Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 91.djvu/632

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��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

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��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.

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