Fire wood lore

[Lloyd_E]

Even though we are slowly leaving the burning season behind and I asked a while back about this poem or saying, an elderly friend of mind made a copy for me and presented it to me on the weekend. I had asked him about the saying and he said he had just the thing...

Fireside Lore

Hickory makes the hottest coals
in stoves, when winter's bleak

Apple wood like incense burning
through the hall doth fragrance seek

Elm wood fires have little smoke
and warm both serf and lord

Oak logs split and dried this year make
good next winter's burn

Beech burns bright and fills the room
with warmth and dancing light

Maple sweet, not white or red
will burn throughout the night

Birch logs cut need ne'er be stored
they blaze, then heat the pot

Ash, straight grain and easy split
the kettle sings, and stove is hot

Poplar logs must need be dried
lest smoke doth then ensue

Pine and fir midst showers of sparks
burn fast and line the blackened flue


Something to think about when you are storing next winter's wood.

Cheers.

 

[keegs]

Me thinks there's missing in here a line or two about the chokecherry...its grizzly grain and fragrant, pipe tobacco aroma :thumbsup:

 

[MossRoad]

Sassafras, it warms your keester.
With this cold spring, we'll burn 'till Easter.

 

[niemeyjt]

UK versions:

The Firewood Poem

Beechwood fires are bright and clear
If the logs are kept a year,
Chestnut's only good they say,
If for logs 'tis laid away.
Make a fire of Elder tree,
Death within your house will be;
But ash new or ash old,
Is fit for a queen with crown of gold

Birch and fir logs burn too fast
Blaze up bright and do not last,
it is by the Irish said
Hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread.
Elm wood burns like churchyard mould,
E'en the very flames are cold
But ash green or ash brown
Is fit for a queen with golden crown

Poplar gives a bitter smoke,
Fills your eyes and makes you choke,
Apple wood will scent your room
Pear wood smells like flowers in bloom
Oaken logs, if dry and old
keep away the winter's cold
But ash wet or ash dry
a king shall warm his slippers by.



The Firewood Rhyme - Anon

Logs to Burn, Logs to burn, Logs to burn,
Logs to save the coal a turn,
Here's a word to make you wise,
When you hear the woodman's cries.

Never heed his usual tale,
That he has good logs for sale,
But read these lines and really learn,
The proper kind of logs to burn.

Oak logs will warm you well,
If they're old and dry.
Larch logs of pine will smell,
But the sparks will fly.

Beech logs for Christmas time,
Yew logs heat well.
"Scotch" logs it is a crime,
For anyone to sell.
Birch logs will burn too fast,
Chestnut scarce at all.
Hawthorn logs are good to last,
If you cut them in the fall.

Holly logs will burn like wax,
You should burn them green,
Elm logs like smouldering flax,
No flame to be seen.

Pear logs and apple logs,
They will scent your room,
Cherry logs across the dogs,
Smell like flowers in bloom

But ash logs, all smooth and grey,
Burn them green or old;
Buy up all that come your way,
They're worth their weight in gold.

 

[Lloyd_E]

I like the added versus...

The UK gives great insight...

Light fire today to take the chill off - mostly soft wood - fir and pine.

Stay warm.