TENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART X 615 



characteristics of his home, and he will share with friends or strangers his 

 daily fare, however plain, without apology. The good farmer will be a 

 regular attendant and willing helper at the country church and will always 

 be found in the ranks of those who are striving to better the condition of 

 the human family. 



CEMENT WORK ON THE FARM. 



By A. S. WoBTH. 



(Before Harrison County Farmers' Institute.) 



The beginning of the twentieth century has witnessed rapid strides in 

 the use of cement and concrete in a thousand and one different lines of 

 construction work. Nor is it difficult to find the cause. The scarcity of 

 timber and lumber is the principal cause. Then if you compare the last- 

 ing qualities of the two materials, cement is far the cheaper. The U. S. 

 is fast losing her forest primeval. Therefore we must find a substitute, 

 and cement and concrete is fast taking the place of lumber as a building 

 material. 



Nor is it a new thing as many might suppose. The Romans used it 

 as far back as 500 B. C, both in building of roadways and in structures, 

 the very word itself is of latin origin. In Spain and some other countries 

 of the Old World are found abundant evidences of the ancient use cement 

 in forms that have survived the ravages of time and the elements. So it 

 is readily seen that the growing use of cement today is nothing new, 

 but simply a return to the first principles. 



Thus we see the lasting qualities of properly constructed concrete is 

 very evident. Of late it has been most extensively used in the cities. But 

 we can see no reason why the farmer cannot use it to great advantage to 

 himself for it is much cheaper than either brick or stone and it requires 

 but little skill to use it, the principle tools for making and applying it is 

 a shovel and a trowel. Buildings and walls made of cement are practical- 

 ly indestructable. They are fire-proof, cyclone proof, and they don't re- 

 quire painting every year or so. Besides.it gives one the impression of 

 firmness and stability. Some of the farm places we have noticed have 

 cement walks and steps leading to the house, and cement caves or outside 

 cellars. It shows thrift and good taste. 



If you will build some cement walks leading out to the front gate and 

 some also from the back door to the lot gate, so that you will have some- 

 thing solid to stamp your feet on during the rainy spell, you may find a lit- 

 tle solid comfort, and then, too, it may save you a good many scoldings for 

 carrying that mud into the house. And I really think the wife will think 

 more of you, and then she will take pride in keeping those walks scrubbed 

 clean. And that will be an incentive to build a chicken-tight fence around 

 the yard and then she will have a chance she has long looked for to plant 

 some flowers in the front yard without their being scratched out by those 

 tormented chickens. Come break away from that old rut you have fallen 

 into and clean up around the place and you will find new life. 



