CONCKETE CONSTKUCTION 1763 



whitewash brush. The wall should be thoroughly dampened aud 

 a very thin coat of clear cement and water mixed to about the con- 

 sistency of the ordinary pancake batter, applied with a plastering 

 trowel, and allowed to become partially hardened. It is then gone 

 over carefully with a whitewash brush dipped in cement and water, 

 about the consistency of ordinary cream. This gives a waterproof, 

 as well as very pleasing, finish. There are various forms of stucco 

 finish ; the one more ordinarily used being the floated one and ap- 

 plied as follows : Thoroughly dampen the wall, take nine parts of 

 cement, one part of hydrated lime, and forty to fifty parts of sand, 

 depending upon its coarseness. All pebbles should be carefully 

 sifted out. This is mixed to about the consistency of the ordinary 

 plastering material and spread on as evenly as possible Avitli a 

 trowel. After it becomes about two-thirds set — which will be in 

 from twenty minutes to an hour, depending npon the weather — it 

 is gone over with a float, with a circular motion, all unevenness re- 

 moved and the sand brought to the surface, leaving an even, rough 

 finish, the roughness depending upon the kind of float used; the 

 hard wood float making the smoother finish. If a very rough finish 

 is desired, it may be accomplished by tacking a piece of felt or car- 

 pet over the face of the float. If the stippled finish is desired, pro- 

 ceed as above, only very soon after the plaster is applied, have 

 some one follow with a broom, sponge, or brush. A very satisfac- 

 tory implement is the wire brush used by the foundry-men for re- 

 moving sand from castings. Care should be used that the stippling 

 be evenly done, and it will be found that seldom will two people 

 stipple alike. In the pebble-dash proceed as above until the plas- 

 ter is applied, and follow immediately by dashing with the hand, a 

 shovel or a whisk broom, a mixture of sand, or small pel)bles and 

 cement. If sand, about one to two and one-half, and if pebbles 

 about one to six, upon the freshly plastered surface. This finish is 

 easily applied and makes a very satisfactory one. Where various 

 colored pebl)les from the brook or other source are used, and the 

 colors are desired to be shown in the building, a dilute solution of 

 hydrochloric acid about one to eight, applied to the pebbles the fol- 

 lowing day will remove the cement and bring out the natural colors. 

 There are various other forms of finish, all of which are more or 

 less complicated, and the above will probably furnish sufficient 

 variety for all farm purposes. 



