Camping and woodcraft - Scoutmastercg.com

CABIN BUILDING 247cement, If possible, and use around the joints offireplace and hearth a mixture of one part cementto two of clean sand. Mix only a little at a time,as it soon sets. However, this may be deferred untilthe second season, by which time the chimney islikely to have settled and opened the joints here andthere.Wherever there is limestone, enough lime for mortarcan be made without much trouble, by a processsimilar to that of burning charcoal. Enclosea circular space of 5 feet diameter by a rude stonewall 3 feet high ; cover the bottom of this enclosurewith brush to facilitate kindling the kiln; then fillwith alternate layers of dry hardwood and limestonebroken into moderate-sized pieces, piling thetop into conical form. Light the pile, and whenit is well going, cover the top with sods to makethe calcination slow and regular. Keep it goingfor two days and nights. Lime can also be madefrom mussel shells or oyster shells. Slake the limein a box some days before it is to be used, and coverwith sand.For mortar, work the lime into a paste with waterand mix in with this, thoroughly, from 2 3^ to 3parts of sand. Thin with water until it mixeseasily.A pretty good substitute for mortar is blue clay(yellow will do) mixed intimately with wet sand.Another is a mixture of sand, salt, and wood ashes.When laying a chimney or wall, see that no jointcomes over or close to another joint. If a rockdoes not fit, turn it over and try again.At the proper height in your fireplace (a little belowlevel of lintels) insert a stout steel rod horizontallyon which to hang wire pot-hooks whencooking. In place of andirons, select two rocksabout 15 x 5 x 5 inches, to support the "fire irons"for frying-pan, etc. (See Vol. I, p. 64.) Never