CAMPING FOR ALL SEASONS 315 



one for the tent grip, the other a foot or two above 

 for the fly, a necessary thing in hot weather. In 

 this way you do away with the long grip ropes, 

 over which everyone trips, and as they shrink and 

 stretch continually, according to the amount of 

 moisture in the air, they are a constant source of 

 annoyance. Around the tent a shallow ditch 

 should be dug, otherwise the drip from the roof 

 during a heavy rain will form pools under the floor. 

 If no fly is used it is well to remember that nothing 

 must come in contact with the tent roof A leak 

 will result if this is forgotten. In the way of beds 

 there is nothing much cheaper or more easily trans- 

 ported than a folding canvas bed. These require 

 no mattresses, and are therefore comfortable for 

 summer use. If you sleep on the floor, a mattress 

 is more or less necessary, but it is more cumbersome 

 than the folding bed. Of course if you are camp- 

 ing in a place where balsam or fir is abundant, then 

 use the tips of the branches, and no better bed need 

 one wish for. Some people carry folding tables 

 and chairs with them ; these are comfortable, but 

 by no means necessary A plank placed on two 

 boxes will serve for a bench, and several boards laid 

 together are good enough for a table. Folding 

 tables are small and usually expensive. Two hem- 

 lock boards, 12 inches wide and 7 feet long, cost 

 but a trifle, and will answer better than a folding 

 table costing six or eight dollars. For cupboards, 

 packing-boxes, with their lids arranged as shelves, 

 are most convenient. A piece of clean cloth will 

 serve as a door for those who are very particular. 

 We all associate a large open fire with camp hfe. 



