e
alimentary canal, and so be worse than wasted. An excess of meat or fish
will do the same thing. Other foods of very high theoretical value are
constipating if used in large amounts, as cheese, nuts, chocolate.

"_Food Components_--Let us now consider the material of field rations,
item by item.

"_Bacon_--Good old breakfast bacon worthily heads the list, for it is
the campaigner's standby. It keeps well in any climate, and demands no
special care in packing. It is easy to cook, combines well with almost
anything, is handier than lard to fry things with, does just as well to
shorten bread or biscuits, is very nutritious, and nearly everybody
likes it. Take it with you from home, for you can seldom buy it away
from railroad towns. Get the boneless, in 5 to 8 pound flitches. Let
canned bacon alone; it lacks flavor and costs more than it is worth. A
little mould on the outside of a flitch does no harm, but reject bacon
that is soft and watery, or with yellow fat, or with brownish or black
spots in the lean.

"_Smoked Ham_--Small ones generally are tough and too salty. Hard to
keep in warm or damp weather; moulds easily. Is attractive to
blow-flies, which quickly fill it with 'skippers' if they can get at it.
If kept in a cheesecloth bag and hung in a cool, airy place a ham will
last until eaten up and will be relished. Ham will keep, even in warm
weather, if packed in a stout paper bag so as to exclude flies. It will
keep indefinitely if sliced, boiled or fried and put up in tins with
melted lard poured over it to keep out air. * * *

"_Canned Soups_--These are wholesome enough, but their fluid kinds are
very bulky for their meager nutritive value. However, a few cans of
consomme are fine for 'stock' in camp soups or stews, and invaluable in
case of sickness. Here, as in canned meat, avoid the country grocery
kind.

"_Condensed Soups_--Soup powders are a great help in time of
trouble--but don't rely on them for a full meal. There are some that are
complete in themselves and require nothing but 15 to 20 minutes'
cooking; others take longer, and demand (in small type on the label) the
addition of ingredients that generally you haven't got. Try various
brands at home till you find what you like.

"_Cured Fish_--Shredded codfish and smoked halibut, sprats, boneless
herring are portable and keep well. They will be relished for variety's
sake.

"_Eggs_--To vary the camp bill of fare, eggs are simply invaluable, not
o