House and Garden 
TO DETECT SALT IN SAND 
A WRITER in one of the London 
^ * architectural papers presents some 
interesting remarks relative to methods 
by which salt may he detected in sand. 
He says that if the sand is not contami¬ 
nated with decaying organic matter, the 
easiest way is undoubtedly to put a few 
grains in the mouth, or to taste the water 
in which some of the sand has been 
stirred. If this test is objected to, put 
some of the sand in a wine-glass, cover 
with distilled water, and after agitating 
for some time, dip a piece of clean plati¬ 
num wire into the water, and hold it in a 
colorless Bunsen gas-flame. A persis¬ 
tent deep yellow color imparted to the 
flame w ill indicate the presence of sodi¬ 
um. The platinum should first be 
heated to burn off' impurities; another 
method is to filter off' the water from the 
sand by means of blotting-paper, and to 
the liquid add a drop of silver nitrate 
solution. A curdy white precipitate 
will at once betray the presence of 
common salt. In ascertaining the pres¬ 
ence of salt in sand it is assumed that 
the object is to discover any tendency to 
absorb moisture, and, consequently, to 
cause damp walls. This could be equally 
well ascertained by drying some of the 
sand for some hours at a temperature of 
212 ° F. Its weight should then be ac¬ 
curately taken and the sand exposed for 
some days to a moist atmosphere. Any 
increase of weight at the end of the 
period would be due to water absorbed 
from the air, probably ow ing to the pres¬ 
ence of common salt.— Scientific Amer¬ 
ican Supplement. 
AUDUBON’S OLD HOME 
T HE home of Audubon stands on the 
south bank of the Perkiomen 
Creek, about three miles east of Phoenix- 
ville. Pa. The house once occupied by 
the naturalist was built a hundred 
and thirty-six years ago. It is re¬ 
nowned in the region as the “ Mill Grove 
House. ” 
It stands on a knoll overlooking the 
country. The old house is of stone, and 
the walls are remarkably thick and 
substantial, and look as it they would 
stand another one hundred and thirty- 
six years. They are covered with a 
growth of ivy. There are several an¬ 
cient pine trees standing around the 
house. In the shade of these tall pines 
the world-famed naturalist did some of 
Fresh-air heating 
No matter how cold and long the night, you can beat back 
the nipping frost and keep every cubic foot of your house 
freshly ventilated and 
radiantly warmed by 
Amiricanx Ideal 
i\ Radiators ^Iboilers 
IDEAL Boilers steadily and uni¬ 
formly deliver the Steam or Hot 
Water to AMERICAN Ventilating Radiators day and night, without recoaling for 
periods of eight, ten or twelve hours, as you wish, in most bitter weather. The 
fire need not be rekindled during the entire heating season. Anyone can run the 
outfit no way to get out of order absolutely safe. The fuel and labor savings 
quickly repay the difference in cost over old-fashioned heating methods. The 
outfit lasts a lifetime no repairs. Increases value of building for living, renting 
or selling. The purchaser thus gets his money back. 
One small fire in an IDEAL Boiler does better work than a half-dozen grates, 
stoves, Baltimore heaters, or hot-air furnaces, for it warms the house evenly no 
matter how the nights behave or North winds rage. 
ADVANTAGE 9: Experience has taught us that 
no heating outfit should be without a check-draft in 
smoke-pipe. The special device we supply with all 
IDEAL Boilers is as sensitive as a pair of fine scales, 
and does much to insure automatic control of the fire 
and bring about the marked fuel economy for which 
IDEAL Boilers are noted. 
Our catalogues (free) explain many other advantages 
and offer a wealth of heating and ventilating information 
to owners or tenants of cottages, houses, stores, schools, 
churches, etc. ALL buildings- OLD or new FARM 
or city. Write to-day. Seven months’ winter ahead ! 
Sales Branches and Warehouses throughout America and Europe. 
The fine Check-Draft 
that gives control of fire 
DEPT. 10 
Ame rican R adiator C ompany 
CHICAGO 
Landscape Architects 
and Engineers 
Plans for the development of private estates, parks, 
cemeteries and boulevards made and executed 
SOUTHERN WORK A SPECIALTY Established 1856 
P. J. BERCKMANS CO. Augusta, Ga. 
U-Bar Greenhouses 
Designed and Bui It by 
Pierson U-Bar Company 
Metropolitan Building 
Fourth Avenue and 23rd Street - New York 
In writing to advertisers please mention House and Garden. 
