THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
435 
SIMPLE CONCRETE WALL CONSTRUCTION 
ON THE FARM 
Concrete walls are easily constructed and at low cost. 
These walls are especially suitable for farm entrances 
or enclosures about farm buildings. Where merely 
serving the purpose of an enclosure, such as a barnyard 
or poultry yard, it is not necessary to construct the wall 
more than 6 inches thick. Simple methods of construc¬ 
tion are as follows: 
The most important consideration in the construction 
of any wall is a firm foundation, sufficiently deep to pre¬ 
vent heaving by frost. In most localities this distance 
is 3 to 4 feet. When the earth is firm and the sides of 
an excavation will stand up vertically, it is unnecessary 
to use wooden forms for 
the portion of wall be¬ 
neath ground level. A 
trench of the required 
width is dug, taking care 
that the sides of the 
trench are straight, ver¬ 
tical and fairly smooth. 
The width of all walls 
below ground level 
should be at least 12 
inches. Where sandy or 
crumbly earth is en¬ 
countered, it is best to 
use wooden forms below 
ground level. In depos¬ 
iting the concrete in the 
roughened before depositing upon it the above-ground 
portion or wall proper. The minimum thickness of 
walls for 
it 
though 
this thin, 
purposes, 
should be 
foundation trench see 
that no dirt falls into it as this would weaken the wall. 
The proper proportions for walls below ground are 1 
bag of Portland cement to 244 cubic feet of sand to 3 
cubic feet of crushed rock or pebbles. When the trench 
is filled with concrete to ground level, a simple form, as 
shown in the drawing, is set in place. The surface ol 
the foundation at ground level must be entirely tree from 
dirt, chips or other foreign substances and the concrete 
Simple Form Construction for Concrete Walls. 
very light structures may be 4 inches, al- 
is very difficult to deposit concrete in a wall 
A thickness of 6 inches is better for most 
The proportion of walls above ground 
1 bag of Portland cement to 2 cubic feet of 
sand to 4 cubic feet of crushed rock or pebbles. Bank- 
run gravel may be used if the pebbles are separated from 
the sand by screening through a 44-inch screen. For 
the above-ground portion of walls the forms should be 
made with care, the boards being carefully matched so 
that a smooth surface 
will be obtained in the 
finished wall. This re¬ 
sult is obtained by 
spading the concrete as 
it is being placed in the 
forms. Spading con¬ 
sists of thrusting be¬ 
tween the form and the 
fresh concrete a thin 
wooden paddle. This 
serves to force the stone 
back into the concrete, 
allowing a rich mortar 
coat to flow against the 
forms. In walls above 
ground it is to reinforce 
with small steel rods or 
wire mesh. This reinforcing runs in both directions 
and serves to prevent any cracks due to settlement or 
other causes. 
Walls for buildings can be constructed as described, 
but for buildings of considerable size the thickness of 
the walls should be 8 inches, and one or two lengths of 
rods should be laid about 2 inches above the tops of 
windows, doors and other openings. 
WINTER PROTECTION OF EVERGREENS 
When the nurseryman has a large investment in choice 
evergreens a heavy depreciation in value is always to tie 
feared from the effects of the winter. They may not 
be killed outright but there is always danger of their be¬ 
ing made unsaleable which is almost as bad from the 
commercial point of view. 
In considering the relative hardiness ol the various 
groups the pines are least affected by winter conditions. 
The junipers come next, then the occidental Thuyas or 
Arbor Vitaes and the Piceas or spruces. Unless the con¬ 
ditions he very unfavorable all the above may be de¬ 
pended upon to come through without much injury. 
The hemlock is also rarely affected. 
The Abies or firs will bear watching especially Abies 
Nordmanniana. A. Veitchi has been recommended as 
hardier and seems to be living up to expectations as a 
good substitute. 
The Uetinisporas usually come through the winters 
fairly well, especially the obtusa type. 1C squarrosa is 
likely to be very brown in the spring, but quickly re¬ 
covers and the IC pisifera type seem to come through 
rather better than the /<’. plumosa varieties. The Taxus 
or Yews, Rhododendrons, Cupressus. Cryptomeria, 
Buxus. Andromedas, in fact all of those known as the 
broad-leaved evergreens should be placed on the doubt¬ 
ful list. 
It would be impossible to make a list separating the 
hardy from the half hardy as hardiness is only a relative 
term and they succumb from uncongenial conditions as 
well as actual cold. 
