IShe RURAL NRW'-TORKER 
11S9 
Waterproof Cement Wall for Cellar 
How can I make a cement wall for a 
cellar underground so it will be water¬ 
proof? L* H. 
Carbondale, Ill. 
The engineers of the Portland cement 
manufacturers say that basement walls 
built for concrete may be made water¬ 
tight under all ordinary conditions by 
"the proper selection of materials, care¬ 
ful mixing and placing of the concrete, 
and proper protection during early hard¬ 
ening." To do these things properly re¬ 
quires, of course, a knowledge of concrete 
construction which can hardly be learned 
except by experience and observation. It 
cannot be taught in a paragraph. It may 
be said, however, that one of the most 
common causes of poor and porous con¬ 
crete construction is the use of too much 
water in mixing the concrete. Not more 
water should be used than will make the 
mixture “quakey” in consistency, and 
particular care should be used in placing 
It. Suitable materials, properly propor¬ 
tioned and put in place should make a 
watertight cellar wall and the work 
should not be beyond the skill of anyone 
accustomed to concrete construction. 
M. B. D. 
The Scientific Spray-Gun 
On page 954 of The R. N.-Y., E. II. of 
Michigan describes a homemade spray- 
gun and insinuates that the Government 
should got after the "spray-gun profi¬ 
teers.” It costs many thousands of dol¬ 
lars to produce a new article and get it 
on the market. Fruit growers have been 
fooled so many times that they are now 
becoming very cautious. Every place I 
visited to sell a spray-gun the grower had 
just moved from Missouri—he had to be 
shown. In each instance I was compelled 
to connect the gun to his sprayer and 
show him just what it would do. Often¬ 
times the sprayer was not in good work¬ 
ing order. Perhaps the valves were leak¬ 
ing or his old-time safety valve was worn 
out and the pump was unable to develop 
the needed 200 pounds pressure. In order 
to give a demonstration it meant a repair¬ 
ing of his sprayer; then when the gun 
was attached his old hose would not stand 
the pressure and, of course, drenched 
everyone with spray dope. 
It is very expensive for salesmen to 
travel with a horse or with an automobile 
and at best he cannot make muny calls or 
sell many guns in a day. Up to the pres¬ 
ent time the spray-guns have not sold 
over the counter—they have only been 
sold by demonstration, which has run the 
selling costs so high that no one engaged 
in the business, I believe, can have made 
any money. I would like to ask E. H. 
if he considered that he could sell his gun 
in competition with any of the leading 
makes? Does E. H, think a grower 
would take his gun in preference to mine? 
A gun with punched disks, galvanized 
pipe and a shut-off, a heavy, cumbersome 
tool having no adjustment of spray for 
far or near? True, he may go over the 
top, but what in the world does he do 
when he sprays the trees at close range? 
How much time would a grower neces¬ 
sarily spend in order to produce a gun as 
good ns this Michigan production? What 
does E. II. figure his time at per hour? 
If E. II. had nothing to do and had but 
one apple tree to spray, his proposition 
might prove to be a valuable alternative, 
but if he has five acres to spray, which is 
far below the average, and has the or¬ 
dinary line of farm duties, all of which 
are as essential to his success, then I con¬ 
tend he would better pay as much as $50 
for a spray-gun that is scientifically con¬ 
structed. and that has all the essentials 
that will enable him to spray his fruit 
properly, than to spend his valuable time 
in such an experimental way. 
E. H. has 12 months in which to mar¬ 
ket his products, with possibly not more 
than butter and eggs for two of the 
months, at double the former price. The 
spray-gun manufacturer has two months, 
about, to market hIs product. True, the 
farmer pays double the price for his hired 
labor, but he produces his own raw ma¬ 
terial at but very little increase in cost, 
while the spray-gun manufacturer is pay¬ 
ing 100 per cent increase for his raw ma¬ 
terial and 100 per cent increase for his 
labor. The prospect for profits is what 
naturally actuates the development of 
new labor-saving devices. Do the farm¬ 
ers want development to continue and in¬ 
crease. or are they satisfied for the future 
to hold nothing more than present attain¬ 
ments, and will they suffice? The ma¬ 
chinist who stands at a lathe all day 
working on spray-guns at double his for¬ 
mer salary for labor, pays double for 
everything he eats that the f.armer grows. 
Years ago, the power sprayer manufac¬ 
turer had no less than 1.000 competit¬ 
ors ; every community had its “genius" 
who bought engines made in the West, 
pumps made in the East, etc. He w'ent 
to the lumber yard, bought stock for tanks 
and beds and was soon engaged in the 
S ower sprayer business, usually selling 
is machines at the bare cost of material, 
compelled to do so in order to get the busi¬ 
ness. He lost money, of course, and the 
growers suffered by his experiments. 
j. c. 
Copyright 1918 
Henry Sonneborn 
tt Co., loc. 
Trade Mark Registered 
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HENRY SONNEBORN & CO., Inc, Founded 1849 Baltimore, Md. 
r 
OriginaLKerosene Tractor 
}Vaterloo Boy tractors are unfailingly successful in 
operating on inexpensive kerosene. The short super¬ 
heated Waterloo Boy manifold distills kerosene into fuel of 
greatvolatile force—carries every paurticle of gas in the cylinders 
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We purposely built this tractor strong for the strain you are likely to 
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There are other reasons why thousands of farmers are satisfied with 
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action. Write for it. < 
JOHN DEERE 
5305 W. 3rd Ave. Moline, Illinois 
'tim 
% 
/J 
“OVER THE TOP 
with your next year's 
CROP 
Uncle Sam is looking to you to 
back up the boys “over there” 
with plenty of food. Get ahead 
of the bugs and blights that 
would cut down your yields. 
SPRAYS THAT PAYS 
tf 
KEYBRANOnn 
INSECTICIDES 
will help you produce more and better 
fruits and vegetables. Your dealer 
can supply you—or we will ship 
direct to you. Write today for 
free book. State your dealer’s 
name and address. 
The Government ath that you order ea rlf 
INTERSTATE CHEMICAL CO. 
14 Bayview Ave. 
Jtner City New Jersey 
Practical 
live Stock Books 
FOR SALE BY RURAL NEW-YORKER 
FEEDS AND FEEDING—Henry . $2.50 
MANUAL OF MILK PRODUCTS- 
Stocking .. 2.00 
DISEASES OF ANIMALS-JVfayo . 1.75 
PRODUCTIVE SWINE HUSBANDRY 
Doy ....... 1.73 
BREEDING OF FARM ANIMALS— 
Harper .. 1.50 
CHEESE MAKING-Van Slyke . 1.75 
BUTTER MAKING—Pubioio . . .60 
MILK TESTING —Publow and Troy .60 
When you write advertisers mention 
The Rural New-Yorker and you’ll get 
a Quick reply and a ’‘square deoL” See 
guarantee editorial page. : : : 
1 
