Camping and woodcraft - Scoutmastercg.com

220 CAMPING AND WOODCRAFTboard made from packing boxes can be hung upthe same way, to keep vermin out. If ants aretroublesome, the edibles can be hung up bj^ wires,in a place where they will be sheltered from sun andrain.In a stationary camp there should be a separatecommissary tent, preferably of the baker style, asits door makes a good awning to work under in wetweather. Do not set boxes or bags of provisionson the ground, but on sticks, to keep dampnessaway from them.Racks or hangers for utensils, dish towels, etc.,are improvised in many ways: a bush trimmed withstubs left on, and driven in the ground where itis wanted, inverted crotches nailed to a tree, andso on. Pegs of hard wood whittled to a bluntpoint can be driven into the trunk of a softwoodtree by first making a vertical axe gash at the spotwhere the peg is to go.Cold Storage.—Butter and milk should noi bestored near anything that has a pronounced odor,for they would be tainted. As soon as the campground is reached the butter tin or jar should beplaced in a net or bag and sunk in the spring orcold brook, the string being tiednto the bank so thata freshet may not carry the food away or bury itout of sight. Later, if you stay in that place, alittle rock-lined well can be dug near the spring,and covered securely so that 'coons and porcupinescannot plunder it.Meat and fish may be kept fresh until consumedby digging a hole and putting a packing box in it,surrounding the sides and bottom of the box withsix inches or more of gravel, and covering top ofbox with burlap or something similar. Keep thegravel and the burlap wet, and cover all with wetevergreen boughs.If you have ice, a refrigerator can be made likethe fireless cooker described in Chapter IV; or borea few holes for drainage in the bottom of a box