File:American homes and gardens (1907) (18129445026).jpg

Title: American homes and gardens
Identifier: americanhomesga41907newy (find matches)
Year: 1905 (1900s)
Authors:
Subjects: Architecture, Domestic; Landscape gardening
Publisher: New York : Munn and Co
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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■ The Indian Canoe Fitted with Lateen Sail and Lee Boards heat at one time. Fifteen minutes in the hot ashes brought the corn to the feast, after the first course of meat and vegetables—and such tempting corn as it proved to be! A bag of potatoes, a basket of tomatoes and apples, a ham, from which smooth slices were neatly cut; a covered bread box, and well-kept shelves of other supplies, displayed intelligence in making purchases as well as care in keeping them. Brought near to nature's heart, not only did the boys learn to take care of themselves, but they absorbed more than a little information from their surroundings. No bet- ter opportunity could have been afforded for botanical and geological research and general study of nature. The boys were quick to see the advantages, spending many hours in careful investigation among the wild flowers and plants and the rocks. Moreover, books were by no means neglected, a portion of each day being spent with them. For a number of years "camping schools" have been in vogue. They may be found in the mountains and along the lake and river shores from Pennsylvania to Maine. Some of the more ambitious and costly of these expeditions wind up with coaching trips through the hills, and with visits to various points of interest. Many such outings continue for as long as eight weeks, or even throughout the entire vacation season. A more or less doubtless of more lasting profit to the boy. The lack of tutoring is more than compensated by what the boys acquire in varied and prac- tical knowledge while assuming the many responsibilities included in the details of camp life. The cost of camp life for six boys, on the co-operative plan, will vary according to the situation. When the tents and furnishings are owned by the boys, this will prove the greatest item of expense; and this will not be large when the boys join in and purchase everything in quantities. Good roomy, tents may be bought at prices ranging from five to fifteen dollars; and the small "A" tents for sheltering supplies, or for individual camping, may be had sometimes for less than five dol- lars. With the light portable canvas cot beds, no mattresses will be required. Some of our boys preferred a hammock for sleeping, but the cot beds which average about the same in price—from one dollar up—are more comfortable, and do not add greatly to the baggage. The plan of sleeping on the ground rolled in blankets, or on beds of straw or pine needles or other much-lauded camp-bed material, sounds in the telling much better than it feels in the testing, and while satisfactory for a few nights of camp life, is seldom desir- able for a good long vacation camp. Comfortable camp beds that are raised above the damp ground in times of storm are well worth the extra expense in the end. After choosing the tents and the cots, each boy secured the extra furnishings from the home supply; the mothers decid- ing upon the amount of necessary bedding, etc., and after each had selected a supply of dishes the plates, cups, saucers, etc. (all being in the light, durable agate ware), each sup- plied his share toward the pots, pans and kettles for camp cookery. This supply included one big iron frying pan for cooking generous supplies of the fresh fish caught by the campers, one small frying pan for the ham, bacon and po- tatoes, an agate pot large enough for rabbit and chicken stews, and three agate pans for vegetables. A steamer was selected to fit closely within the top of the stewing pot, and extensive system of tu- toring goes on in most of the camps. Last s u m m e r there was a large camp under ex- perienced chaperons, on the shores of a moun- tain lake in the North, where regular instruc- tion was carried on. Such outings, however, involve considerable ex- pense upon the parents. Then, too, the camps are more or less under discipline, from which, above all else, the boys desire to escape during vacation time. A "reg- ular boys' camp," like the one described, is not only less expensive, but decidedly more enjoy- able in every way, and
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A Wall Tent Set Up In the Woods

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