THE "bean hole" is the original fireless cooker, and it is a 

 very practical aid to the camper. Almost any article of 

 food usually taken to the woods can be cooked better 

 and easier in a "bean hole" than in any other way. Yeast bread 

 can be baked in a hole when the weather will not permit the 

 use of the ordinary reflecting baker, and it will have a dis- 

 tinctive flavor that is delicious. Fruit, beans, meats, fish and 

 cereals can all be cooked perfectly by this method, and it is 

 very comforting to rise in the morning, knowing that break- 

 fast is ready as soon as the coffee is done. Also when return- 

 ing to camp after an absence of hours, or even days, it is 

 positively joyous to find a hearty meal thoroughly cooked and 

 steaming hot, awaiting one's convenience. 



A "bean hole" should be dug as soon as the camp site is se- 

 lected, and all brush, roots or other inflammable material 

 should be burned therein. It thus becomes the camp incin- 

 erator and is a splendid help in keeping the camp clean and 

 safe from spreading fire. 



The usual way to make a "bean hole" is to cut all the roots 

 from a circular space about two feet in diameter, and with a 

 pointed stick loosen the soil until it can be scooped out with 

 the frying pan, but of course a shovel is better. Pile the ex- 

 cavated earth as near the edge of the hole as you can keep 

 digging and scooping until a depth of about eighteen inches 

 is reached. Then start the fire and use good dry fuel until a 

 bed of coals is obtained, after that almost anything will burn 

 in it. 



Contrary to the prevalent notice, it is not necessary to have 

 a heavy iron pot or kettle for bean hole use. Almost any tin 

 pail will do, provided it has a cover tight enough to keep out 

 sand and not tight enough to keep in all the steam. 



The writer has seen an explosion which blew every bean 

 and every drop of water out of a ten-pound lard pail, whose 



27 



