The RURAL NEW-YORKER 
879 
— ~ , > * 9 — ■ • 
Farm Mechanics 
Conducted by Robert H. Smith, of the Canton Agricultural School 
Canton, New York 
Ratio of Auto Engine Speed 
1. What is the ratio of engine speed to 
the wheels, in high gear, on a Ford? 2. 
The same, in low gear? 3, What do you 
consider the proper speed, miles per hour, 
in low gear, going up average steep hill 
with Ford touring ear moderately load¬ 
ed? 4. Would it harm the engine in any 
way to go up such a hill five miles an 
hour? Is it better to go faster and race 
the motor? J, IT. C. 
Litchfield, Conn. 
1, The ratio of engine speed to the 
speed of the rear wheels of a Ford car 
when running in “high" gear is 8 7/11 
to 1, The drive gear ring has 10 teeth, 
while the drive pinion carries 11, there¬ 
fore the engine which turns the propeller 
shaft at engine speed when running in 
“high" makes 8 7/11 revolutions to every 
revolution made hy the rear wheels, 
2. In low gear the engine makes ap¬ 
proximately three revolutions for every 
one made by the propeller shaft. This, 
with the further reduction of 8 7/11 to 1 
made at the differential gear, gives a 
ratio of about 0 7/11 to 1 when running 
again. This point of low temperature is 
away below the depth that we would dig 
for a ditch, however, and 'consequently 
any ordinary depth would permit the 
water to rise somewhat over well tem¬ 
perature. which is somewhere around 48 
degrees F. If the pipe is put down 8Vj 
to 4 ft., however, it will keep reasonably 
cool, and will also he fairly safe from 
freezing during Winter, unless ii passes 
under a road, path or similar place, the 
frost penetrating deeper where the soil 
is hard packed. 
Stored Cement for Foundation 
Is Portland cement two years old that 
has been kept dry good for a 2-ft. founda¬ 
tion for a barn? If so, in what propor¬ 
tion would it be advisable to use? n. t:. 
It the cement lias been stored in a dry 
place, free from dampness, it is uninjured. 
Dampness does; however, cause it to set. 
and should the bags be hard or Contain 
lumps that will not fall to pieces at the 
first tap of the shovel, the cement should 
not he used; that is, the portion of it. 
that is lumpy. The proportion of your 
1 his picture shows how it is possible to use a light tractor on a mowing machine, 
there is not so much of this as one might think, but now and then some ingenious 
mechanic is able to work out the right "hitch." The mower used in this case has an 
N-ft. cut. and it goes slashing through the Alfalfa without trouble. 
in ‘low ’’ In reverse gear the final ratio 
is still lower, being 12 7/11 to 1. the en¬ 
gine making four revolutions to one of 
the propeller shaft when in low gear. 
This accounts for the greater pulling 
power in reverse. 
8. Twenty to 28 miles per hour are 
common speeds for Fords in high gear. 
With the same engine speed required for 
this rate of travel in "high,” the car 
would make approximately seven to eight 
miles per hour in "low." 
4. Five miles per hour is not an exces¬ 
sive speed in low gear. It corresponds to 
about 18 miles per hour in “high." If 
the ear has sufficient oil of good quality 
in the crank case and is properly cooled 
there is little chance of injuring the en¬ 
gine in climbing the average lull. Rac¬ 
ing a motor always causes injury. I 
would prefer a slower rate of travel in 
“low.” say five to six miles per hour, per¬ 
mitting the engine to run at a moderate 
speed. 
Pipe Line for Milk-house 
I have to build a milk-house about 280 
ft. from my drilled well. It is down 
grade to the milk-house enough to run 
the water without forcing. The pipe in. 
the well is 1 1 j in. How small a pipe can 
I use to carry the water to the milk- 
house? How far underground will it 
have to be placed to keep it from getting 
warmer? h. e. c. 
Xu very definite reply can be made, as 
so little is known concerning the condi¬ 
tions, the quantity of water desired, the 
fall available and whether the water is 
to How by gravity alone or whether a 
I ill tup is to be used, but with the outlet 
lower than tin* pump so ili.it the water 
will flow by gravity after being pumped. 
This last condition seems the most likely. 
In any case nothing smaller than a 1-in. 
pipe is recommended. Fader certain con¬ 
ditions it might be possible to use a ;i i-in. 
size, but the 1-in. pipe will be found 
much more satisfactory and should he 
used. 
As to Ihe depth at which it must be 
laid to keep cool, or rather at well tem¬ 
perature. it must he remembered that the 
upper layers of the soil absorb heat dur¬ 
ing Summer like a sponge soaking up 
water, and starting at the surface this 
soil temperature gradually lessens as we 
go downward, until it reaches it lowest 
point, and the temperature begins to rise 
mixture " ill depend very much, upon the 
uuality of sand and gravel available. 
If the aggregate used is line and dirty, it 
will have to be mixed much richer in 
cement than it would if the aggregate 
were clean, well graded and carrying a 
good supply of coarse particles. 
In any rase where gravel is used for 
aggregate it should be run over a D-in. 
mesh screen, and the portion passing the 
screen used as sand, while that retained 
by the screen is used for stone. This 
screening takes little time, and more than 
pays for itself hy the saving in cement, 
for with properly proportioned aggre¬ 
gates it is possible to use a leaner mix¬ 
ture and still secure the same strength in 
the resulting concrete. The use of a mix¬ 
ture of one part cement. 2L. parts sand 
and five parts crushed stone or gravel is 
advised. However, if everything is right, 
a mixture in the proportion of 1-8-tl may 
he used for a foundation where the only 
stress, or, at least, the principal one. is 
compressive. 
Leaking Concrete Cistern 
Last Fall T built a concrete cistern. I 
find it leaks a very little. Can you give 
me a remedy? F. n. s. 
Sometimes a wash of cement and wa¬ 
ter. mixed to the consistency of cream, 
and applied with a brush, as you would 
put on paint, will serve to hold the water. 
Another method of waterproofing makes 
use of alum and soap solutions in what 
is known as “Sylvester’s wash.” Pre¬ 
pare the alum solution by dissolving eight 
ounces of alum per gallon of hot water. 
The srmp solution is made separately by 
dissolving IF lbs. of hard soup tier gal¬ 
lon of boiling water. To use. have the 
surface thoroughly cleaned and dried, 
with imperfections, if any exist, repaired. 
Apply soap solution boiling hot. with 
whitewash brush, nibbing it well in. Do 
not permit it to froth. After drying at 
least 24 hours the alntn solution can lie 
put on. using it at a temperature of 70° 
F. This should also be permitted to dry. 
when a second application of soap solu¬ 
tion can be put on, followed, when dry. 
by a second application of alum. Or¬ 
dinarily four coatings are enough to re¬ 
sist the passage of water, but if thought 
necessary more can be applied. Being a 
surface wash only, this will have to be 
renewed occasionally, but it- is reasonably 
permanent. 
The book that best expresses the senti¬ 
ment and charm of real country living 
is 
Hope Farm Notes 
o4n order came the other day from the Island of Jamaica for 
one of these books. Copies have been sent to Mexico, South 
Africa, Austria and New Zealand—all over the world. It is 
being read wherever the human heart feels a love for clean 
and wholesome country living. 
“A Civilizing Agent for Agriculture ” 
That is what one reader calls it—and he has sent five separate 
copies to people who need to know more of the human side of 
farm life. It is one of the best evidences of Good House¬ 
keeping to have this book on your table. Is it in your house? 
The Hope Farm man will autograph your copy if you desire. 
The book should go w r herever the Rural New-Yorker is taken. 
RURAL NEW YORKER, 333 We»t 30th St, New York 
GENTLEMEN—Enclosed find remittance for $1.50, for which send me. postpaid, a 
copy of “ Hope Farm Notes.” 
Name. 
Town. v ... 
State.R. F. D. or Street No. 
will dig potatoes when all others fail. 
Write Le Roy Plow Co., Le Roy, N.Y. 
Make Your Own Fertilizer 
At Small Cost with 
WILSON’S PHOSPHATE MILLS 
From 1 to 40 H. P. Also Bone 
Cutters, hand and power, 
for the poultrymen; grit and 
shell mills, farm feed mills, 
family grist mills, scrap 
cake mills. Send for our catalog. 
Wilton Bros., Box 15 Easton,Pa, 
An Easy Way to 
Conquer Bad Roads 
In every community there are roads that are dreaded ; roads so 
rough that they take it out of you and your Ford. You can’t 
sit back and wait for improvements; you must go over these 
roads, regardless of their condition. 
But there is a quick remedy that is in your own hands. 
Apco Shock Absorbers, moderate in cost, quickly installed, 
and guaranteed for long service, make the worst roads passa¬ 
ble without discomfort or devastating wear and tear on your 
Ford. Their big bee-hive spiral coils—66 inches of resilient 
steel—added to each end of Ford springs, give the Ford a 
spring base many inches longer than the wheel base of big 
expensive cars. It’s the spring base that counts. 
If your dealer can’t supply you, write direct. 
Price $20.00 for complete set of four. 
SHOCK 
MrWV/ ABSORBER, 
FOR FORD CARS 
Apco Manufacturing Co. _ ^ 
Providence, R. I. EL „ 
Makers of the Famous Apco Equipment for Fords 
When you zvrite advertisers mention The R. N.-Y. and you'll get a 
quick reply and a “square deal.” See guarantee editorial page. 
