616 



Popular Science Monthly 



Making a Campfire Tent out of 

 a Pack Cloth 



THE campfire tent shown in the illustra- 

 tions is most comfortable to live in. It 

 is of the open front type and is always well 

 ventilated. With the front flap raised as 

 an awning, the heat from the fire is reflected 



Dimensions of the cloth for making an open 

 front campfire tent equipped with an awning 



inside, where it is most welcome on a 

 cool night. 



This tent may be made of the simple 

 lean-to type, or with the front flap. The 

 model with the awning is a nice roomy tent 

 for two or three persons. All models are 

 easily made from a rectangular piece of 

 material, and merely folded on the dotted 

 lines. This makes it unnecessary to cut the 

 material up, and when not in use the tent is 

 folded out flat to serve as a tarpaulin, an 

 apron to cover the canoe, or as a pack cloth 

 to wrap around the blankets and other 

 camp duffle. The two end segments, 

 within the dotted lines, are folded in to 

 serve as a sod cloth, and an additional strip 

 of cloth may be sewed to the back wall to 

 serve the same purpose. This is desirable, 

 because it keeps out the wind and rain and 

 prevents insects from entering. 



As lightness is desirable, a heavy grade of 

 unbleached cotton cloth is the best choice. 

 If a heavier material is wanted, use regula- 

 tion duck in 6, 8 or io-ounce weights. 

 Common khaki fabric is good, and stout 

 enough for ordinary use. The breadths of 

 cloth are sewed together by lapping one 

 edge over the other about M-in. and double 

 stitching the seams. This can be done on 

 the sewing machine. A i-in. hem should be 

 run around the edges. 



The eyelets are sewed in by making a 

 small hole at the proper place, and placing a 

 brass ring or grommet on each side of the 

 hole. Sew over and over with an over- 

 casting stitch, using waxed seine twine or 

 ordinary string. 



Every tent should be waterproofed. 

 The following method is one of the best: 

 In 4 gal. of boiling water (rain water) 

 dissolve 3^ lb. of common powdered alum. 

 In a separate pail, dissolve Y2 lb- l ea d 

 acetate (sugar of lead) in 4 gal. water. 

 Pour the alum solution in a clean tub, and 

 add the lead solution. Let this stand for 

 several hours, then pour off the clear liquid 

 and work the canvas thoroughly in it, so 

 that every part of the cloth is well saturated. 

 To make the cloth absolutely waterproof, it 

 is necessary to fix the acetate of alum in the 

 fibers of the cloth, and this cannot be done 

 unless soft rain water is used. Finish by 

 lightly rinsing in clear water to remove the 

 dust of sulphate, and hang up to dry. An 

 ordinary coat or sweater can be water- 

 proofed in the same way, and cloth thus 

 treated is fireproof also. Sugar of Jead is a 

 poison, but only when taken internally. 



If the tent is wanted of a brown or 

 forest-green color, the cloth may be easily 

 dyed with Diamond Dye or other household 

 dye. This should be done before water- 

 proofing and after the tent is made up. 



The tent may be staked with the usual 

 ridge and side poles, with the crotched 

 sticks cut in the woods, or suspended along 

 the ridge with a rope, hung between two 

 trees. — Stillman Taylor. 



Preserving Flowers in Natural Colors 

 with Wax 



IT is not generally known that preserving 

 flowers in wax is one of the easiest of 

 tasks. Ordinary candles may be used. To 

 prepare the wax, it is only necessary to cut 

 the candles into chunks, being careful to 

 remove the wicks. The wax is then melted 

 in a saucepan over a flame, after which it 

 is ready to receive the flowers. Each 

 flower should be dry on the surface when 

 treated; there should be no rain or dew- 

 drops on the petals. Take the blossoms 

 separately and dip them for a moment or 

 so into the liquid wax, constantly moving 

 them about. Immerse the blossoms com- 

 pletely and also an inch or so of the stem. 

 Then take them out and hold until dry. 

 Do not lay them on a table or flat surface 

 until they are dry, as this will crush them. 



