334 The Farmstead 



inch in diameter, about 4 inches long. This 

 wire can be obtained from the Pittsburg Re- 

 duction Company, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. 

 These wires must then be filed to sharp points 

 on one end, the opposite ends being' roughened 

 with coarse sandpaper. Push as many of the 

 wires into the hole in the block as it will hold 

 and bend the points back so as to form a 

 brush. Now heat some solder in a ladle and 

 pour in around the lower ends of the aluminum 

 wires, having first taken the precaution to heat 

 the copper block so that the solder will flow 

 well. The conductor rod is then soldered into 

 a slot filed in the lower end of the block, and 

 the bunch of points is complete. 



The ground connection is the most important 

 part of the whole equipment. With poor ground 

 connections, the rods become a menace to a 

 building rather than a protection. Examples 

 could be cited where buildings were actually 

 struck and destroyed, even though "apparently 

 properly rodded." In one case the wire en- 

 tered but two inches into dry soil, while in 

 another the lower end was buried in concrete. 

 It is absolutely essential that the lower end 

 of the rod be connected with moist earth in 

 some way, as this is the only method which 

 will insure safety. If there are water pipes 

 in the building, they should be attached to the 



