CONCRETE ON THE FARM 



1 )j;. Ellis M. Santee 

 Director of Agriculture, Good Will High School, Hinckley, Me. 



Concrete is an artificial stone. It has a particular interest for 

 the farmer because of its cheapness, simplicity and (lural)ilitv. 

 Usually all of the materials reiinired, except cement, are found 

 on or near the farm and he can readily shape them to his will, 

 the result becoming harder and harder as time goes on foi: 

 about four years. 



Concrete on the farm received a black eye in its early days on 

 account of mistakes in construction. It is so porous and absorbs 

 water so readily that it makes a cold, unsatisfactory building or 

 floor in or on which to keep an animal, unless it is properly in- 

 sulated. Both of these problems have been satisfactorily solved 

 and there is now no reason why every building on the fann 

 should not be built of concrete. 



MATERIALS 



The materials usually used arc cement, sand, crushed stone, 

 gravel or hard cinders. The sand should be sharp, not too fine, 

 and as nearly free from loam as possible. It is always best to 

 test sand from a new source by filling a glass fruit jar about 

 two-thirds full, then filling with water, thoroughly shaking and 

 letting it stand over night. The thickness of the layer of loam on 

 top should then be measured. If its depth is more than one- 

 twentieth of that of the sand underneath, it should be discarded, 

 since sand containing more than 5 per cent, of loam is not safe to 

 use in concrete construction. If gravel is used, a sample of it 

 should be examined by sifting out all of the sand. If the propor- 

 tion is about three of sand to five of gravel it is safe to use in 

 most farm construction as it comes from the pit and should have 

 about one of cement to eight of travel and sand for coarse work. 

 If crushed stone and sand are used, the proportions should be 

 from two to four of sand to four to six of crushed stone and one 



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