trip on Lake of the Woods, I used nothing but drift- 

 wood, for it was the kind of wood most easily obtain- 

 able and was abundant at almost every camp. But if 

 the camper had to cut it, he would find the work too 

 arduous, for dry wood is much harder to cut than 

 green wood. Dry oak for instance, would make a fine 

 campfire, but few campers would be ambitious enough 

 to cut it. Most dry woods also make too hot a fire and 

 are consumed so quickly that it would keep one man 

 busy to replenish the fire. 



Where white birch is not obtainable, green jack pine 

 makes a good substitute, although it burns rather fast. 

 Norway pine and white pine are now so valuable that 

 they should never be cut for campfires. Tamarack also 

 makes a good fire, but it is a great crackler and shooter 

 of sparks. 



Very small .pieces of wood may be set up in a kind 

 of pyramid; my preferred plan is to lay the pieces all 

 in. the same direction like cordwood, broadside against 

 the wind ; that is, if 'the wind comes from east or west, 

 the sticks all point horizontally north and south except 

 two large sticks which point east and west. This is the 

 plan when the fire is built on the open ground and not 

 between rocks and logs. If it is desired to hasten the 

 boiling of the water, some dry sticks may be piled all 

 around the pail. 



The novice may experience some difficulty in build- 

 ing a fire in rainy weather, but an experienced camper 

 can build a fire at any time, even during a heavy rain. 

 With an ax one can always cut some dry chips out of a 

 dead tree or stump, and after the fire is well started, 

 wood which is dry inside will soon burn. 



34 



