The Firewood Poem - Lady Celia Congreve Published in the Times: March 2nd 1930

These hardwoods burn well and slowly, Holly logs will burn like wax, Ash, beech, hawthorn oak and holly. You could burn them green. Softwoods flare up quick and fine, Elm logs burn like smouldering flax, Birch, fir, hazel, larch and pine. With no flame to be seen. Elm and willow you'll regret, Beech logs for winter time, Chestnut green and sycamore wet. Yew logs as well sir. Green elder logs it is a crime, Beechwood fires are bright and clear, For any man to sell sir. If the logs are kept a year. Chestnut's only good, they say, Pear logs and apple logs, If for long 'tis laid away. They will scent your room. But Ash new or Ash old, And cherry logs across the dogs, Is fit for a queen with crown of gold. They smell like flowers of broom. But Ash logs smooth and grey, Birch and fir logs bum too fast, Buy them green or old, sir. Blaze up bright and do not last. And buy up all that come your way, It is by the Irish said, They're worth their weight in gold sir. Hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread. Elm wood bums like churchyard mould, Logs to Burn, Logs to burn, Logs to burn, E'en the very flames are cold. Logs to save the coal a turn. But Ash green or Ash brown, Here's a word to make you wise, Is fit for a queen with golden crown. When you hear the woodman's cries. Never heed his usual tale, Poplar gives a bitter smoke, That he has good logs for sale. Fills your eyes and makes you choke. But read these lines and really learn, Apple wood will scent your room, The proper kind of logs to burn. With an incense like perfume. 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.

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 sir. Hawthorn logs are good to last, That are cut well in the fall sir.