For walls use 1 part of cement to 6 or 7 parts of coarse sand and gravel, depending on the sharpness of the sand. For concrete five parts of coarse sand and gravel for the floors and walks, take one part cement to base, 2 to 4" thick; basement floors, 2" thick; walks, 3 1/2" base; for the top or finish coat use one part cement to three parts of sifted sand; using 1/2 to 3/4" of this mixture. Apply the top while the base is moist so the top and bottom will unite. Straight edge and trowel to an even surface.

Where there is no machine to mix concrete, clean a sufficient surface of hard ground, or lay a board floor where the ground is not suitable, close by the gravel and sand, then empty one or more sacks of cement conveniently close and to the number of shovels of sand or gravel for either of the above mixtures add one shovel full of cement and with a garden rake mix thoroughly. Continue this operation until a sufficient quantity is mixed, then reshovel and rake the pile again and you will have an even, dry mixture better than can be done with shovels alone and a greater quantity can be mixed at one time by this method. The cement will not set in a dry mixture. Moisten a portion of this by shoveling onto a separate pile and apply water sufficient to moisten to a proper consistency, mixing thoroughly and place in the floor or wall forms and continue this method until the work is complete. Where piers or footings are needed, locate them directly under the wall or supporting girder at the required distance apart, the height of which is determined from the grade line. (Fig. 7.)

For concrete floors, level the ground to the proper grade, take 2 2x3's or 2x4's to gauge the thickness of the floor, place the concrete on the floor the height of the gauge, draw a straight edge across the top of the gauge to level to an even surface. Draw the timber forward for another fill, and straight edge, the same as before. Fill the space of the timber as it is removed. The same method is advisable for the top coat, take 1/2 or 3/4 in strips and apply the top coat as described above. The surface should be leveled with a wooden float before trowling.