will make 81 barrels of concrete.
The sands will fill the voids between
the gravel or broken stone, and the
cement fills the voids between the
grains of sand. The total amount of
concrete will be but slightly more than
the amount of gravel or broken stone
used.
To make one cubic yard of concrete
of the following proportion part
cement. 215 parts sand, and parts
gravel-requlres about "a barrels of
cement Is sacks). 314 barrels of sand,
ane 611 barrels of gravel.
Mixing. Be very careful in meas
uriDg the proportions. Mix the con-
crete as near the place it is to be used
as possible. Use as soon as mixed.
DO not mix more than can be used in
20 minutes.
Measure the sand first, and spread
it in an even layer in mixing box