I came across this poem years ago. I have no idea as to the original author — If you do - please let me know.

Beech wood fires burn bright and clear
If the logs are kept a year
Chestnut only good they say
If for long ‘tis laid away
But ash new or ash old
Is fit for 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
Elmwood burns like churchyard mold
E’en the very flames are cold
But ash green or ash brown
Is fit for queen with golden crown

Poplar gives a bitter smoke
Fills your eyes and makes you choke
Apple wood will scent your room
With an incense like perfume
Oaken logs, if dry and old
Will keep away the winter’s cold
But ash wet or ash dry
A king shall warm his slippers by

Author unknown

Although most woods season in six months, some hardwood may take up to nine months. Oak needs a year. Ash, however, can be used almost at once. If you must use unseasoned wood, try ash, beech, pine, spruce, hickory, or fir.

To season firewood, stack it outdoors, piled loosely, and raised on a platform or planks. To provide maximum air circulation, crisscross the logs: Put four on the platform parallel to each other; then place four more on top of them at right angles. Continue stacking in this way. Remember that air will circulate more freely if the wood is not piled against a wall. If possible, stack it so the prevailing wind blows through the long axis.

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This may all seem pretty basic but I have been amazed in the past with people that have no idea as to how to start a fire in their stove or fireplace. They will struggle with it after overloading their fireplace with newspaper trying to starts logs with no kindling. They will throw all sorts of “no-nos” in the fire place to help start it — I have even seen people use kerosene or charcoal starters and various other flammables to get their fire going. That is scary stuff.

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Soft Maple: Hardwood, medium heat output, somewhat easy to ignite, few sparks, good for burning.

Spruce: Softwood, low heat output, easy to ignite, medium smoky, sparks quite a bit, fair - good for kindling.

Sugar Pine: Softwood, low heat output, easy to ignite, medium smoky, sparks a bit, fair - good for kindling.

Sycamore: Hardwood, medium heat output, difficult to ignite, medium smoky, few sparks or pops, fair - this is a damp wood - takes a long time to season properly.

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Eastern Red Cedar: Softwood, low heat output, easy to ignite, medium smoky, tends to pop and sparks quite a bit - fair - best for kindling.

Eastern White Pine: Softwood, low heat output, easy to ignite, medium smoky, few pops and sparks, fair - best for kindling.

Elm: Hardwood, low heat output, not easy to ignite, smoky, sparks little, not a great choice but if you must - must season for a very long time - relatively damp wood. My advice is to stay away from using it.

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Here is a list of common firewood and their burning attributes. Being that the list is a bit long I have divided it into three parts. A through D, E through R, and S through Y

Alder: Hardwood, medium heat output, medium ease to ignite, produces little smoke, few pops and sparks - is a good burning wood.

Apple: Hardwood, high heat output, not easy to ignite, produces very little smoke, sparks when poked, excellent stuff - smells great. If seasoned a long time will burn with rainbow colored flame.

Ash: Hardwood, very high heat output, not easy to ignite, produces very little smoke, sparks when poked, has a very low moisture content, will burn when green - excellent.

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Selecting firewood is not really that tough. Perhaps you contact your local tree trimming company and say “I need a cord of wood” They may tell you that they have mixed hardwoods - that is fine. Before you ask them to spell out what woods they have you may want to look around your own backyard as they are going to offer wood that grows in the area. You most likely get a mixture of hardwoods and softwoods. To request only a certain wood may cause laughter. The generally don’t sort.

If you have a tree in your backyard that needs to be taken down don’t have them haul it away but rather cut it up for firewood. Besides, you know exactly what you are getting for firewood and may get a nice stack of it. All in all you will get a mixture.

Hardwoods come from deciduous trees and softwoods come from coniferous trees. Each have unique properties to keep in mind:

Read on for a list of firewood properties

Buying firewood can be confusing at times. Just what is a cord? - What is a face cord? What is stove wood as opposed to fireplace wood? Hardwood, softwood or a mixture? Is it seasoned and how do you know if it is or not?

Dealers usually offer firewood by the cord: a standard stack measures 8′ long by 4′ high by 4′ deep. You must be wary and make sure that you receive full value. For example a face cord, often sold as a standard cord measures 4′ x 8′ x 12′ of 16″ or 20″ logs. Other names you may hear include but are not limited to short cord, stove cord, fireplace cord, running cord, rack and load. It is important for you to know just what you are buying; so ask questions.

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Whether you burn wood to heat your home or to enjoy watching a bright blaze, you should know how to pick the right kind of wood and logs to build the best woodpile.

A well stocked woodpile will save you money and make your winter more pleasurable.

For the ideal woodpile you will need seasoned logs. Wood must generally season for at least six months to ensure optimum efficiency. Wood that was stacked this past spring should be ready to use this fall and winter.

Although most woods season in six months, some hardwood may take up to nine months. Oak generally needs a year. Ash however, can be used almost at once. If you must use unseasoned wood try Ash, Beech, Pine, Spruce, Hickory or Fir.

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This past winter with energy costs out of control more people may have been stoking the wood stove or wishing they could. So in preparation for this coming winter here are a few pointers that you may find useful.

Burn hardwoods or a mixture of hardwoods and softwoods. That should help cut creosote buildup.

Burn only seasoned wood. Unseasoned, or green, wood promotes smoke buildup.

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