FARM MANAGEMENT 61 



required for setting decreases as the temperature of the water rises. 

 Warm air also hastens the setting. 



Although it is advisable under ordinary circumstances to dis- 

 continue cement work in freezing weather, Portland cement may 

 be used without serious difficulty by taking a few simple precau- 

 tions. As little water as possible should be used in mixing, to has- 

 ten the setting of the cement. To prevent freezing, hot water is 

 frequently used in mixing mortar or concrete, and with the same 

 object in view salt is added in amounts depending upon the degree 

 of cold. A common practice is to add 1 pound of salt to 18 gallons 

 of water, with the addition of 1 ounce of salt for each degree be- 

 low 32 F. Either of the above methocls will give good results, but it 

 should be remembered that the addition, of salt often produces 

 efflorescence. It seems to be a fairly well established fact that con- 

 crete deposited in freezing weather will ultimately develop full 

 strength, showing no injury due to the low temperature. (F. B. 

 235.) 



LEGAL WEIGHTS PER BUSHEL OF SEEDS. 



While the selling of seeds by the measured bushel has largely 

 disappeared in the trade, the weight per bushel still has an impor- 

 tant value in determining grade, especially in grass seeds, which vary 

 greatly in quality. Redtop seed, weighing 10 pounds per bushel, is 

 composed largely of chaff and contains a very small percentage of 

 good seed, while fancy seed, containing from 85 to 95 per cent of 

 pure seed, weighs from 35 to 40 pounds per bushel. Similar varia- 

 tions in weight exist in connection with the handling of other com- 

 mon grass seeds, such as bluegrass, orchard grass, brome-grass, rye- 

 grass, and the fescues. The weights per bushel of grains do not vary 

 as much as do those of grass seeds, but nevertheless the weight per 

 bushel is an important factor to be considered in grading. 



In numerous instances the customary weights per bushel of 

 seeds used by the trade are not the same as the legal weights. In 

 many of the principal cities the Boards of Trade and the Chambers 

 of Commerce use a system of weights that do not accord with those 

 fixed by statute. (Bu. Pit. Ind. B. 51.) 



THE USE OF PAINT ON THE FARM. 



Any man can do an average job of painting, and can, thereby, 

 improve the appearance of his place and add greatly to the durability 

 of all articles painted. The necessary equipment is not expensive, 

 and with proper care will last a long time. 



Brushes and Other Implements. The only absolutely neces- 

 sary implements are brushes. Probably the most generally useful 

 brush is a round one with bristles about 6 inches long. Oval brushes 

 from 2 to 2Mj inches wide are also very good for general use, and a 

 great deal of painting is done with 4 or 5 inch flat brushes. The 

 advantage of a flat brush is that a greater amount of surface is cov- 

 ered at a stroke, with the disadvantage that the paint can not be as 

 thoroughly rubbed in. On the whole, therefore, it is best to use a 

 round brush. 



