IV. IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS 



Fig. 155. Mixing board with full-sized post form in place 



K° 12 Copper win 



PROJECT 10 



THE USE OF CONCRETE ON THE FARM 



Material. Clean coarse sand, gravel, or crushed stone ; cement ; measuring cup ; trowel ; spirit 

 level ; screen ; measuring box ; materials for forms ; reenforcing wire ; tools for constructing forms. 



Directions. 1. Fence post. 

 Concrete fence posts should 

 ordinarily be 5" or 6" 

 square. The length is de- 

 termined by the height 

 the post is desired above 

 ground. Construct a mold 

 as shown in Fig. 155, using 

 1" dressed lumber. After the mold is assembled give the inside a thin coating of soft soap or crude 

 oil to prevent concrete from sticking. Make a mixture of 1:2:4 concrete ; mix 

 thoroughly while dry and then add sufficient water to make the concrete mushy 

 after being well mixed. 



At once place concrete evenly in the form to a depth of £", and place two reen- 

 forcing wires (No. 9) the length of the post and f " from each edge. Pour in con- 

 crete until the molds are filled within f " of the top, and place 

 two more reenforcing wires. Fill the mold, tamp lightly, and 

 level across the top. To provide for fastening fence wire to posts 

 take two pieces of No. 12 copper wire, 6" long, and twist the 

 halves together, leaving the ends free for about 2". While the 

 concrete is being placed in the form, set two or three of these 

 wires in the concrete the proper distance apart for stringing 

 wires, as shown in the illustration. The posts should not be disturbed for at least 

 ten days, to give the cement time to set. 

 2. Concrete walks and steps. Excavate to a depth of about 6" and to a width of 3" more than 

 desired for the walk. Fill the space excavated with 

 broken stones, coarse gravel, or cinders, to within 4" 

 of where the top of the walk is to be. Tamp the mate- 

 rial thoroughly, using water to help pack it. 



Place the form for the walk (2" X 4" pieces 

 smooth on the inside) on the foundation. Make one 

 side from \" to \" lower than the other, so the water 

 will not stand in pools on the walk after a rain. Pre- 

 pare a mixture of 1 : 3 : 5 concrete and fill the forms 

 to within 1" of the top. Tamp this mixture until 

 water stands on the surface and at once place the fin- 

 ishing coat, consisting of one part of cement to one 

 and one half parts of sand mixed to a mushy mortar. 

 Smooth the finishing coat, but do not trowel too long 

 and do not allow the walk to be exposed to intense sunshine, freezing temperature, rain, or dust 

 while it is hardening. The walk should be divided into sections to prevent bulging when it expands in 



[210] 



Fig. 156. End of a 

 post showing how 

 to place reenforcing 

 wires and copper 

 wire 



Fig. 157. A wooden 

 tamper 



Fig. 158. Concrete steps 



