Journal of Agriciilfurc. [ro Nov.. 1910 



mixed sand and cement, and the whole thoroughly mixed by turning it over 

 about three times. dr\ . I'he mixture should now be watered Irom a 

 watering can and turned over while being watered and until the whole is 

 well mixed. Next place sufficient of the concrete in the mould to cover the 

 bottom about i inch deep, and rake it up and down near the corners to 

 work the concrete into the corners of the mould. 



Now place in two of the reinforcing wires, keeping them about i inch 

 from the sides. Put the round wooden pegs after greasing them through 

 the holes in the side moulds, keeping the small ends all one way, and fill 

 in the concrete to within h inch of top mould. Now place in two more 

 wires keeping them i inch in from the sides and fill in the mould level with 

 the top; gently tamp the concrete till the mould is properly filled. If the 

 end of the mould is lifted up a little and gently bumped on the ground 

 two or three times the cement will become nicely 1p\el at the top. 



Having mixed all the parts together dry, only sufficient to fill one 

 mould should be wetted at a time and then the risk of the remainder 

 setting before it can l)e got into the moulds will be avoided. If an 

 ordinary household bucket is used to measure with, for 4f buckets of 

 gra\-el, 2f of sand, and i of cement, about 4 gallons of water will be 

 required, in addition to the water used previously for wetting the gravel. 



The posts should not be moved in any \va> for three days; then the 

 side moulds may be carefully removed and the post allowed to remain 

 on the bottom board for about a fortnight, when it can be placed in as 

 damp a place as possil)le and left for three months or longer before using. 

 If the posts are watered daily for the first week or two they become much 

 stronger than if allowed to dry straight away. 



Staples made from No. 10 galvanized wire could be used, if preferred, 

 instead of making holes in the posts. They may be inserted in the post 

 after the mould is filled. Marks should be made on the side of the mould 

 to show the positions and the staples should be pushed into place before 

 the concrete begins to set. 



Gate-posts should be made about 8 feet x 6 inrhf^^s x 6 inches. The 

 moulds could be similar to others, excepting that the sides would be 

 parallel. The gudgeons for hanging the gates should be put in the post 

 at the time of making or holes left in the post for them. 



.Ml tools used in making the posts should be washed directly aft.^r 

 use. especially the bucket, as the cement will set on them and it will be 

 next to impossible to remove it without spoiling the tools. The mijiing 

 box should be scraped out clean after use 



A barrel of cement will make about 30 posts and with gravel and sand 

 nrar at hand T think these posts could be made for about 8d. to lod. 

 each. 



Concrete posts, if properly made, will give entire satisfaction and will 

 last an indefinite time. They are used in a large number of places in 

 preference to wood posts, for instance by such companies as the Great 

 Eastern Railway Company and the London and North -Western Railwav 

 Company in England. Bv the.se companies they are considered to be 

 cheaper than wood. 



