Cheese

According to taste, and only for occasional use. A small bottle of grated Parmesan for macaroni, etc.

Lard

The amount will depend upon whether you use much lard in baking, and whether you fry with it or with bacon grease, oil, or butter. Olive oil is superior as a friture, especially for fish, but more expensive and more bothersome to carry.

Milk

Sweetened condensed milk (the "salve" of the lumber jacks) is an abomination. The different brands of plain evaporated milk vary much in quality. Choose by actual test. The five cent cans are most convenient.

Two varieties of powdered milk (skimmed and whole, respectively) may be procured. The kind called "Trucream" makes four quarts of rich milk to the pound, by dissolving in water.

Potatoes

If you can carry fresh ones, choose those with small eyes and of uniform medium size, even if you have to buy a bushel to sort out a peck.

Rice and grits are good substitutes when going light.

Onions

A few fresh ones can be carried anywhere. Almost indispensable for seasoning soups, stews, etc.

Carrots

A few of these, also, for soups and stews, if transportation permits.

Dehydrated (Desiccated) Vegetables

To my taste they are "rather poor fodder." On hard trips I prefer rice, grits, beans, and split peas.

Beans

A prime factor in cold weather camping. Take a long time to cook ("soak all day and cook all night" is the rule). Cannot be cooked done at altitudes of five thousand feet and upward. Large varieties cook quickest, but the small white navy beans are best for baking. Pick them over before packing, as there is much waste.

Split Peas

Used chiefly in making a thick, nourishing soup.

Canned Vegetables

Very heavy and bulky for their fighting value. Very toothsome in the woods. Tomatoes are a good corrective of a meat diet. A few cans of baked beans (without tomato sauce) will be handy in bad weather. The three-quarter pound cans are convenient for emergency rations.

Canned Fruit

Blackberries and pineapple go farthest. Cranberries for the bird season. Others are too watery.

Preserved Fruit

The commissaries of the British army were wise when they gave jam an honorable place in Tommy Atkins' field ration. Yes: jam for soldiers in time of war. So many ounces of it, substituted, mind you, for so many ounces of the porky, porky, porky, that has ne'er a streak of lean. So, a little currant jelly with your duck or venison is worth breaking all rules for. Orange marmalade goes far. Such conserves can be repacked by the buyer in pry-up cans that have been sterilized as recommended under the heading Butter.

Evaporated Fruit

Dried apples and apricots are best, owing to their tartness. Prunes are rather bulky. Raisins go far, and are useful in puddings. Dates help out an emergency ration, and so do figs, which also are very good stewed or in pudding.