Logs to Burn!

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 splendid logs for sale

But read these lines and surely learn

The proper kind of logs to burn.

Oak Logs will warm you well

if they are old and dry

Larch logs of pinewood smell

But the sparks will fly.

Beech logs for Christmas time

Yew logs will heat you 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 gree

Elm logs like smouldering flax

With 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 all that come your way

They're worth their weight in gold.

Another one:

Oak logs will warm you well
That are old and dry
Logs of pine will sweetly smell
But the sparks will fly.

Birch logs will burn too fast
Chestnut scarce at all;
Hawthorn logs are good to last
Cut them in the fall.

Holly logs will burn like wax,
You may burn them green;
Elm logs like smoldering flax
No flame to be seen.

Beech logs for winter time
Yew logs as well
Green Elder logs it is a crime
For any man to sell.

Pear logs and apple logs
They will scent your room,
Cherry logs across the dogs
Smells like flower of broom.

Ash logs smooth and grey,
Burn them green or old,
Buy up all that come your way –
Worth their weight in gold.

There are lots of these poems - interestingly, they seem to have blended, with whole verses transposed from one version to another.    

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 woodsman cry.

Beechwood fires burn bright and clear, Hornbeam blazes too,

If the logs are kept a year, to season through and through.

Oaken logs will warm you well, if they're old and dry,

Larch logs of pinewood smell but the sparks will fly.

Pine is good and so is Yew for warmth through wintry days,
The Poplar and the Willow too, they take too long to blaze.

Birch logs will burn too fast, Alder scarce at all,
Chestnut logs are good to last, cut them in the fall.

Holly logs will burn like wax, you should burn them green,
Elm logs like smouldering flax, no flames with them are seen.

Pear logs and Apple logs, they will scent your room,
Cherry logs, across the dogs, they smell like flowers in bloom.

Ash logs, so smooth and gray, burn them green or old,
Buy up all that come your way they're worth their weight in gold.

This is a version which I posted in January last year...

Beechwood flames are bright and clear
if the logs be kept a year
Oaken logs burn steadily
If the wood be old and dry
Chestnut's only good they say
If long dry years it's laid away
But Ash when new or Ash when old
Is fit for a queen with a crown of gold.

by Dorothy Tilson

Birch and Fir they burn too fast
Blaze too bright and will not last
Build a fire of elder tree
Death within your house you'll see.
If you would bake the sweetest bread
Use Hawthorn, or so 'tis said
But Ash when green or Ash when brown
Will please a queen with a golden crown

Elm will burn like churchyard mould
Even the very flames are cold
Poplar gives a bitter smoke
Burns your eyes and makes you choke
Apple wood will scent your room
Pear wood smells of flowers in bloom.
But Ash when wet or Ash when dry
A queen may warm her slippers by.

Each version has something to offer.    I must conduct an experiment next autumn...cut some Hawthorn (second poem) then, when it has seasoned, use it to fire-up the Rayburn when I am baking bread (final poem) ...  

It is cold and snowy outside - another day for sitting next to the fire and dipping into old books - life is tough!