Old Adage, Country Lore?

[PeteB]

I recently heard part of an old adage on Radio4, but got interrupted by a 'call. I had heard of it before as well.

 

It relates to firewood and how the different timbers burn, one bit went something like -

 

Ash brown or green is fit for the Queen, Ash wet or dry is good to warm the King's slippers by.

 

Anyone know the full adage.

 

Anyone got any other similar adages that reflect country lore?

[Peter]

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 poem was written by Celia Congreve, is believed to be first published in THE TIMES newspaper on March 2nd 1930.

 

Funny, no mention of calorific values, ODTs, or Archimedes......

[Bundle 2]

The Firewood Poem

 

The firewood poem was written by Celia Congreve, is believed to be first published in THE TIMES newspaper on March 2nd 1930.

 

 

[davetaz]

Another variation

 

Beech wood fires are bright and clear

If the logs are kept a year

Oaken logs burn steadily

if the wood is old and dry

but ash dry or ash green

makes a fire fit for a queen

 

logs of birch wood burn too fast

there's a fire that will not last

chestnut's only good they say

if for long its laid away

but ash new or ash old

is fit for a queen with a crown of gold

 

poplar makes a bitter smoke

fills your eyes and makes you choke

it is by the irish said

hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread

but ash green or ash brown

is fit for a queen with a golden crown

 

elmwood burns like churchyard mould

e'en the flames are very cold

apple logs will fill your room

with an incense-like perfume

but ash wet or ash dry

for a queen to warm her slippers by

 

Extract from "HUNTER'S JOURNAL", 1924

 

before the days of moisture meters,

so it must be true, about ash !!!!!

wonder if buck house would like to buy my nice wet ash off me?

[Peter]

I find the whole thing hilarious, especially the bit about elm. Anyone who has burnt DED elm will attest that it burns like enriched plutonium, yet here it is vilified. The fact that unseasoned elm is laden with water may have some bearing on the matter.

[davetaz]

Dead elm must be about the best I've ever burned. None of my customers know how good it it as they don't get any of it.

Funny indeed but it seems to be what people today still use as a guide!

[RobRainford]

So is ash a good firewood then?

 

I just remembered we have about 5 ton of beech to get through from last November. Should come up good in winter!

[Graham]

I reckon the elm you're burning must be wych elm. Proper English elm was a bitch to burn...that's if you could split it!

[skyhuck]

I find the whole thing hilarious, especially the bit about elm. Anyone who has burnt DED elm will attest that it burns like enriched plutonium, yet here it is vilified. The fact that unseasoned elm is laden with water may have some bearing on the matter.

 

I think this just backs up the point about needing to get your fire wood dry,.

 

All the timbers that are considered good are the ones that will burn green or poorly seasoned, the ones considered poor are hard to dry and keep dry.

 

ALL timber burns well when you get the water content down below 25%

[PeteB]

Cheers to Pete and DaveTaz for digging that out, anyone got other "lore" like

 

Red sky at Night, Shepards Delight.

 

Rain before seven, fine after eleven.