SCOUTING FOR GIRLS 
33 9 
them are superior, as they split and shave readily and 
catch fire easily. 
“Liquidambar, magnolia, tulip, catalpa, and willow 
are poor fuel. Seasoned chestnut and yellow poplar 
make a hot fire, but crackle and leave no coals. Bal- 
sam fir, basswood, and the white and loblolly pines make 
quick fires, but are soon spent. The grey (Labrador) 
or jack pine is considered good fuel in the far north, 
where hard woods are scarce. Seasoned tamarack is 
good. Spruce is poor fuel, although, being resinous, 
it kindles easily and makes a good blaze for 'branding 
up’ a fire. Pitch pine, which is the most inflammable 
of all woods when dry and 'fat/ will scarcely burn at 
all in a green state. Sycamore and buckeye, when thor- 
oughly seasoned, are good fuel, but will not split. Al- 
der burns readily and gives out considerable heat, but 
is not lasting. 
“The dry wood of the northern poplar (large-toothed 
aspen) is a favorite for cooking fires, because it gives 
an intense heat, with little or no smoke, lasts well, and 
does not blacken the utensils. Red cedar has similar 
qualities, but is rather hard to ignite and must be fed 
fine at the start. 
“The best green soft woods for fuel are white birch, 
paper birch, soft maple, cottonwood, and quaking aspen, 
“As a rule, the timber growing along the margins of 
large streams is softwood. Hence, driftwood is gen- 
erally a poor mainstay unless there is plenty of it on 
the spot; but driftwood on the sea coast is good fuel. 
“Precautions — I have already mentioned the neces- 
sity of clearing the camp ground of inflammable stuff 
before starting a fire on it, raking it toward a common 
center and burning all the dead leaves, pine needles and 
trash; otherwise it may catch and spread beyond your 
control as soon as your back is turned. Don’t build 
