December, 1909 
AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS v 
graft a plum into a peach, or a peach into a 
plum, or into an apricot; but an apple graft 
will almost never unite with a pear stock, and 
if it does will not develop freely. Plants of 
different genera are not sure to unite, even in 
the same family. Here is a good big field for 
the boy to investigate. He will find his pears 
growing in quince bushes, but he will not find 
his apples growing in the same bushes. It is 
hard to tell why, because they are all in the 
Rosaceze family. He has a lot more to learn 
along this line, and a good many problems 
that are not yet solved are open before him. 
ON WATERPROOFING CONCRETE 
Cc) ACCOUNT of the number of in- 
quiries received from correspondents 
as to methods of waterproofing cement 
blocks or monolithic concrete, the Sci- 
entific American has been investigating what is 
being done in the way of improvement of ex- 
isting methods. 
The Concrete Association of America has 
conducted a valuable series of experiments and 
distributes its findings free of charge in a pub- 
lic-spirited manner, but the results obtained 
are largely negative. 
Some preparations are found to be effective 
under certain conditions, but none hitherto has 
been found to be equally reliable with all mix- 
tures and under all circumstances. 
The need and requirements of external 
paint for concrete, if only to counteract the 
variable porosity which cannot be avoided un- 
less the personal equation in concrete mixing 
is eliminated, is so well put in a paper read be- 
fore the recent convention of the American 
Society for Testing Materials, by Mr. G. D. 
White, that we quote a part of it by permis- 
sion: 
“Unless extreme care is exercised in the 
preparation, mixing, and workmanship of con- 
crete for solid or reinforced work, which is not 
always commercially possible, the resultant 
concrete is not impermeable, or at least not 
uniformly impermeable to water or moisture. 
Where perfect materials have been used with 
perfect workmanship, we have another difh- 
culty, another problem to solve. Concrete is 
a non-conductor of heat. It is, naturally, a 
cold-blooded animal. ‘The difference in tem- 
perature between the concrete wall and the 
atmosphere (the warmer the day the greater 
the difference in temperature) causes a con- 
densation of moisture on the surface. This is 
annoying, and a detriment to health in living 
and office rooms; a loss of room or loss by 
damage in storerooms and warehouses; an ob- 
jection in any building, no matter what its na- 
ture or purpose. 
“Hollow concrete blocks, tiles, brick, etc., 
have various defects. They are not only 
porous but capillary positive, and thus absorb 
moisture from 5 to 40 per cent. of their own 
weight. Due to rain and snow, walls built 
of these materials become water-soaked, and 
remain soaked for varying lengths of time. 
During certain seasons of the year, and espe- 
cially in some sections of our country, they re- 
main soaked for months. 
“The fact that dry walls are essential to 
health and comfort is generally known, and so 
well appreciated that the question of dampness 
has been a restraining agent to a much larger 
and more extensive use of concrete by the 
building trades of this and other countries. 
“The tendency to stain, the frequence of 
efflorescence, and difference in color due to 
difference in materials and to intermissions in 
concrete are defects of a less serious nature. 
“A drawback that includes concrete in all 
forms is the uninviting, unattractive color. 
Replace our buildings of marble, of terra 
cotta, of granite, of wood handsomely deco- 
rated, with buildings of concrete, and note the 
contrast. The dirty gray of ordinary cement 
rae woes. 
The Rqurtan,y Live ASsuRAXCE Societe 
Intelligently, 
Thoroughly, 
Honestly Done 
This testimony to the character 
of the work of the Davey tree 
experts is typical of the hundreds 
aeons to have deen intelligently, thorely and hovestly cheerfully given by patrons. The 
supreme test of any accomplish- 
ment is its endurance—its per- 
manent benefits, as measured by 
the passing seasons. Note par- 
ticularly that this typical expres 
sion as to the results of its prac- 
Tours = 
tical application 1s the 
Verdict on Davey Tree Surgery 
After the Test of Years 
Compared with the partial success, often amounting to real failure, of 
the ‘‘tree doctors,’’ so called, who have entered the work with so little 
appreciation of its significance or requirements. The completely 
efficient work of the Davey tree experts is not difficult toexplain when 
the foundations of the Davey methods are clearly understood. 
“Our Wounded Friends, 
the Trees’ — 
The Davey Book of Why and How tells in 
full the fascinating story ‘of the glorious 
fruition of the life-werk of John Davey,—too 
expensive for indiscriminate’ distribution, 
will be mailed free to any owner of trees who 
writes forit to Desk 2 , 
THE DAVEY TREE EXPERT 
COMPANY 
(Operating Dabey’s School of 
Practical Forestry) 
KENT, OHIO 
Dear Giri~ 
Replying to yours of tha 9th Lnatey 
K would say that years ago you 414 eae work on 
my trece = several tundred of thes - anf 1 have 
had work done by other people on these and other 
Urtea, Your work, after the years Put have elepeed, 
done. 
JOHN DAVEY 
Father of Tree Surgery 
THe Garben Lover's Girt 
THE GARDEN CALENDAR for 1910, by EllenP. 
Williams, is the gift for every garden lover. 
Here alone can you get the information you wish 
about your roses, your shrubs, your annuals, your 
perennials, your trees, 
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It’s here in THE GARDEN 
CALENDAR on the very 
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ASK FOR A CIRCULAR OF ALL OUR CALENDARS 
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Full size 73414 inches 
Illustration by Emlen McConnell 
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plates. One dollar each. 
MUNN & CO., INC., 
LOW-COST SUBURBAN HOMES 
A Practical Guide for Prospective Home-Builders 
This book contains 90 illustrations of plans and photographs of houses which 
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Only Most Eminent Architects Are Contributors 
If You’re Planning to Build—If You Need Ideas on How toImprove Your Home 
SEND FOR THIS BOOK. The Cost Is Nominal. 
McBRIDE, WINSTON & CO., Dep’t L, 6 WEST 29TH ST., NEW YORK 
Cottage Designs 
By far the most complete collection of plans 
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No. 1. COTTAGE DESIGNS 
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Upward of twenty-five designs, costing 
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Twenty designs, at costs ranging from 
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Twenty selected designs, costing from 
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