Economical Ways of Using Cement with Decorative Effect 
shall conform to all the requirements of good taste, 
hut at minimum cost. While designs should he 
simple and picturesque, the builder should be care¬ 
ful to avoid forcing things in that direction by hav¬ 
ing lines out of plumb and coarse surfaces exaggerated 
to the last degree. Built up in an honest, straight¬ 
forward way, to answer an honest purpose, and with 
durability, economy and utility in mind, a row of 
would result in a picturescjue pergola. Expensive 
form work of matched lumber is not necessary where 
the designer considers the utility of a thing instead of 
seeking the ornate. These simple forms also permit 
the use of rustic timbers in arbor construction. 
Referring again to the cover page, we find the artist 
has drawn not only a simple column but several 
things quite as easy to construct. Plain concrete 
steps lead into the garden. In the fore¬ 
ground is a perfectly simple concrete 
fountain. The gravel walks, which might 
also be of concrete, are bounded by low 
concrete walls, and under the shade of a 
tree is a plain concrete bench. None of 
these is elaborate or complicated in detail. 
The objects are very few, yet the garden 
appears to be well furnished. 
As seclusion is one of the delights of a 
garden, attention is called to a modern 
method of constructing a concrete fence. 
It requires years to cultivate a high 
hedge. A board fence will soon decay 
and if very high is quite expensive. Walls 
of brick and stone involve high price labor. 
Concrete is an economical and ready 
substitute for all of these. The fence 
Fig. 5. A border consisting of relief tiles in silhoiitte banded with flat rec¬ 
tangular tiles, the whole representing a grape vine with fruit and leaves in 
three repeating units of pattern. Tiles are set in light cement plaster. 
The cement background is freely used as part of the design. The central 
tiles are pushed into the wet concrete. Colors: red, green, blue, black, 
gray and buff 
Fig. 6. Detail of Gothic border made in relief tiles in silhouette set in uncolored cement plaster. Colors: 
green, black, brown, gray, red and buff. These tiles pushed into the wet plaster do not require pointing 
these columns would be decidedly picturesque and 
useful. 
The subject of columns has been discussed at 
length because the structural principles involved 
may be made the key-note of all concrete work of this 
simple, inexpensive yet pleasing character. The 
ingenious man will apply the same rules to the con¬ 
struction of a garden wall, bench or fountain. Plain 
concrete walls, surmounted by smaller columns. 
shown in Figures 7 and 9 consists of iron posts set in 
concrete footings, with expanded metal attached to 
posts and bars, and the whole plastered with con¬ 
crete. The result is a satisfactory and durable 
fence which will require neither paint nor repairs. 
It should be stated that in all construction of this 
character, the cost of labor is an important item. 
For example, a concrete wall four feet high and 
eight inches thick, could be constructed under 
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