PRACTICAL BOOK OP GARDEN ARCHITECTURE 



practical study, that the light furnished by acetylene 

 is remarkable because of the fact that its spectrum 

 is nearer to the spectrum of the sun than that of any 

 other illuminant. This makes its use of special 

 advantage in lighting country homes, and when the 

 plant is established it is a small matter to provide 

 the extra lights for the barns and various out-build- 

 ings, as well as along the walks and the garden 

 driveways. One who has thoroughly tested the use 

 of acetylene gas in lighting the homes and the 

 grounds of village and country homes, gives still 

 another feature of its usefulness, by stating that the 

 residuum of the carbide, which must occasionally be 

 drawn from the generating tank, is in reality a lime, 

 and that it can be used in making whitewash, or on 

 the land to sweeten the soil. 



"Once in position, an acetylene plant requires 

 but little attention, " he says. "At intervals, which 

 vary according to the amount of gas burned, it is 

 necessary to fill the carbide-holder at the top of the 

 machine with carbide, which comes in cans ready for 

 use, and to fill the generating tank with water. No 

 further attention is necessary until the carbide is 

 exhausted except the occasional drawing of the re- 

 siduum of the carbide from the generating tank." 

 The principle involved in establishing the use of 

 acetylene gas in country districts is very simple, 



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