Re-in forced Concrete for Farm and Estate Purposes. 121> 



position in the wall, or post, before the concrete is filled in. 

 Afterwards they can readily be screwed in and out, the wire 

 coils remaining set in the wall to take the threads. The rain- 

 water from the roofs is run direct into concrete tanks, formed 

 similarly to, and as part of the structure of the building. They 

 are brushed over on the inside with cement and sand wash, 

 and have proved perfectly watertight and satisfactory. 



The next visit was to another farm in the neighbourhood 

 where a large cowshed to accommodate sixty cows was seen, 

 constructed on similar lines. Here, also, was a long length of 

 wall, round the stackyard, constructed with single piers, with a 

 weathered concrete rail on top, and 4 in. panels below it. 

 Gate-posts were composed of a cluster of two, three, or four 

 short piers, the spaces between them being crossed with re- 

 inforcement and tilled in with fine concrete. Some pigstyes 

 in the course of construction were then examined, and this 

 terminated a most interesting and instructive experience. The 

 general impression created was that the work called for 

 the exercise of the greatest skill and foresight on the part 

 of the designer, whilst at the same time reducing the necessity 

 for the employment of skilled labour to a minimum. Given 

 an intelligent foreman, able to appreciate what is required 

 and willing to carry out instructions, all the rest of the work 

 can be performed by unskilled labour. It would have been 

 interesting to have seen the same principles of construction 

 applied to cottage building, but though l^lr. Geldart expects to 

 erect some at an early date, none have yet been put in hand. 

 The plain concrete panels should lend themselves to novel and 

 effective treatment in the matter of elevations.^ 



In another part of the country a good deal of ferro-concrete 

 construction has been carried out on somewhat similar lines by 

 Mr. W. Hopkins, of Montpelier Works, Cheltenham. At Bur- 

 derop Park, near Swindon, the property of Col. T. C. P. Calley, 

 C.B., a large cowshed was inspected by the courtesy of the 

 Agent, Mr. Ashford, and under his guidance, and a description 

 of it will serve to explain Mr. Hopkins' system. The building 

 accommodates about 100 cows, and externally it closely resembles 

 the homestead near Shrewsbury described above. The walls 

 are 4 in. thick throughout, with piers at intervals to support 

 roof-principals, dooi'-frames, &c. The re-inforcement is on 

 identical lines, and the roof is covered with the same " Eternit " 

 tiles. , 



All the concrete work is erected in situ. Mr. Hopkins has 

 invented and patented a very simple system of forms which 

 can be adapted for walls and piers of practically any size. A 

 mould for a rectangular pier, or column (Fig. 6), consists of 



' Mr. Geldart is about to publish full working details of his methods. 



VOL. 72. K 



