Evening star., 1925-06-12
Summer Camping Plans
Preparations for Outings of All Kinds Require
Various Features Which Are Indispensable
If Comfort Is Sought.

way to make the list is to group to-
{ gether associated articles, For in
stance, a can of fruit, can opener;
next, meat. salt, pepper and mus
tard; tea. coffee or sugar and milk:
salad and salad dressing. If this
method is followed, there will be less
chance of necessities being forgot
ten.
When lighting a picnic fire in a
s,rong breeze, stand with your back
the breeze and light the side near
est to you. The breeze or wind will
then drive the flames into the kindling
wood and there will soon be a blaze.
If you stood on the other side the
flames would be blown outside and
would not reach the kindling wood.
Sticks placed haphazard on a fire
will not burn as easily as when they
are laid evenly on. Paper used for
the foundation of fire should be
punched loosely between the hands.
The sticks must then be placed
evenly on end with the tops meeting
in the center and forming cone
shaped pile. Dried leaves can be used
as substitute for paper. If bricks
cannot be obtained for inclosing a
fire, a shallow hole should be made
in the ground and In this the fire
can be built.
stocked with a variety of food and
plenty of it. Appetites will be keen
and a few surprise packages should
be included for the benefit of the
children. One package could con-
tain jelly which has been left solid.
just as it was taken from the box
and cut into cubes. Dates, from
which the stones have been removed
and replaced with nuts, are also well
liked. and you can think of other
surprises.
Natures Guide Posts.
Upon going into an unfamiliar part
of the country when on hike 1t is
an excellent plan to turn round occa-
sionally to observe the scenery and
characteristic signs of nature. Then
when the time comes for you to re-
turn home that way the scenery and
other signs will not be entirely un-
familiar and a good deal of confu-
sion will be avoided. Take a good
look at everything in general and
some things in particular.
If you get lost some distance away
from houses and roads in spite of
all precautions, there are certain
things you must remember. First,
decide on the direction in which you
think you ought to go, then proceed
as far as possible to walk directly
toward that point. Without a guide
this is not at all an easy matter,
especially in a rather wooded coun-
try, but Nature has given certain
signs by means of which it is easy
to find out the points of the COM
pass wherever you may be.
In the first place, examine the bark
of trees and it will be found that the
bark is harder. lighter and drier on
the south side than on the north
side. Usually there will be moss and
lichen growing on the north side,
which Is the shady part. Pine trees
have curious way of bending the
tips of their branches toward the
south. If you come across the stump
of a tree that has been chopped
down, look at the rings of growth.
These are thicker on the south side
of the stump than they are on the
north side. If there are no trees to
give special indications, examine
hedge banks or any rocks or stones.
On the south side there will be little
or no moss. The parts exposed to the
north will have luxuriant growth of
mosses and probably ferns also. OF
course, when facing the North, you
will know that the West is at your
left and the East at your right hand
side.
To Avoid Insect Stings.
Many people dread to go on the
river or out in the country because
they suffer so severely from the at.
tacks of stinging insects. Fortunately
there are certain substances which
mosquitoes and gnats dislike extreme
ly, and when these are used there is
generally little risk of being bitten.
Ammonia will keep away most in
sects, but this is very volatile and has
to be frequently renewed. A little oil
of lavender has a more lasting ef-
feet, and the fragrance. although dis
liked by insects. is agreeable to hui
man beings. A few drops may be
scattered on ones clothes and on the
cushions in boat, or on the rug which
is spread on the ground when a picnic
is in progress. Violet powder to which
has been added just a trace Of men
thol may be used as a busting pow
der for ones arms and inside sleeves
and stockings. The protective action
of this powder will last for hours and