CONCRETE FLOORS. 



153 



Agricultural College were of this type. "C" is the frame in 

 which "D" was moulded. It will be noted that the difference 

 between "B" and "D" is that the latter has a 4£ inch shoulder 

 on either side. This when the hive is brought fully forward, gives 

 it a more solid foundation to stand on, and at the same time gives 

 protection from cold currents of air sweeping underneath the hive. 

 "E" is the tongue that forms the entrance. 



In modelling these floors proceed thus: Select the site, place 

 the moulding frame thereon, first ramming the soil firmly down ; 

 try the frame, with a. spirit level; when true, fill in about 1 inch 

 in thickness the full width of the frame, and about 10 inches on 

 the end where the shoulders of the floor are, with two of sand 

 and one of cement. Insert the tongue, as shown in "C," then 

 fill in the remaining portion of the frame with concrete, level with 

 the top of the frame. Leave all to stand for twenty-four hours 

 •or more. Take out the tongue ("E"), lift the frame ("C") by 

 the handles as shown. The block will appear very rough, but 

 finish it off with a thin coating of a mixture of two of clean sand 

 and one of cement. The more cement is used in this final coating 

 the more impervious to damp will the block be. Put this final 

 ■coating on with a trowel. When the whole block is coated, if it 

 be rubbed over with a piece of old bagging made very wet, there 

 will be a very good smooth surface. 



The concrete can be formed with gravel, sand, and cement, 

 one part of the latter to two of the former ; or fill in the frame 

 with broken bricks, stones, etc., and pour in the mixture of sand 

 and cement until the frame is full, when the whole mass may be 

 gently rammed together. 



