 Chapter 4 of On The Trail, an outdoor book for girls. This is a Librethogs recording. All Librethogs recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Librethogs.org On The Trail, an outdoor book for girls by Lena Beard. Chapter 5 What To Wear On The Trail Camp outfits, clothing, personal outfits, camp packs, double bags and what to put in them. To prepare your own camping outfit for the coming summer, to plan, to work out your lists, to select materials and make many other things just as you want them even to hunt up the articles and purchase them. While all the time delightful visions of trailing and camp life danced before you is to know the true joy of anticipation and is great fun. Clothing, make your dress for the trail absolutely comfortable. Not too heavy, too tight, too hot or too cool. No part of the clothing should bind or draw. Brown or dark grey are the best colours for the forest. Avoid wearing those which frighten the timid wildlife. For you want to make friends with the birds and animals, so do not wear metal buttons, buckles or anything that shines or sparkles. Underwear, for girl campers the lightweight, pure woollen underwear is best, especially if you locate in the mountains or the Canadian or Maine forests. In cold days, too lightweight union garments are warmer than one of heavy weight. Wool is never clammy and cold, it absorbs perspiration and when on the trail prevents the chilly feeling often experienced when halting for a rest in the forest. Union garments may be obtained in the variety of weight and a one-piece suit is the only garment necessary to wear under bloomers and midi when at camp. Union corsets at home, they have no place in the outdoor life and you will be freer if you discard the dress skirt when at camp and on the trail. Have your muscles free, be able to take in long deep breaths to move readily all portions of your body and not be hampered in any way by ill-fitting and comfortable clothing. There must be unrestricted freedom of arms and limbs for a girl to better use them easily in climbing mountains or hills, scrambling over fallen trees, sliding over rocks, jumping from stone to stone or from root to half-sunk and log on wet trails of the forest. Stockings, select your stockings with care. Let them be of wool, strong, soft and absolutely satisfactory when the shoe is on. The aim of the entire camp dress is to have it so comfortable and well adapted to outdoor life that you will forget it. Think no more of it than a bird does of its feathers. When woolen stockings are worn, wet feet are not apt to give one cold, for the feet do not become chilled even when it is necessary to stand in the reedy edge of a mounting lake or stream. If, however, you cannot wear wool, use cotton stockings. Remember that wool often shrinks in the wash. Allow for this when purchasing goods, though it is said on reliable authority that if laundered of care, the garments will not shrink. When washing woolen underwear, use very soapy, cool water, not icy, with addition of a little borax or ammonia, if you have either, and do not rub soap directly on wool. It mats the little fibres and this causes the wool to shrink. For the same reason avoid rubbing the garments if possible during the cleansing process. All that is usually necessary is to squeeze and south them well, then rinse in water at the same temperature. Do not wring the things, squeeze them and hang them to dry. Changes of temperature in the water when washing wool will cause the wool to shrink. To alternate between cold and warm, hot and lukewarm water will surely cause the clothing to grow much smaller and stiffer. Keep both wash and rinse water either cold or lukewarm. Cold is safer. Allow no one to persuade you to take old clothes to the camp. They will soon need mending and prove a torment. Shoes. Wear low heeled, high lace shoes of stout leather and easy fit. Make them waterproof by giving the leather a good coat of hot, mounted mutton tallow completely covering the shoes and working the tallow into all crevices. Be sure to do this as it is worse than useless to depend upon rubber overshoes when trailing. Sharp stones cut and boots, twigs and underbush tear the rubber. With the result the overshoes soon fill with water and your feet swim in little lakes. Test your shoes well before taking them to camp. Be perfectly satisfied that they are comfortable and well fitting. Wear them steadily for one week or more. It is very unwise to risk new shoes on the trail and it is of the utmost importance that the feet be kept in good condition. Be kind to your feet. Camping dress. The most serviceable and practical dress for camping is a free piece suit made of a fadeless, soft quality of grey or brown material. The midi blouse, while loose can be well fitting with long sleeves roomy enough to allow of pushing up above the elbow when desired. Sew two small patch pockets high on the left breast. One for your watch the other for your compass. Protect the pockets with flaps which fasten down over the open top with dress snaps. The right breast sew one good sized pocket. In addition to these you will need one large pocket on both right and left side of midi below belt line making in all three large and two small pockets. The belt is held in place by sliding it through loops sewed on the midi, one at the back and one on each side. Make the skirt of this suit short enough for ease and a generous width not to draw out front the freedom of the limbs. Have a seam pocket in each side of the front breast and fasten the skirt down one side from belt to hem. It can then be quickly removed and used as a cape or a wind break when occasion requires. The bloomers, well fitting and comfortable gathered below the knee with best quality of elastic that it may last can have deep pockets sewed across the front of each leg several inches conveniently below waistline. Hat. A soft light weight felt hat with brim sufficiently wide to shade the eyes will prove the best head covering for the trail. Don't use hat pins. Your hat will cling to the head if you substitute a strip of wool and cloth in place of the inside leather band. The clinging wool prevents the hat from being readily knocked off by overhanging branches or blown off on windy days. Go light when off for the woods. Take if you only those things which seem to be absolutely necessary. Remember that you'll carry your own pack and be your own laundress. So hesitate about including too many washable garments. Make out your list that consider the matter carefully and realise that every one of the articles even the very smallest has a way of growing heavier and heavier and adding to the ever increasing weight of your pack the longer you walk. So be wise. Read over your list and cut it down. Decide that you can do without number of things fought at first to be indispensable. In addition to your camp dress described the following list forms a basis to work upon. To be added to, taken from or substitution made according to location, climate and nature of the country you will pitch camp. One extra suit of wool underwear was suit as soon as changed. One extra pair of stockings every morning put on a fresh pair washing the discarded ones the same day. One high necked, long sleeved soft woven undershirt for cold days. One extra thin midi blouse for hot days. Three pocket handkerchiefs each laundered as discarded. One kimnyo soft warm wool buttoned down front not outer down it is too bulky colour brown or dark grey. One bathing suit without skirt made in one piece loose spouted waist with bloomers suit opened on shoulders strong button and buttonhole fastenings. One warm sweater with high turned over collar and sleeves good long. On the trail carry your sweater by tying the sleeves around your waist align the sweater to hang down at the back one pair of gloves strong, pliable, easy fitting shamros if you feel that you need them. The bare, free hands are better. One pair of strong, snug, well fitting leggings matching camp dress in colour with no buttons or buckles to tangle the bush. The fastening can be covered by smooth outer flap. One pair of felt slippers or thick sold moccasins for tent. Four extra strips of elastic for renewing those in knees of bloomers. One large strong soft silk or cotton neckerchief for protecting neck from sun rain and cold. Also good to fold diagonally and use for arm sling or tie over hat in a hard wind. Silk is best. Two head nets if your stay is long. One if short to be worn in case of swarms of pesterous flies and mosquitoes. Especially needed for protection from a midge, black fly etc. found in northern forests and elsewhere during the spring and through to the middle or last of July. Your net can be a fine mesh net. If you have only white dye black all other colors are apt to dazzle the eyes. The best material to use is black Brussels net. Cut a strip of net long enough to fit easily around your shoulders and allow of some fullness. Take the measurements smoothly around the shoulders with a piece of tape and add to this about 3 eighths of the entire length you have just measured which will give you the length of your head. The whip should be sufficient to allow of the net reaching from base of hat crown across over brim and down over top of shoulders. About 22 inches or more in all. Cut the net according to size needed then fold the strip at center across the whip. Fold again making four even folds. Once more fold and you will have divided the net into eight equal parts. Mark the net at each fold and open it out. Cut armholes in the divisions marked two to fit over the shoulders. Sew together the two ends bind the shoulder armholes holding the net loosely that it may not pull and strain. Sew an elastic to back corner of each armhole. Hem the top of net strip and run elastic through hem to fit snugly on base of hat crown. Gather lower edges of net then try the net on. Adjust in lower and upper gathers so that the veil will blouse a little. Remembering not to let the net touch your face. If it should the little tormentors will bite through and torture you. Sew a piece of black tape across lower edge of the front and another across lower edge of the back fitting the tape to lie smoothly over chest and back and then bring forward the hanging pieces of elastic. Adjust them comfortably under the arms and mark length of elastic to reach round under arm and fasten with dress snaps at front corner of armhole. Cut elastic and finish net. Ornaments. Never take rings, bracelets, necklace or jewellery of any kind to camp. Leave all such things at home and with them ribbons, beads and ornaments of all descriptions. Toilet articles. One comb, not silver backed. One hand mirror to hang or stand up. One toothbrush in case. One tube of toothpaste or its equivalent. One nail brush. One cake of unscented toilet soap. Two cakes of laundry soap. One package of borax or securely corked bottle of ammonia. One tube of cold cream. One baking powder can of pure freshly tried out mutton tallow. Made soap by boiling in pure water until mounted. Then allowed to cool and harden. When taken from the water again mounted and while hot strained through a clean cloth into the can. Good to remove pitch and balsam gum from the hands. To use as cold cream to soften the hands and excellent to waterproof the shoes. One wash cloth, washed, aired and sunned every day. In rainy weather washed and dried. Two hand towels each washed as soon as soiled. One bath towel washed as soon as used. One manicure scissors. One packet sandpaper nail files. Two papers of hairpins. One paper of common pins. Also little flat pocket pin cushion well filled around edge with pins. Two papers of large sized safety pins. Checklist of personal camp property. One notebook and pencil for taking notes on wild birds, animals, trees etc. One needle case compact with needles of strong white and black thread. Round on cardboard reels. Spools are too bulky. Scissors Thimble and large-eyed tape needle for running elastic through hem in bloomers and head net when needed. Two papers of very large sized safety pins of horse blanket kind. One roll of tape most useful in many ways. One whistle. The loudest and shrillest to be found. Wall on cord around the neck. Recalling help when lost or in case of need. A short simple system of signaling calls should be adopted. One compass, durable and absolutely true. One watch, inexpensive but trustworthy. Do not take your gold watch. One package of common postcards with lead pencil attached. The postal to take the place of letters. One package writing paper and stamped envelopes if postcards do not meet the needs. One pocket knife a big strong one with substantial sharp strong blades for outdoor work and to use at meals. One loaded camera in case which has secure level loops through which your belt can be slipped to carry camera and hold it steady. Leaving the hands free and precluding danger of smashing the instrument to misstep on mossy stone or trip over unseen vine or root, suddenly throw you down and send the camera sailing on a distance ahead. Such an accident befell a girl camper who was too sure that her precious camera would be safest if carried in her hand. Wear the camera well back that you may not fall on it should you stumble. Or the camera can be carried on straps slung from the right shoulder. Three or more roles of extra films. The quantity depending upon your length of stay at camp and the possibilities for interesting subjects. One fishing rod and fishing tackle outfit. Choose the simple and useful rather than fancy and expensive. Select your outfit according to the particular kind of fishing you will find near camp. There is a certain different style of rod and tackle for almost every variety of fish. Fishing is not to be a prominent feature of the camp. You might take line and hooks and wait until you reach camp to cut your fishing pole. One tin cup with open handle to slide over about. The cup will serve you with cool sparkly water with coca, coffee or tea as the case may be. And it will also be your soup bowl. Keep the inside of the cup bright and shiny. While aluminium is much lighter than other metal it is not advisable to take to camp either cup, teaspoon or fork of aluminium. Because it is such a good conductor of heat that those articles would be very apt to burn your lips if used with hot foods. One dinner knife if you object to using your pocket knife. One dinner fork not silver. One teaspoon not silver. One plate may be aluminium or tin. Can be kept bright by scouring with soap and earth. Two warm wool double blankets closely woven of good size. The US Army blankets are of the best. With safety pins blankets can be turned into sleeping bags and hammocks. One poncho, lighting weight to wear over shoulders spread on ground rubber side down to protect from dampness can be used in various ways. One pillow bag one mattress bag one waterproof match safe. One bout hatchet in case or bout sheath of small axe for chopping wood and spelling small trees. But be very careful when using either of these tools before going to camp find someone who can give you proper instructions in handling one or both and practice carefully following directions. Be very cautious and go slow until you become an expert. Outdoor books and magazines should be consulted for information. If you do not feel absolutely confident of your ability to use the hatchet or axe after practicing do not take them with you. For the sake of others as well as yourself you have not the right to take chances of injuring either others or yourself for inability to use safely any tool. Do not attempt to use a regular sized axe it is very dangerous. One guy told me that after a tender foot chopped a cruel gash nearly through his foot when using the guide's axe that axe was never again loaned but kept in a safe place and not allowed to be touched by anyone except the owner. Checklist for first aid one hot water bag good for all pains and aches in the comfort when one is chilly. One package pure ginger pulverised or ground to make hot ginger tea in case of chill pains in the bowels or when you have met with an accidental ducking or are wet through to the skin by rain. Never mind if the tea does burn ginger always stings when helping one. Be a good sport take your medicine. One box of charcoal tablets for despair or indigestion one package by carbonate soda baking soda good for burns sprinkle well with soda see that the burn is completely covered then cover lightly with cloth and do not disturb it for a long time. One bottle of ammonia well caught tie the cork down firmly in the bottle a flannel case or raffia covering will protect the glass from breakage good to smell in case of faintness but care must be taken not to hold it too near the nose as the ammonia might injure the delicate membranes as would also smelling salts safer to move the bottle or cloth wet with ammonia slowly back and forth near the nose good also for insect bites one roll of adhesive plaster cut into lengths for holding covered ointment or pole taste in place the strips crisscross over the pole taste but are not attached the ends only are pressed on the bare skin to which they firmly adhere two rolls of two and a half of three inch wide surgeon bandages not gauze for general use of bandages are needed one small package of absorbent cotton two mustard plasters purchased at drugstore good for stomach ache one package of powdered licorice to use as a laxative dissolve a little licorice in water and drink it to keep the boughs open means to ward off a host of evils is even more essential for the inside of the body to be kept clean than it is to have the outside clean to this end make a practice of drinking a great deal of pure water drink it before breakfast between meals not at meals and before retiring if you do this you will probably not need other laxative especially if you eat fruit either fresh or stewed fruit should form part of everyday's fare keep your boughs open one tube of caron oil to use for burns or scalds one small bottle or camphor for headaches one small bag of salt good dissolved in water one teaspoonful to one pint of water for bathing tired or inflamed eyes often effects are cure good for bathing affected spots of icy poison good for sore throat gargle also for nosebleed snuff then plug nose good for brushing teeth for all these dissolve salt in water in proportion as given above one white muslin 54 inch triangular bandage for arm sling or chest jaw and head bandage a man's large sized white handkerchief can be used never buying broken skin with coloured cloth one bottle of fly dope warranted to keep off pestures flies and mosquitoes all these may be kept in one half of a linen case of pockets your toilet articles in the other half and the case can be opened out and hung to the side of your tent or shelter checklist for general camp two basins of light metal paper or collapsible rubber the last is easy to pack and light to carry one basin will serve for several girls if you camp near a body of fresh water let that be your basin it'll always be ready filled no need then to bring water to your shelter for a delightful dip in the river or lake every morning before breakfast will obviate all necessity and do away with the otherwise needful hand basin one reliable map of location surrounding country for constant reference one water pail lightweight for every two or three girls can be canvas aluminium paper rubber or your own selection in other materials six toilet paper packages or more one or more tents of waterproof material one or more sod cloths for tent flooring one or more inner tents of cheese cloth for protection from mosquitoes etc these can be made at home or purchased with the tents at the regular camp outfitters there is on the market a spray claimed to be absolutely effective against mosquitoes etc and to keep both tent and camp free from pests one court is said to last two weeks with daily use cost 50 cents per court one cardboard own dim stone for sharpening all cutting tools one or more lanterns folding candle lanterns may be purchased but the simple 10 cent kind of lamp chimney for protection of candle are good they can be had in luxury stores at Cresco Pennsylvania may possibly be founded camp outfitters if a glass chimney is to be used pack most carefully fill the inside of the chimney with stockings handkerchiefs etc then wrap the chimney all over with other soft clothing and tire securely have this outside wrap very thick one package of one half length candles to use in lantern one tin box of one or two dozen safety matches tin will not catch five in the matches one strong tool bag with separate labelled pockets for different tools each pocket with flap to fasten securely dress snaps in this tool bag put assorted nails, mostly big strong ones, schools all well sealed bottle of strong glue ball of stout twine few raw hide throngs three or four yards of soft strong rope, a pair of scissors two spools of wire and several yards of cheesecloth one rope long for mountain climbing checklist of kitchen utensils two dish pans one for piping hot sudsy water for washing dishes the other for scolding hot rinsing water the last pan can also be used for mixing and bread making select pans strong and of light weight canvas, aluminium or tin and be sure they nest or fold two water pails fitted one within the other both light weight one coffee pot sized to fit in pails must not be too high coca can be made in the coffee pot one frying pan for corn dodgers, flapjacks fried mush, eggs etc one folding camp oven for hot biscuits bread puddings and many other good things relished by hungry campers one wash basin to be kept strictly for washing hands when cooking one large spoon for stirring and general use one kitchen knife suitable for cutting bread, carving meat turning pancakes etc one kitchen fork strong and big but not a toasting fork one Dutch oven pot a strong seamless pot with cover to use for baking boiling and stirring three dish towels washed after every meal one dish mop or cloth washed and dried after every meal dry in sun where possible four large cakes of soap one thick holder for lifting pots hang this up in a certain place where it may always be found when needed one pepper and one salt shaker small and light in weight one net air bag for meat fish and anything that must be kept fresh and protected from the flies use strong net and two or more hoops for the air bag with pincers you can twist the two ends a strong wire together and make the hoops a size large enough to hold the net out away from a large piece of meat cut the net long enough to stand above and hang below the meat gather the top edge tightly together and sew it fast then sew the hoop near the top of the bag other hoops on either side of centre of bag and a hoop near bottom of bag or sew only one hoop at the top and one at the bottom have strong draw strings in the bottom of the bag and fasten a pendant hook at the top to hold the meat hanging free inside of the bag with copper wire attach a good sized ring on top of the bag wire it through the handle of the pendant hook and wheel them together when in use the bag should be suspended high from the ground by means of a rope pulley run through the top ring and over the limb of a nearby tree similar air bags can be obtained if desired from camp outfitters when selecting cooking utensils for the camp you will find those with detachable handles pack better and for that reason are desirable do not forget that every checklist given may be reduced don't think you must include all the items for these lists give outfits for permanent as well as temporary camps you can manage with one towel by washing it every day or evening allowing it to dry during the night one towel will be sufficient for many others at home drop from the various lists every article you can possibly dispense with and still be comfortable in camp if you wear the camp suit travelling from home to camp its weight and bulk will be emitted from your camp pack and be so much to your gain and you will maintain a good appearance notwithstanding for if well made enough proper fit the dress will be a suitable travelling costume camp packs sharing your belongings and striking the trail either part or all the way to camp the easiest method for portage is to stow the things in a regular pack and fasten the pack on your back by means of strong long straps attached to the pack and passed over your shoulders and under your arms a square of waterproof canvas makes a simple and good camp pack get a 9 by 9 feet more or less square of cloth and it will be found useful a shelter, fly ground cloth, windbreak and in other ways after reaching camp what to put in your pack open out your pack cloth flat on the floor and place your folded mattress bag in the centre fill the pillow bag of your first aid case and case of toilet articles if there is space for other things pack them in lay the pillow bag on top of the mattress bag place clothing by the side on top of the pillow bag be careful to keep the contents of your pack rectangular in shape and a size to fit well over your back if not adding too much to the weight include many things on your personal belonging list of these articles you can carry some in the pockets of your camp suit everything being in the pack fold over the sides and ends making a neat compact bundle tie it securely over a piece of soft rope and across its top place the blankets with poncho inside which you have previously made into a roll to fit bind pack and blankets together attach the pack shoulder strap and swing the pack on your back pack straps or harness can be obtained at any camp outfitters a different style of pack may be a bag with square corners all seams strongly stitched then bound with strong tape cut two pieces of the waterproof cloth one about 16 inches wide and the other 18 inches this last is for the front and allows more space let each piece be 21 inches long or longer unite them with a strip of the cloth 6 inches wide as sufficiently long to allow a flap extending free at the top to fold over from both sides across the opening you would then have a box like bag make one large flap of width to fit the top of the back and length to cross over on front covering the smaller flaps and fastening down on the outside of the front of the pack all three flaps may have pockets to hold smaller articles the shoulder straps may be either a strong government webbing which comes for the purpose tube lampwick or leather with this pack the blanket and poncho should be made into a thin roll and fitted around the edges of the pack or made into a short roll and attached to top of pack when feasible it is a good plan to pack your smaller belongings in wall pockets with divisions protected by flaps securely fastened over the open ends the wall pockets rolled tied and carried in the camp pack these pockets are useful at camp they help to keep your things where you can find them next best is to use small separate labelled bags with different variety of duffel and pack them in one or two duffel tube shaped bags which may be bound together constituting one pack from 18 to 24 pounds is average weight for a girl to carry it all depends upon strength and endurance some girls can carry even heavier packs while others must have lighter ones beware about loading yourself down too heavily packs grow heavier and heavier never lighter on the trail blanket roll pack side trips and camp for only one night's river back will not need a back pack the few articles required can be carried in your blanket roll spread the poncho out flat rub a side down then your blankets on top and group the things you intend to take into two separate oblong groups one on each side of the central space at one end of the blankets push the articles in each division closely together leaving the space between the divisions empty kneel in front of your blankets and begin to roll all together tightly taking care not to allow any of the blankets to fall out when the roll is complete tie the center with strong soft string and also each end and make a hoop of the roll by tying together the hanging strings on the two ends wear the blanket roll over left shoulder they're agonely across back and chest to rest over right hip if you have forgotten a few items tie the things to the bottom of the blanket roll and let them hang like tassels or a duffel bag articles of general use while at camp can be packed together in one or more duffel bags if but one bag is needed provisions might go in the same receptacle when space and weight permit it is a much better however to have a separate bag for provisions packing provisions you can make or buy separate tube bags of different heights but all of the same diameter and pack flour in one cornmeal in another and so on having each bag labelled in awe when filled fitting in one duffel bag you will find these bags a great comfort there should be of waterproof canvas with drawstring at the top you can purchase friction top cans for butter etc a varying depth to accommodate different quantities which will fit well in the large provision bag a duffel bag is usually made cylindrical in form with a disc of the cloth sewed in tight at one end and the other end close the drawstrings it is well to have another cloth disc attached to one spot at the top of the bag to cover the contents before the drawstrings are fastened a great variety of desirable camp packs including duffel bags pack straps harness and tump lines may be purchased at the camp outfitters investigate before deciding upon homemade camp packs pack baskets can also be obtained but all the good sized pack baskets I have seen while attractive in appearance are too rigid bulky sharp edged and heavy to be of use to girl campers having decided that the wilderness is the place to locate unless you can manage to camp with very little in the way of extra packs you will be obliged to employ a guide to assist in the carry possibly two guides as wilderness trails do not permit of a vehicle or even a mule or horse being used to help in the portage should your camp be on a more accessible site the easy portage can be taken advantage of and a problem readily solved but the charm of the real forest camp with all its possibilities for genuine life in the wilderness more, far more than compensates for the extra difficulties in reaching camp really though the very difficulties are but part of the sport they give zest and add to the fun of the trail end of chapter 4 chapter 5 of on the trail an outdoor book for girls this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Christine Lehmann Recita, California on the trail an outdoor book for girls by Lena Beard chapter 5 outdoor handicraft camp furnishings dressing table, seats, dining table cupboard, broom, chair racks, birch bark etc. camp is the place where girls enjoy most proving their powers of resourcefulness illustration handicraft in the woods details of the outdoor dressing table comb racks of forked sticks and of split sticks it is fun to supply a want with the mere natural raw materials found in the open and when you succeed in making a useful article of outdoor things the entire camp takes a pride in your work and the simple but practical and usable production gives 100% more pleasure than could a store article manufactured for the same purpose be comfortable at camp while it is good to live simply in the open it is also good to be comfortable in the open and with experience you will be surprised to find what a delightful life can be lived at camp with but few belongings and the simplest of camp furnishings these last can in a great measure be made of tree branches and the various stuffs found in the woods dressing table a nearby tree will furnish the substantial foundation for your dressing table and wash stand combined if you can find a side piece use it for the shelf and fasten this shelf on the trunk of a tree about two and one half feet or more above the ground cut two rustic braces and nail the front of the shelf on the top ends of these supports then nail a strip of wood across the tree as a cleat on which to rest the back of the shelf fit the shelf on the cleat and nail the lower ends of the branches to the tree strengthen the work still more by driving a strong, long nail on each side of the top center of the back of shelf diagonally down through the shelf, cleat and into the tree it is not essential that the straight shelf edge fit perfectly to the rounded tree but if you desire to have it so mark a semicircle on the wood of size to fit the tree and whittle it out should there be no piece of box for your shelf make the shelf of strong slender sticks lashed securely close together on two side sticks for cleats and braces use similar sticks described for board shelf when the shelf is made in this way cover the top with birch bark or other bark to give a flat surface hang your mirror on a nail in the tree at convenient distance above the shelf and your toothbrush on another nail the towel may hang over the extending end of the cleat and you can make a small bark dish for the soap your comb can rest on two forked stick supports tacked on the tree or two split end sticks camp seats stones, logs, stumps, raised outstanding roots of trees and boxes when obtainable must be your outdoor chairs stools and seats until others can be made illustration, outdoor dressing table, camp cupboard hammock frame, seat and pot hook two trees standing near together may be used to advantage as uprights for a camp seat cut a small horizontal kerf or notch at the same height on opposite sides of both trees get two strong poles green wood fit them in the wedges and nail them to the trees then lash them firmly in place be absolutely certain that these poles are of strong wood firmly attached to the trees and not liable to slide or break make the seat by lashing sticks across from pole to pole placing them close together two more long poles fashion to the trees at a proper distance above the seat would give it a straight back if a back is desired but it is not essential with a folded blanket spread over it the seat alone is a luxury camp table a table can be built in much the same way as the seat and will answer the purpose well if one of boards is not to be had for the table make your cross pieces about 22 inches long nail them ladder like but close together on two poles and make this table top flat on the surface by covering it with birch bark tacked on smoothly having previously fastened two other poles across from tree to tree as you did when making the seat you can lift the table top and lay it on the two foundation poles then bind it in place and the table will be finished another way of using the table top is to drive four strong stout forked sticks into the ground for the four table legs and place the table top across resting the long side poles in the crotches of the stakes where they may be lashed in place benches for the table can in like manner only have the forked stick legs shorter raising the seat about 18 inches above the ground illustration camp chair biscuit stick and blanket camp bed camp cupboard a cupboard made of a wooden box by inserting shells held up by means of cleats will be found very convenient when nailed to a tree near a cook fire hang a door on the cupboard which will close tight and fasten securely have this in mind when making out your checklist and add hinges with screws to fit to your camp tools camp broom with a slender pole as a handle hickory shoots or twisted fiber of inner bark of slippery elm for twine and a thick bunchlets of balsam, spruce hemlock or pine for the brush part you can make a broom by binding the heavy ends of the branches tight to an encircling groove cut on the handle some three inches from the end cut the bottom of the brush even and straight camp chair if you have a good size length of canvas or other strong cloth make a camp chair the back use two strong forked stakes standing upright and use two long poles with branching stubs at equal distance from the bottom for the sides and front legs of the chair in the crotches of these stubs the bottom stick on which the canvas strip is fastened will rest each side pole must be fitted into one of the forked high back stakes and then the top on the canvas strip must be placed in the same crotches but in front of and resting against the side poles thus locking the side poles firmly in place to fasten the canvas on the two sticks cut one stick to fit across the chair back and the other to fit across the lower front stubs fold one end of the canvas strip over one stick and nail the canvas on it so arranging the cloth that the row of nails will come on the underside of the stick turn in the edge first that the nails may go through the double thickness of cloth adjust this canvas covered stick to the top of the chair allowing the cloth to form a loose hanging seat measure the length needed for back and seat cut it off and nail the loose end of the canvas strip to the other stick then fit one stick in the top of the upright back stakes and the other stick in the bottom stubs camp close press if you are in a tent tie a hanging pole from the tent ridge pole and use it as a close press blanket bed two short logs will be required for your blanket bed the thicker the better bed and one for the foot also two long strong green wood poles one for each side of the bed your blanket will be the mattress fold the blanket making the seam formed by bringing the two ends together run on the underside along the center of the doubled blanket not on the edge lap and fasten the blanket ends together with large horse blanket safety pins and with the same kind of pins make a case on each side of the blanket fold then run one of the poles through each case chop a notch near each end of the two short logs in these notches place the ends of the poles and nail them securely have the short logs thick enough to raise the bed up a few inches from the ground and make the notches sufficiently far apart to stretch the mattress out smooth not have it sag a strip of canvas or khaki may be used in place of the blanket if preferred camp hammock by lashing short cross pieces to the head and foot of the side poles the blanket mattress can be a hammock and swing between two trees having been attached to them with rope or straps of slippery elm birch or black birch illustration the birch bark dish that will hold fluids details of making birch bark dishes it will be easy for girls to make their birch bark dinner plates vegetable dishes baskets, dippers, etc soften the thick bark by soaking it in water when it is pliable cut one plate the size you wish put it on a flat stone or other hard substance and scrape off the outside bark along the edges allowing the outer bark to remain on the bottom of the plate to give greater strength use this plate as a guide in cutting each of the others with your fingers shape the edges of the plates in an upward turn while the bark is wet using the smoothest side for the inside of the plate large bark cornucopia with bark strap handle can be made and carried on the arm in place of a basket when off burying variations of circular oblong and rectangular bark dishes may be worked out from strips and rectangular pieces of birch bark and all dishes can be turned into baskets by adding handles when necessary to sew the edges of bark together always have the bark wet and soft then lap the edges and use a very coarse darning needle with twine of inner bark fiber or rootlets have ready hot melted grease mixed with spruce gum to coat over the stitching and edges of the article or you can use white birch resin for the same purpose the bark utensils will wear longer if a slender rootlet of pliable wood is sewed with the over and over stitch to the edge of the article for round and oblong dishes or baskets sew together the two ends of your strip of wet bark then sew the round or oblong bottom on the lower edge of the bark circle in this case it is not easy to lap the edges simply bring them together and finish them with the addition of the slender rootlet binding rectangular dishes are made by folding the wet bark according to the diagrams and fastening the folds near the top of both ends of the receptacle these will hold liquids cooking utensils a forked stick with points sharpened makes a fine toasting fork or broiling stick for bacon pieces of meat the meat is stuck on the two prongs and held over the fire a split end stick may be used for the same purpose by wedging the bacon in between the two sides of the split your rolling pin can be appealed straight smooth round stick and a similar stick not necessarily straight but longer may do duty as a biscuit baker when a strip of dough is found spirally around it and held over the fire a hot flat stone can also be used for baking biscuits and a large flat topped rock makes a substitute for table and breadboard combined if you have canned goods save every tin can when empty melt off the top and with nail and hammer puncture a hole on two opposite sides near the top fasten in a rootlet handle these cans make very serviceable and useful cooking pails whittle out a long handled cake turner from a piece of thin split wood and also whittle out a large flat fork make a number of pot hooks of different lengths they are constantly needed at camp select strong green sticks with the crotch on one end and drive a nail slantingly into the wood near the bottom of the stick on which to hang kettles pots etc be sure to have the nail turn up and the short side of the crotch turn down as in diagram campers employ various methods of making candle sticks one method is to lash a candle to the side of the top of a steak driven into the ground the steak can have a split across the center of the top and the candle held upright by a strip of bark wedged in the split with a loop on one side holding the candle and the two ends of the bark extending out beyond the other side of the steak again the candle is stuck into a little mound of clay mud or wet sand if you have an old glass bottle crack off the bottom by pouring a little water in the bottle and placing it for a short while on the fire embers then plant your candle in the ground and slide the neck of the bottle over the candle steady it by planting the neck of the bottle a little way in the ground and the glass bottle will act as a windbreak for your candle never leave a candle burning even for a moment unless someone is present it is a dangerous experiment fire cannot be trifled with put out your candle before leaving it a good idea before going away from camp when vacation is over is to photograph all the different pieces of your outdoor handicraft and when the prints are made label each one with the month date and year and state material used time required in the making comments on the work by other camp members be sure to take photographs of different views of the camp as a whole also of each separate shelter both the outside and the inside and have pictures of all camp belongings the authors will be greatly interested in seeing these photograph a bear would rather be your friend than your enemy end of chapter 5 recording by kristine layman there is but one way to make friends with the folk of the wild and that is by gentleness, kindness and quietness also one must learn to be fearless it is said that while animals may not understand our language they do understand or feel our attitude toward them and if it is that of fear or dislike we stand a little chance of really knowing them to say nothing of establishing any kind of friendly relations with them that watchfulness, keenness of sight and hearing you may obtain a certain amount of knowledge of their ways but when you add real sympathy and kindly feeling you gain their confidence and friendship make them understand that you will not interfere with or harm them and they will go about their own affairs unafraid in your presence then you may silently watch their manner of living their often amusing habits and their frank portrayal of character as a guest in the wild affecting yourself as a courteous guest should you will be well treated by your wild hosts some of whom in time may even permit you to feed and stroke them they do not dislike but fear you they would rather be your friends than your enemies the baby animal which is not yet learned to fear a human being will sometimes when in danger run to you for protection this must win your heart if nothing else can you may stalk an animal by remaining quiet as well as by following its trail to even see some of the inhabitants of woods fields and shore you must be willing to exercise great patience and conform to their method of hiding by remaining absolutely still it is the thing that moves that they fear some of the animals appear not even to see a person who remains motionless at any rate they ignore him as stump or stone for this quiet stalking find as comfortable a seat as you can where you have reason to think some kind of animal or animals will pass and resign yourself to immovable waiting if the rock beneath you grows unreasonably hard or the tree roots develop sharp edges or the ground sends up unnoticed stones of torment if your foot goes to sleep or your nose itches bear the annoyances bravely your reward will be sure and ample if the wait is unduly long and movement of some kind becomes imperative let such movement be made so slowly as to be almost imperceptible remember that unseen suspicious eyes will be attracted by any sudden action and the faintest sound will be heard for these fell danger to the wilderness folk and if frightened away they are not apt to return keep your ears open to detect the first sound of approaching life there is a thrill in this experience and another one the animal you have heard comes boldly out before you then it is you will find out that in some mysterious way all bodily discomfort has vanished your whole being is absorbed in the movements of the creature who is unconscious of your presence and there is no room for other sensations more animals may appear and perhaps a little drama may be enacted as if for your benefit it may be a tragedy it may be a comedy or it may be only a bit of everyday family life but you do not know the plot nor how many actors will take part and your very uncertainty adds zest to the situation animals found on the trail the animals most frequently seen in the woods where there is no longer any large game are the chipmunk the red the gray and the black squirrel the rabbit and hare the fox, weasel, pine marten woodchuck, raccoon possum and skunk also the pack rat of the west the white-footed and field mouse in deeper and wilder forests there are deer and porcupine the deer are found quite near habitations at times in more remote places there are the moose and caribou the bear, mountain lion, lynx or wildcat and the timber wolf the wolf is however equally at home in the open and at this day is most plentiful on the wide plains of the west unless your trail leads through the remote wilderness you will hardly come across the more savage animals and when you do invade their territory it will give you greater courage to call to mind the fact that they as well as the smaller wild things are afraid of man our most experienced hunters in animal life agree that a wild animal's first emotion upon seeing a human being is undoubtedly fear when you come upon one suddenly you may feel sure that he is as much frightened as you are it will probably turn aside to avoid you unless he thinks you are going to attack him all wild creatures are afraid of fire therefore the campfire is a barrier they will not pass and a blazing firebrand birds among the feathered tribes of the woods you will find the owl, the woodcock and the grouse of the smaller birds the nut hatch the wood and hermit thrush whipperwill, woodpeckers wood peewee and others most of the birds prefer the edge of the woods where they can dip into the sunshine and take long flights through the free air of the open but the hermit thrush, shyest and sweetest singers will dip in the silent shadowy forest in these depths and often as near a bog or marsh you may also hear the call of the partridge or more properly the roughed grouse as given by the writer William J. Long the call is like this perhaps you will be startled by the rolling drum call this begins slowly increases rapidly and ends something like this the drum call is made by the male bird who beating the air with his wings produces the sound it is said to be a mating call but is heard at other times as well long after the mating season is over stalking the roughed grouse if you want to see the birds stalk them when you hear their call wait until you locate the direction of the sound then walk silently and follow it as soon as the birds are sighted slip from one tree to another stopping instantly when you think they may see you until you conceal yourself behind a bush tree or stump near enough for you to peer around and have a good view of your game it may sometimes be necessary to drop to your knees in order to keep out of sight if you have heard the drum it is the cock that you have stalked and if early in the season you will soon see his demure little mate steal through the underbrush to meet her lordly master as he stands proudly on an old log awaiting her the wit quit call may lead you to the hen grouse with her brood of little chicks which are so much the color of the brown leaves you will not see them until they move if call comes later in the year you may come upon a flock of well-grown young birds who have left their mother and are now following a leader the rough grouse is a beautiful bird he is yellowish brown or rusty splashed with black or dark brown and white with under parts of a light buff his beak is short and on his small dainty head he carries his crest proudly his shoulders bear epaulets of dark feathers called the rough and his fan-like tail is banded and cross-barred the nest of the grouse is on the ground usually against a fallen log tree or in a hollow made by the roots or it may be hidden amid underbrush it is easily overlooked being made of dry leaves with perhaps some feathers in the season it contains from 8 to 14 eggs woodcock the woodcock another forest bird seldom shows himself in broad daylight except when hunted then he will rise a few feet fly a short distance drop and run hiding again as quickly as he can you'll know the woodcock from the roughed grouse by his long bill his short legs in his very short tail he frequents the banks of wooded streams or the bogs of the forest and like the grouse nests on the ground but the woodcock's nest seldom contains more than 4 eggs beaver along the shores of sluggish streams of lonely lakes and ponds you may see the beaver the muskrat very rarely the otter and sometimes an ugly little long-bodied animal belonging to the martin family called the fisher these are all interesting each in its own way well worth hours of quiet observation the beaver otter and fisher choose wild secluded places for their homes but the muskrat may be found also in the marshes of farmlands on the edges of our long island meadows the boys trap muskrats for their skins you'll find the beaver house in the water close to the shore by the edge of the river the beaver is rarely seen early in the day most of his work is done at night so the best time to watch for him is just before dusk or perhaps an hour before sundown the beaver house is very rarely seen in the day it looks very much like a jumble of small driftwood with bleach sticks well packed together and the ends standing out at all angles far before sundown it is not well to wait to see the beaver if your trail back to camp is a long one leading through dense forest you would far better postpone making its acquaintance then to risk going over the perhaps treacherous paths after dark night comes early in the woods and darkness shuts down closely while it is still light in the open your camp is near the beaver house your beaver dam or if your trip can be made by you then with no anxiety about your return you can sit down and calmly await the coming of this most skillful of all building animals and you may see him add material to his house or go on with his work of cutting down a tree as a reward for your patients fishhawk osprey on the shore you will also find the fishhawk or osprey a well-mannered bird he is said to be who fishes diligently and attends strictly to his own business the fishhawks nest will generally be at the top of a dead tree where no one may disturb or look into it though as the accompanying photograph shows it is sometimes found on rocks near the ground the young hawks have a way of their own of defending themselves from any climbing creature and to investigators of the nest the results are disastrously disagreeable as well as laughable as the intruder climbs near the baby birds put their heads over the sides and empty their stomachs upon them this is vouched for by a well-known writer who claims to have gone through the experience the female osprey is larger and stronger than the male on slowly moving wings she sails over the water dropping suddenly to clutch in her strong talons the fish or keen eyes have detected near the surface of the water fish are fish to the osprey and salt waters or fresh are the same to her I have watched the bird plunge into the waves of the ocean on the coast of Maine to bring out a cunner almost too large for her to carry and I have seen her drop into the placid waters of an Adirandak like for lake trout in the same manner blue heron the great blue heron is one of the shore folk and his metallic blue gray body gleams in the sunlight if you sight him from your canoe standing tall and slim a lonely figure on the bank slowly and majestically with his long legs streaming out behind when out in a small boat on Puget Sound a large heron escorted us some distance as we rode near the shore he would fly ahead and then wait for us standing solemnly on a stone in the water or a partially submerged log to fly again as we approached this escort business seemed to be a habit of the heron family for the same thing occurred on the Tamoka River Florida the home of the alligator when a small brilliantly blue heron flew ahead of our boat for several miles always stopping to wait for us and then going on again the heron is a fisher and when you see him standing close to the water on one foot perhaps he is awaiting his game it matters not how long he must remain immovable there he will stand until the fish comes within striking distance when the long curved neck will shoot out like a snake and the strong beak grasps its unwary prey Loon, Great Northern Diver another interesting bird which you may both hear and see on secluded lakes is the Loon or Great Northern Diver I first heard the wild cry of the Loon a lonesome and eerie sound on Pine River Pond a small lake in the foothills of the White Mountains there I saw the great bird dive and disappear beneath the water to remain in alarmingly long time and then come up several hundred yards away and rising fly slowly to the shore it is always a matter for guessing when the Loon dies for you can never tell where she will come up this great diver is a large black and white bird almost the size of a goose the breast is white, head black and a white ring encircles its black neck its beak is long its legs very short and placed very far back on the body essentially a water bird and I'm sure is both slow and awkward I do not think it possible to become very intimate with a Loon for it is one of the wildest of our birds and so suspicious it will allow no close approach but quiet watching will reveal many of its interesting characteristics someone once found the nest of a Loon and brought me a little down a young one that I might try to tame it but it lived only a day or two in spite of all the devotion on it and its wild frightened cry was too pathetic to allow another experiment of the kind animals and birds of the open you'll find that the wildlife of the open differs in some respects from that of the woods though there will be the woodchuck, the rabbit, the fox and the hare in the fields and farmlands as well as in the woods the weasel too makes unwelcome visits to the farm but besides these there are other animals that are seldom or never found in the woods field mouse there is the little field mouse a short-eared and short-tailed little creature with a thick neck and a red brown color feeds on grains and seeds and when hard pressed for food will also eat the bark of trees kangaroo rat jumping mouse in the underbrush near a meadow and at the edges of thickets you may possibly see though they are not common they may not have animal beautiful in form and color and of most interesting habits in the southwest it is called the kangaroo rat but north and east it is known as the jumping mouse the name kangaroo rat is given because of its short forelegs strong hind legs and the kangaroo like leaps it makes and temperate is very unlike the ordinary rat it does not bite and can be safely handled but will not live in captivity pocket gopher the pocket gopher lives in burrows in the fields it is a mole-like animal but much larger than the common mole its legs are short and its front feet strong with long nails for digging the fur is soft and soaky and dark brown in color where the gopher is there may be found the weasel is greatest enemy it should be an even fight between them for they are equally matched in ill temper and savageness in our near of a size though the gopher is the heavier antelope on the great plains of the west you may see the beautiful and gentle antelope though the animal is fast disappearing while the thieving coyote thrives and multiplies in the same region coyote prairie wolf the coyote or prairie wolf is about the size of a large dog and resembles one its colors gray made by a mixture of black and white hairs it is a cowardly animal and not dangerous but its contemptible character could not prevent a wave of compassion that came over me when I saw one poor creature caged in a wooden box and holding up the bloody stump where its forefoot had been torn off by the cruel and barbarous steel trap spermophile on the west especially in Indiana the little spermophile sometimes called the ground squirrel is common and not afraid to venture into the outskirts of the village one variety where is spotted brown and yellow stripes down its back another is gray but all are about the size of a gray squirrel on the western prairies are the comical little prairie dogs you can see them sitting up on their haunches watching the train as it carries you over the great plains bobbling the birds of the open are varied in many most of the forest birds are seen occasionally in the fields but some birds make their homes in the open you'll find the bobbling's nest in a hay field or down among the red clover the bobbling of the north is a sweet singer and is pretty in his black and white feathers with a touch of yellow at the back of his head there are creamy yellow feathers down his back too but they are not visible when he goes south the male loses his pretty coat and clad like his mate in yellowish brown is known as the rice bird because he feeds on the rice crops here he is killed because he is considered a robber and eaten because he is considered a delicacy metal art early spring trailing through the metals will bring you the cheery song of the metal art spring of the year stalk him carefully you'll find a large brown bird with yellow breast and a black crescent on his throat the metal art is about the size of a quail he stands erect when he sings and he has a rather long beak the nest can be found if you look for it but is generally out of sight under a loosened clot of earth or tuft of grass red-winged blackbird the red-winged blackbird with a sweet call of Ocali or Aucilari you will also find on the meadows and marshes he builds his nest among the reeds and is one of the first of our spring birds in the north song sparrow the little song sparrow loves the open and the hot summer sunshine trailing along a country road at midday when most of the other birds are still you'll find the song sparrow sitting on a rail fence singing with undiminished enthusiasm to make friends with the birds provide food and water for them then sit down and wait quietly until they appear let them become accustomed to seeing you sitting still every day for a while then begins slowly careful movements gradually becoming more natural and in time the birds will allow you to walk among them as you please if you were careful never to frighten them you can do this in camp you can do it at home if you are not living in a city the trustful friendship of animals a new path of happiness the one that all girls should be able in some measure to enjoy End of Chapter 6 Chapter 7 of On the Trail an outdoor book for girls this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Jamie Church On the Trail an outdoor book for girls by Lena Beard Chapter 7 Wild Food On the Trail edible fruits, nuts, roots, and plants while wild foods gathered on the trail give a delightful variety to camp there be advised and do not gather still less eat them unless you are absolutely sure you know what they are not poisonous you must be able to identify a thing with certainty before tasting in order to enjoy it in safety it is well worthwhile to make a study of the wild growing foods but in the meantime this chapter will help you to know some of them the italicized names are of the things I know to be edible from personal experience you are probably well acquainted with the common wild fruits raspberry, strawberry blackberry, blueberry and huckleberry but there are varieties of these and all will bear description red raspberry the wild berry often has a more delicious flavor and perfume than the cultivated one of the same species nothing can approach the wonderful and delicate flavor of the little wild strawberry unless it is the wild red raspberry the fully ripe wild blackberry holds a spicy sweetness that makes the garden blackberry taste tame and flat in comparison the wild red raspberry is found in open fields and growing along fences and the sides of the road the flowers are white and grow in loose clusters while the berry when fully ripe is a deep translucent red the bush is shrubby is generally about waist high the berries bear small hooked prickles the leaves are what is called compound being composed of three or five leaflets usually three which branch out from the main stem like the leaves of the rose bush the edges of the leaves are irregularly toothed the berry is cup shaped and fits over a core which is called the receptacle and from which it loosens when ripe to drop easily into your hand leaving the receptacle and calyx on the stem the sweet far carrying perfume of the gathered wild red raspberry will always identify it the season for fruit is July and August black raspberry the growth and leaves of the wild black raspberry are like those of the red raspberry and it is found in the same localities the fruit like the other is cup or thimble shaped and grows on a receptacle from which it loosens when fully ripe black caps these berries are often called they ripen in July the berry is sometimes a little dry but the flavor is sweet and fine purple flowering raspberry the purple flowering raspberry is acid and insipid it can hardly be called edible though it is not poisonous you will find it clambering among the rocks on the mountain side and in rocky soil the leaves are large and resemble grape leaves while the flower is large purplish red in color and grows in loose clusters mountain raspberry cloudberry the usual home of the mountain raspberry or cloudberry is on the mountaintops among the clouds you will find it in the white mountains and on the coast of Maine and it has recently been discovered in Long Island the fruit has a pleasant flavor of a honey-like sweetness the receptacle of the berry is broad and flat the color is yellow touched with red we're exposed to the sun it does not grow in clusters like the other raspberries but is solitary the leaves are roundish with from five to nine lobes something like the leaves of the geranium the plant grows low out prickles and the solitary flowers are white in the far north where it is found in great profusion the cloudberry is made into delicious jam wild strawberry when crossing sandy nolls or open uncultivated fields and pastures the alluring perfume of the wild strawberry will sometimes lead you to the patch which shows the bright red little berry on its low growing plant it is common everywhere though it bears the name of wild Virginia strawberry in Latin it is most appropriately called fragaria meaning fragrant the leaves are compound with three coarsely-toothed hairy leaflets the small white flowers grow in sparse clusters on rather long hairy stems they have many deep yellow stamens which are surrounded by the fine white petals in fruiting time the leaves are often bright red low running blackberry among the mountains and hills down in the valleys and on the plains straggling along roadsides clinging to fence rails and sprawling over rocks you will find the wild blackberry there are several varieties and blackberries of some kind are common throughout the United States the low running blackberry do berry type and bears the largest and juiciest berries it is a trailing vine with compound leaves of from four to seven leaflets which are double-toothed the berries are black and glossy and grow in small clusters they are sweet and pulpy when thoroughly ripe and the best ones are those which ripen slowly under the shelter of the leaves blackberries grow on a receptacle or a core and not separate from it when ripe they drop easily from the calyx carrying the receptacle with them the flowers are small and white and grow in clusters running swamp blackberry perhaps you have seen the blackberry with fruit so small it seems only partially developed and, like myself have hesitated to taste it not being sure that it was a true blackberry and edible it takes a good many of these little berries to make a mouth full but they are harmless they are called the running swamp blackberry they ripen in august and grow in sandy places as well as in the swamps there are three leaflets seldom more to the stem which are blunt at the tip smooth, shining and coarsely toothed the flowers are small and white and the stems prickly high bush blackberry throughout the northern states as far west as Iowa, Kansas and Missouri and down to North Carolina you may find the high bush blackberry its stems are sometimes 10 feet high they are furrowed and thorny and the bush grows along country roads by fences and in the woods the berries are sweet but quite seedy they grow in long loose clusters and ripen in july mountain blackberry there is another variety called the mountain blackberry it has a spicy flavor but the fruit is small and dry the leaves are more elongated toward the tip than those of the others and they are finely toothed the branches are reddish in color thornless blackberry the sweetest of all varieties is said to be the thornless blackberry it ripens later than the others and has no thorns the leaves are long and narrow eastern wild gooseberry among the mountains from Massachusetts to North Carolina the eastern wild gooseberry grows it is said that its flavor is delicious the fruit is purplish in color and is free from all prickles it grows on slender stems and like the cultivated gooseberry is tipped with the dry calyx the leaves are small rather round and have three or five lobes the flowers are greenish and insignificant the plant is three or four feet high with spreading branches and smooth stems dwarf blueberry perhaps the most satisfactory of all berries when one is really hungry is the blueberry of which there are several varieties the dwarf blueberry is probably the most common it is the earliest of the blueberries to ripen and grows in the thin sandy and rocky soil which is spurned by most other plants you will find it upon barren hillsides in rocky fields and in dry pine woods the berries are round blue about the size of peas and are covered with bloom like the grape they grow in thick clusters at the end of the branch and are tipped with fine calyx teeth the seeds are so small as to be almost unnoticed and the soft ripe berry will bruise easily the flavor of all blueberries has a nutty quality which seems to give the berry more substance as a food the leaf is rather narrow and pointed at each end the underside is a lighter green than the upper and both are glossy in the fall the leaves turn red and drop easily the bush is low and the branches usually covered with small white dots and are covered with blue berry another variety is called the low blueberry it is very much like the dwarf blueberry but the bush grows sometimes as high as four feet it is stiff and upstanding and prefers the edge of the woods and sheltered road sides to the dry open fields the berries are blue with a grape like bloom and, like the first variety grow in thick clusters you can grab a good handful in passing so many are there in a bunch high bush blueberry on the high bush blueberry the color of the berry's berries some bushes bear a black, shiny berry others a smooth blue and still others blue with a bloom the sizes differ also the berries grow in clusters at times on branches almost bear of leaves some are sweet, others sour the leaves are a pointed oval with the underside lighter in color than the upper in some cases the underside is hairy the flowers are pinkish and shaped somewhat like a cylinder the bush grows occasionally to the height of ten feet and you will generally find it in marshy places I know that it grows by the edge of Tidea Skung Lake in Pike County, Pennsylvania where our summer camp is located but it is found also in pasture lands dangleberry another variety is called the dangleberry the berries grow on stems in loose clusters they are rather large of a dark blue color with a bloom they ripen late and are not very plentiful the pale green leaves are large, white, and resinous underneath and are oval in shape the flowers are greenish pink and hang like bells on slender stems wintergreen or checkerberry almost everyone knows the little cherry red wintergreen berry or checkerberry and almost everyone likes its sweet aromatic flavor but few would care to make a meal of it the fruit is too dry for hearty eating and the flavor too decided the evergreen leaves are leathery and texture and their flavor is stronger than that of the berry they are whitish underneath and glossy green above they are oval in shape and have a few small teeth or none at all the flowers are white waxy and cup shaped they hang like bells from their short stems the plant grows close to the ground generally in the woods and moist places it is found as far north as main and west to michigan do not mistake the bunch berry for the wintergreen it too grows low on the ground but the bunch berries are in close clusters at the top of the small plant where the leaves radiate the berries are bright scarlet round and smooth and are not edible flower and leaf resemble those of the dogwood tree to which family the bunch berry belongs partridge berry another ground berry is the partridge berry this may be eaten but is dry and rather tasteless it is a red berry and grows on a slender trailing vine its leaves are small and heart shaped some are veined with white they are evergreen the flowers grow in pairs and are like four pointed stars at the ends of slender tubes inside they are creamy white outside a delicate pink the partridge berry likes pine forests and dry woods june berry or shad bush there are berries on a tree as well as on bushes and vines at least they are called berries although not always resembling them the june berry is a tree from ten to thirty feet in height while its close relative the shad bush is a low tree and sometimes a shrub the fruit resembles the seed vessels of the rose it grows in clusters and is graded in color from red to violet it has a slight bloom and the calyx shows at the summit it ripens in june and is said to be sweet and delicious in flavor the oblong leaves are sharply toothed, rounded at the base and pointed at the tip the young leaves are hairy the flowers are white and grow in clusters the shad bush grows in wet places and its fruit is smaller and on shorter stems it is also said to be more juicy the leaves are rather woolly red mulberry although the finest mulberry trees are said to be found along the Mississippi and the lower Ohio rivers I have seen large thrifty trees in Connecticut and on Long Island they grow from Massachusetts to Florida and west to Nebraska birds are very fond of the mulberry the first rose breasted grow speaks I ever saw a great mulberry tree on a farm in the northern part of Connecticut the berry is shaped much like a blackberry it is juicy and sweet but lacks flavor it grows on a short stem and is about an inch in length in July when the berry ripens it is a dark purple there is a decided variety in the shape of the leaves on one tree some have seven lobes some none at all most are scalloped though I have seen leaves with smooth edges the white mulberry is seldom found growing wild the fruit is like the red mulberry but perfectly white sweet viburnum nannyberry sheepberry the fruit of the sweet viburnum nannyberry or sheepberry is said to be edible it grows on a small tree of the honeysuckle family it grows by the streams from Canada to Georgia and west as far as Mississippi the tree has a rusty scaly bark and broad oval leaves pointed at the tip and finely toothed the flower clusters are large and though white they appear yellowish from the many yellow anthers at the center when entirely ripe the fruit is a dark blue or black and is covered with a bloom before ripening the berry grows in clusters on a slender red stems it is elongated and rather large at its summit is the callix and stigma the seed inside the berry is a stone which is flattened blunt pointed and grooved the fruit ripens in September and October large-fruited thorn the thorns large-fruited and scarlet are edible as a child I knew the fruit as haws and was very fond of it the large-fruited thorn is a low tree with branches spreading out horizontally you will often find it in thickets the bark is rough and the thorns on the branches are long sharp and of a light brown color in flavor the fruit is sweet and apple-like the flesh is dry and mealy it grows on hairy stems and the seeds are hard rounded and grooved the summit is tipped with the callix and it ripens in September the leaves are thick narrowed at the base and rounded at the ends with veins underneath that are prominent and often hairy black-hawe stag-bush the fruit of the black-hawe or stag-bush is not edible until after frost has touched it it is oval it blooms in about half an inch long it grows in stiff clusters on short branching stems the shrub which is sometimes a small tree is bushy and crooked with stout and spreading branches it is found from Connecticut to Georgia and as far west as the indian territory it grows among the underbrush in forests the bark is scaly and of a reddish-brown color the leaves are dark green and smooth on the upper side paler and sometimes covered with matted hair on the underside where the veins show prominently they are 2 or 3 inches long and generally oval in shape with no teeth the flowers are cream white and grow in flat-topped clusters wild plums Canada plum there is a wild plum that is found in our New England states and in Canada known as the Canada plum the plant grows along fences in thickets and by the side of streams the plum is from 1 inch to 1.5 inches long and is red or orange in color it has a tough skin and a flat stone the flavor is considered pleasant but the fruit is generally used for preserving the leaves have long sharp points at the ends and are rather heart-shaped at the base the flowers white in bud change to pink when opened they grow in thin clusters beach plum usually on sandy and stony beaches though at times farther inland you may find the beach plum it is a low shrub and grows in clumps the fruit is apt to be abundant and is sweet when ripe this plum also is used for preserving the color of the fruit is from red to red purple it has a bloom over it and grows on a slender stem the thin stone is rounded on one edge sharp on the other and generally has pointed ends the fruit ripens in August and September the leaf is oval has a sharp pointed tip is rounded at the base and has fine forward pointed teeth there are many white flowers and branches wild red cherry the wild red cherry is sour but edible it is best used as preserves the tree is usually small yet sometimes reaches the height of 30 feet it is often found in the woods of the north but also grows among the mountains as far south as Tennessee the bark is a reddish brown and has rusty dots over it the leaves are oblong pointed at the tips and rather blunt at the base they are bright green and glossy the white flower is much like the cultivated cherry blossom but smaller it grows in clusters the cherries are light red and about the size of a pea sand cherry growing in the sand along our eastern coast as far south is New Jersey on the shores of the Great Lakes the sand cherry is found it is a low trailing bush but in some cases sends up erect branches as high as four feet the fruit is dark red black when quite ripe and about half an inch long it grows in small clusters or solitary and is said to be sweet and edible the leaves, dark green on the upper side are lighter underneath they are rather narrow broadest toward the end and tapering at the base the edge is toothed almost to the base the flowers are white and thinly clustered persimmon in the southern, western and middle states some say as far north is New York grows the persimmon deliciously sweet and spicy when frost has ripened it very astringent until ripe it is plentiful in Kentucky and one of my earliest memories is of going to market with my mother in the fall to buy persimmons there I learned to avoid the fair perfect fruit though to all appearances it was quite ripe and to choose that which looked bruised and broken the persimmon is about the size of a plum but is flattened at the poles it grows close to the branch and its calyx is large the color is yellow generally flushed with red some writers describe it as juicy but I would not call it that the flush is more like custard or soft jelly the tree usually varies in height from 30 to 50 feet but in some places it is said to reach 100 or more feet the trunk is short and the branch is spreading in the south it often forms a thicket in uncultivated fields and along road sides the bark is dark brown or dark gray the surface is scaly and divided into plates the leaves are usually a narrow oval with smooth edges when matured they are dark green and glossy on the upper side underneath pale and often downy the flower is a creamy white or greenish yellow pawpaw the pawpaw is another fruit I knew well as a child it is sometimes called custard apple because the flesh resembles soft custard as I write it can almost taste the to me sickish sweetness of the fruit and feel the large smooth flat seeds in my mouth in shape the pawpaw somewhat resembles the banana the texture of the skin is the same but the surface of the pawpaw is smoothly rounded and it is shorter and thicker than the banana being usually from 3 to 5 inches long it ripens in September and October the tree is small often a shrub and it grows wild no further north than western New York there are some cultivated pawpaw trees on Long Island but I do not think they bear fruit certainly none that I have seen have ever fruited find the tree as far south as Florida and Texas through the middle states and west to Michigan and Kansas it flourishes in the bottom lands of the Mississippi valley and seeks the shade of the forests the bark is dark brown with gray blotches the leaves are large being from 2 to 12 inches long and 4 inches wide they are oval pointed at the tip when matured they are smooth, dark green on the upper side and paler beneath at first the flower is as green as the leaves but finally turns a deep red purple it grows close to the branch and is solitary Mayapple one of the most delicious wild fruits we have is the Mayapple or Mandrake it is finely flavored but being a laxative one must eat of it sparingly it is most common in the middle states and reaches perfection in Ohio the plant is from 12 to 18 inches high and the large umbrella like leaves are lifted on smooth straight stems the fruit usually grows from the fork of two leaves it is yellow lemon shaped and about the size of a plum the flesh is like that of the plum and there are numerous seeds in the fleshy seed coverings it ripens in July and is quite soft when fully ripe I have sometimes gathered the firm yellow Mayapples and put them away in a cool dark dry place to ripen and in taking them out have found them in prime condition they will ripen in this way without spoiling if not allowed to touch one another with a foot in diameter they have from 5 to 9 lobes which are notched and pointed at the tips the upper side is darker than the lower while the fruit of the Mayapple is edible the leaves and the root are poisonous not to touch but to the taste the flower is a clear white with from 8 to 12 rounding petals and it generally measures about 1.5 inches across the petals expand in the morning become erect in the afternoon and close at night we are told that the Mayapple is a roadside plant but I have found it only in the woods wild grapes there are several varieties of wild grapes all, I think, edible but not all pleasant to the taste the fox grape is sweet but has a musky flavor and older thick skin and a tough pulp the fruit ripens in September but few care to eat it the vine grows luxuriously and is very common the summer grape is another tough skinned grape it is not musky but is generally astringent the vine resembles the fox grape in growth being strong and vigorous the fruit of the blue grape is sour and hangs in long heavy clusters it is usually found along waterways frost grape or chicken grape if you try to eat the frost grapes before frost you will find them decidedly sour but after a good frost they are really fine they have a snappy spicy flavor all their own and one eats them like currants skin and all they are small, round and black with a slight bloom the clusters are well filled and hang loosely the vine grows luxuriously branching from a large trunk and is found in wet places and on the banks of streams though it does well in the open and in drier soil it flourishes in New England and down to Illinois and westward to Nebraska the leaves usually suggest three loaves but are mostly undivided they are coarsely toothed and on the underside bears occasional hairs along the veins wild nuts black walnuts of all the wild growing foods nuts are, perhaps the most nutritious the black walnut not plentiful in the Atlantic states but abundant in the middle states and in the Mississippi Valley has a rich wild flavor and a deep brown stain for the hands that tear it the nut is sometimes oblong sometimes almost round with a deeply grooved hard brown shell it grows in pairs or solitary the tree is large often reaching the height of 100 feet and its trunk is from 4 to 6 feet in diameter the bark is dark brown with deep vertical grooves and its surface is broken with thick and thin lines the bark is dark brown with deep vertical grooves and its surface is broken with thick scales the leaves are compound growing on a middle stem which is sometimes 2 feet long each leaflet is a narrow oval sharply pointed at the end and usually about 3 inches long the nuts require frost to ripen them butternut while the butternut tree is much like the walnut in general appearance the nut is large the nuts are different in shape and in flavor and the leaflets are hairy instead of smooth the butternut does not grow as far north as the walnut but is often found side by side with the walnut in the middle states the green outer covering of the nut is oblong and sticky on the surface and like the walnut will stain the hands the shell is hard the nut is very rich the nut is rich but the nut is oily soon becomes rancid hickory nuts in gathering hickory nuts you must be able to distinguish between the edible variety and others that are fair on the outside but bitter within there are 9 varieties of hickory nut trees and in general appearance they are alike they are round leaves and the leaflets are larger and fewer to the stem than the walnut usually numbering from 5 to 11 the nuts grow in small clusters as a rule often in pairs and the outer husk separates one ripe into 4 pieces allowing the nut to drop out clean and dry the full grown tree is of good size and is found almost everywhere in the United States the shellbark or shagbark hickory nut is one of the best the flavor, as everyone knows is sweet and pleasant it is the bark of the tree that gives it the name of shagbark for it separates into long ragged strips several inches wide which generally hold to the trunk at the middle and give it an unkempt shaggy appearance mokker nut is the hickory nut with a dark brownish colored shell hard and thick and not easily cracked it is called the mokker nut because while the nut is large usually larger than the shellbark the kernel is very small and difficult to take out of the thick shell pig nut I will italicize the pig nut because though I have never eaten it I once tried to and the first taste was all sufficient some writers tell us that the flavor is sweet or slightly bitter it was the decidedly bitter kind that I found lying temptingly clean and white under the tree the thin outer husk of the pig nut is not much larger than the nut it is broader at the top than at the stem where it narrows almost to a point the husk does not open as freely as that of the other hickory nuts it is inclined to cling to the nut in some cases it only partially opens and drops with the nut beech nut one of the sweetest and most delicately flavored of our native nuts is the little triangular beech nut the tree is common and widely distributed but few people know anything about the nut in Kentucky the nuts used to be plentiful but I've seen none in New York it is said that a beech tree must be fully 40 years old before it will bear fruit and that may be the reason the nuts are not often are found the soft shelled nut is very small no larger than the tip of your little finger the color is pale brown and it is three sided with sharp angles it is contained in a small prickly husk and grows both solitary or in clusters of two or three when touched by frost the burr opens the nut to fall out while the burr remains on the tree the bark of the beech tree is ashy gray and the leaf is oblong pointed at the tip, toothed at the edge and strongly veined chestnut I find that the chestnut tree is not as well known as its fruit which is sold from stands on the street corners of most American cities a round green prickly burr is the husk of the nut and this is lined inside with soft white velvety down nestled closely in this soft bed lie several dark brown nuts with soft polished shells the first frost opens the burrs and the sweet nuts fall to the ground you may recognize the tree in midsummer by its long tasseled cream white blossoms which hang in profusion from the ends of the branches chestnut is the only forest tree that blossoms at that time so you cannot mistake it later you will know it by the prickly green burrs which develop quickly the tree is large and common to most states the leaves are from 6 to 8 inches long they are coarsely toothed at the edges sharply pointed at the end and are prominently veined on the underside they grow mostly in tufts and center bark and roots of trees slippery elm the inner bark and the root of the slippery elm are not only pleasant to the taste but are said to be nutritious they have a glutinous quality that gives the tree its name and the flavor is nutty and substantial this variety of elm is common and is found from the St. Lawrence River to Florida it grows to a height of 60 or 70 feet with spreading branches which flatten at the top the outline of the tree is much like that of a champagne glass wide at the top and narrow at the stem the slippery elm resembles the white elm but there are differences by which you can know it if you stroke the leaf of a white elm you will find that it is rough one way but smooth the other stroke the leaf of the slippery elm and it will be rough both ways the buds of the white elm are smooth those of the slippery elm are hairy then you cannot mistake the inner bark of the slippery elm which is fragrant, thick and gummy the outer bark is dark brown with shallow bridges and large loose plates the leaves are oblong rounded at the base and are coarsely toothed they are prominently veined on the bottom sassafras the sassafras grows wild from massachusetts to florida and west through the mississippi valley it is generally a small tree from 30 to 50 feet high and is often found growing in dense thickets and uncultivated fields the edible bark is a dark red brown it is thick but not hard and is deeply ridged and scaled the cracked bark is one of the characteristics of the tree it begins to split when the tree is about 3 years old the strong aromatic flavor is held by the bark the wood, the roots the stems and the leaves I have never tasted the fruit which is berry like dark blue and glossy and is held by a thick scarlet calyx but the birds are fond of it sassafras tea was at one time considered the best of spring medicines for purifying the blood and the bark was brought to market cut in short lengths and tied together in bunches the leaves are varied and one twig there will sometimes be three differently shaped leaves some will be oval some with three lobes and some mitten shaped that is an oval leaf with a side lobe like the thumb of a mitten salads watercress there is no more refreshing salad than the watercress gathered fresh from a cool running brook it is a common plant found almost anywhere in streams and brooks its smooth green or brownish leaves lie on the top of the water they are compound with from three to nine small rounded leaflets the flavor is peppery and pungent watercress sandwiches are good the white flowers are small and insignificant and grow in a small cluster at the end of the stem dandelion a salad of tender young dandelion leaves is not to be despised and the plant grows everywhere only the very young leaves that come up almost white in the spring are good the flavor is slightly bitter with the wholesome bitterness one likes in the spring of the year these young leaves are also good they are cooked like spinach the plant is so common it does not really call for a description and if you know it you can skip the following growing low on the ground sometimes with leaves lying flat on the surface the dandelion sends up a hollow leafless stem crowned with a bright yellow many petaled flower about the size of a silver 50 cent piece the seed head is a round ball of white down the leaves are deeply notched much like thistle leaves but they have no prickles End of Chapter 7 Recording by Jamie Church