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Outdoor Problems of the Householder: Posts

Curing Posts. -Leave green posts in the mold two or three days to harden. The molds proper may then be removed from square posts and used on another bottom board but the posts must lay on their own bottom board, in the shade, undisturbed, for at least a week or ten days. Triangular posts may be slid gently from the molds to a smooth floor covered evenly with a cushion of sand but remember that the strain of lifting or the slightest jar may cause invisible cracks. These will greatly weaken the posts. During the first two days keep green posts wet and covered with wet canvas, burlap or any similar material. Wet sand may be used after the concrete has become hard. But manure will stain green posts and otherwise injure them.

Continue sprinkling up to the tenth day. Then pile on end, leaning slightly together. But remember that OUTDOOR PROBLEMS OF THE HOUSEHOLDER 289 a drop of 6 inches may break a green post. Or the jar of hauling them to the field over rough roads may injure them. Concrete posts gain strength rapidly up to a year or more. They should never be used until they have seasoned three months. The longer they can be made in advance, before using, the better.

Use of Concrete Posts. - Set 7 ft. concrete posts about 2 feet deep and compact the soil about them by tamping. Attach the wire by means of short pieces of wire, one size smallup the expansion and contraction from heat and cold. Hence do not hesitate to make a tight fastening. There are other methods of fastening wire, such as setting staples in the green cement, casting holes in the post or imbedding wooden strips in them. But all others than the above are unsatisfactory.