April 3, 1909 



H O K T I C U L T U R E 



479 



CEMENT BENCH CONSTRUCTION 



This topic is becoming more impor- 

 tant eacii year owing to the increased 

 price of lumber, and the fact that in 

 a few years it decays and has to be re- 

 newed, which is not only a source of 

 annoyance to the grower but also a 

 large item of expense. A properly con- 

 structed cement bench will last as long, 



Fig. 1. 



and even longer, than the greenhouse 

 itself. Robert Simpson, Clifton, N. J., 

 who is growing roses on cement bench- 

 es, says there is no difference in the 

 stock grown on cement benches and 

 that grown on wooden benches, under 

 the same conditions. This is also true 

 with carnations, bedding and bulbous 

 stoclc, and decorative stock. 



In the most practical benches the 

 sides, bottom and posts are as one con- 

 tinuous piece of cement. Temporary 

 posts, 2x4, are driven in the ground 

 within five inches of the height you 

 wish the bench. These posts are in two 

 rows, four feet apart each way. On 

 the top of these posts are run 2x4 

 stringers, standing on edge. On these 

 stringers are placed cross boards, 1 x6, 



and cut six inches longer than the de- 

 sired width of the bench. Every 

 eighth and ninth board from the end 

 has a half circle cut out so that when 

 the edges of the two boards are placed 

 together a round hole five inches in 

 diameter will be formed. There shotild 

 be two rows of these holes, each hole 

 four feet apart each way. 



Under these holes the soil should be 

 removed, digging a hole about eight 

 inches in diameter and four inches 

 deep, filling same with wet cement. 

 Into this wet cement the five-inch ce- 

 ment posts should be imbedded, so 

 that the top of each post comes Hush 

 with the cross boards, or flooring. It 

 is easier to distribute these cement 

 posts and to imbed them in the wet 

 cement as the flooring is being con- 

 structed. 



The posts can be manufactured at 

 odd times by the use of the Wittbold 

 Leg Mold (Fig. 1), 25 of these leg 

 molds being sufficient to manufacture 

 as many posts as may be needed. 



On the cross flooring of six-inch 

 boards a clamp (Fig. 2) should be 

 nailed or screwed, spaced four feet 

 apart on each side. Against these 

 clamps a side board, seven inches wide, 

 should stand on edge. You will note 

 that Fig. 2 clamp comes in two pieces, 

 the outer part of which should be 

 screwed or nailed to the boards, or 

 flooring. 



When the outer boards are placed, 

 wire netting should be run the entire 

 length of the bench, and so turned up 

 as- to come flush with the top of the 

 side boards. After the wire netting 

 is placed another board, six inches 

 wide, should be placed in the inner 

 part of the clamp (Fig. 2). After this 

 is done the cement is ready to be 

 poured. When the cement is poured 

 this will give one inch of cement on 

 the sides and one inch on the bottom, 

 and this wet cement will thoroughly 



unite with the top of the cement posts 

 already placed. 



Fig. ?, shows the use of drainage 

 slotp, which are a shell of iron sheet- 

 top, and one and a half inch at bot- 

 tom, and contain two grooves into 

 which the wire netting can be fitted. 



Fig. 2. 



This method of drainage is preferred 

 by some, while others prefer the round 

 ing, six inches long, one inch wide at 

 holes made after the cement has par- 

 tially hardened by tlie use of the 

 drainage tool. These holes can be 

 spaced as near er far apart as the re- 

 quirements of the soil or conditions 

 may require. 



After the cement is thoroughly hard- 

 ened the six-inch inner board can be 



KEY TO KIG. 

 Temp. 2x4 Posts. 

 Temp. 2.r4 Cross String 

 Temp. Flooring. 



D Opening for Cement Post. 



E Drainage Slots. 



F Outside Clamp. 



G Board of Mold. 



E.H.HUNT. 



Inner Part of Clamp. 

 Inner Board of Mold. 

 One-inch Plug holding the Inner and 

 Outer one-inch Boards .npart. 



