THE IKRIGATION AGE. 



17 



10 by 14 feet, inside measurements, with a self-supporting 

 arched roof 5 feet above floor at the sides and 7 feet 

 8 inches in the center. All of the side walls are 8 inches 

 thick, therefore dig the hole 11 feet 4 inches by 15 feet 

 4 inches and to the depth desired, usually 5 feet. At one 

 end cut out the earth to a width of 4 feet 4 inches and 

 slope it upward for seven' concrete steps with a rise of 

 8 inches and a tread of 10 inches and for a thickness of 

 4 inches of concrete back of the steps proper. Arrange 

 for an 18-inch landing at the bottom of the stair. 



Make the side wall forms of 1-inch siding on 2 by 

 4-inch uprights spaced 2 feet. As the concrete floor will 

 be 4 inches thick, set up the forms on 4-inch concrete 



View of Storage Cellar. 



bricks. Above ground level use outside forms similar to 

 the inside. To curve the end wall forms, lay 

 them out with a 6-foot string in the same way 

 as described below for arch rings. At the en- 

 trance end, to provide for a doorway, set be- 

 tween the forms a frame of 2 by 8-inch stuff 

 3 by 7 feet in the clear. Mix the concrete 1 

 part Portland cement to 4 parts bank-run grav- 

 el, or 1 part cement to 2 parts sand to 4 parts 

 crushed rock. A sack of cement equals 1 cubic 

 foot. With the forms in place, lay the 4-inch 

 floor the same as a sidewalk, but without joints. 

 Fill the wall forms in 8-inch layers with mushy 

 wet concrete and 6 inches from the top of 

 the side walls and 1 inch from the outside 

 place two -Hs-inch steel rods the full length of 

 the cellar. In the concrete two inches above 

 the door-frame lay three four-foot lengths of 



rods. Roughen the top of the walls so as to 

 insure a good bond with the roof. Build the stairway 

 with a 4-inch thickness of concrete behind the steps 

 proper. Each step has a tread of 10 inches and a rise of 

 8 inches. The sidewalks of the cellar hatchway extend 

 above the door opening of the cellar proper, so that out- 

 side sloping doors may be added. In the top of the hatch- 

 way walls, while the concrete is soft, bolts are set heads 

 down for holding the wooden sill to which the strap 

 hinges are later attached. 



The Self-Supporting Roof. 



When the side walls are one week old, begin on the 

 roof. To give the roof a rise of 2 feet 8 inches, 

 arch rings are needed. For laying out the rings, 

 choose a floor or a bit of level ground. To one 

 end of a strong string fasten a pencil and tie 

 the other end to a nail driven firmly in the 

 floor with exactly 5 feet 11 inches of string be- 

 tween the pencil point and nail. Mark out half 

 a circle. Across the circle lay a board exactly 

 10 feet long so that its ends just touch the 

 mark. The part of the circle above the board 

 represents the arched inside of the roof. Place 

 boards for the arch rings over the mark on the 

 floor and nail them together. Mark the curve 

 upon them and cut them to the mark. Brace 

 the arch well as shown in the drawing. Spac- 

 ing the rings 2 feet apart, six will be needed. 

 Fasten them securely in place to 3 by 6-inch 

 liners spiked to the side wall forms. Cover the 

 rings tightly with 1-inch sheathing. 



With the roof form ready, place the rein- 

 forcement upon it. Use 54-rods 14 feet long. 

 Space them 6 inches apart crosswise and 12 

 inches the long way of the cellar. Wire the 

 rods together where they cross. The roof must 

 be 5 inches thick. Carefully work exactly 1 

 inch of concrete between the rods and the 

 sheathing. Tamp the concrete until the liquid cement flushes 



////' '/ /////</ f 



Transverse Section Through Cellar. 



Longitudinal Section Through Cellar. 



to the top and then finish the surface smooth by means 

 of a wooden float and steel trowel. Do not stop for anything 

 until the roof is finished. In two to three weeks the con- 

 crete roof will be strong enough to support itself; then the 

 forms may be removed. 



Ventilation is necessary for most cellars. While build- 

 ing the wall make one or more air-shafts (similar 

 to a chimney flue) of 3-inch tile, by imbedding 

 them in the concrete wall with, an opening inside 

 at floor level and another outside well above 

 ground line. By this arrangement fresh air is ad- 

 mitted. Place a tile chimney in the concrete roof 

 and cover it with a galvanized iron hood for re- 

 moving the foul air. If built late in the fall, pro- 

 tect the fresh concrete from freezing by covering 

 it with clean straw or with old carpet so suspended 

 as to leave a dead air-space between the concrete 

 and the covering. 



'The cellar shown in the photograph is 18 by 18 

 feet by 8 feet deep. It is located on an apple farm. 

 The owner finds it a profitable investment as he has 

 his own storage and keeps his apples until the 

 prices are right. 



