82 



NATURAL HISTORY OF THE FARM 



Standing, needing cutting. Fire was the cutting agent first 

 em])loycd. Trees were burned down by building fires about 

 their bases, and then by similar process they were cut in 

 sections. It was only for long-keeping fires that such fuel 

 was needed: there was always excess of kindling-stufifs 

 available for making quick fires. 



All wood will bum aiid give forth heat, but one who knows 

 woods \\411 not use all kinds: it is only the degenerate 





''^'*'^ 4 



*i>.i^^%^ ^ 



^m^^m^i 



^^..^^^:,7~ wcr ■ ■_ ^ : - ifrF%- - "^ • 



Fig. 1. 5. Western yellow pine dismantled and ignited by lightning (U. S. 

 Bureau of Forestry). 



modem, who will do that -who will go to the tclei)hone and 

 order a cord of wood \Nathout further specifications. Heavy, 

 close-grained, hard woods as a rule bum more slowly and 

 yield more heat thiin the lighter, more oi)en-textured soft 

 woods. Combustible resins vary the rate of burning, and the 

 amount of heat ])roduced: but the greatest differences in 

 burning qualities are due to the amount of water present. A 

 punky old log that when dry will bum like tinder, will soak up 

 water like a sponge and, becoming "water-logged," will not 



