Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1914-04-09

not one has been found which was not
improved and the resulting concrete
made stronger by the screening out
are fairly safe in saying of Dakota
sands that the coarser the sand the
better, other things being equal.
A very dirty sand. one containing
much clay or loan, should be used
with great caution. if at all. To de.
termine whether sand is dirty take
a quart Mason jar and fill about one
third Of sand, then to within an inch
or two of the top with water. Shake
we'll until sand and water are thor
oughly mixed. Allow to settle for a
few minutes. The dirt will be found
on top of the sand in a we'll marked
layer. By the thickness Of this layer
the amount of dirt in the sand can
be roughly determined.
Sand Should Be Clean.
If it becomes necessary to use sand
containing much dirt it may be wash
ed and most of the dirt removed.
This is rather expensive. however,
and it will usually be found cheaper
to get a cleaner sand, ever if the
first cost is more.
No definite rule can be given for
the proportion of cement, sand and
gravel. as so much depends on the
kind Of sand and gravel. For ordi.
nary work, with fairly good sand and
gravel, one part (by measurel of &C.
ment to two and one-half parts Of
sand to five parts of gravel should
give a very good concrete. A fine
sand, or one with much dirt in it,
will take much more cement to make
good concrete.
Mix Thoroughly.
After the sand and cement have
been thoroughly mixed together the
gravel should be added, then the wa
ter. Clean water should always be
used. Enough should be added SO
that when the concrete is shoveled in
tc place it will flow slightly. filling
ali open places.
The following method has been
recommended by one OF the large ce
ment manufacturers for determining
whether the materials to be used
and the proportions in which they are
to be used, are the proportions IL
which they are suitable: Mix up {
batch of the concrete, using the pro
portions and materials to be useC
later in the real work and fill severa
molds, six inches square and SIX
inches deep. Keep these damp for g
week, at the end of that time remove
the molds and strike the cubes wit
a light hammer as if driving tacks; i
10 indentation is made and the blocks
sound hard and are not broken unde'
medium hard blows of the hammer thu
mixture is at least a fairly good con
crete.
Concrete Should Set Slowly.
Fresh concrete should never be eX
posed to the direct rays of the SUI
or to a hot wind. 1t is necessary tina
it be kept moist until the chemica
actions, which produce the set, have
been completed.
MUCH SOOu COuCISle WOIh is SpOllCN
by allowing it to dry II too quickly
After it has hardened enough so tina
the surface will not be married dir
may be thrown over it to keep i
moist. Do not be afraid that it will
not set properly when wet. The worl
should be kept damp for a week o
ten days; in hot weather it may b.
sprinkled thoroughly several times
day to good advantage.
Among the many things which an,
farmer. if he uses care and goo
judgment, cal make of concrete ar
the following: Cellar floors, cisterns
tanks, feeding floors, barn floors
walks, fence posts, etc.
The department of agriculture ha
issued a very complete bulletin on tn
manufacture Of concrete fence post
which is sent free to any n upo
request. 1t shows the great advantag
of these posts and tells, in detail
methods for their manufacture.