212 The Farm Woodlot 



burn more readily than others. As a rule, the coniferous 

 woods ignite more easily and burn more readily than the 

 hardwoods, but the hardwoods produce hot coals that 

 are ideal for cooking. This divides the woods into the 

 natural classes of coniferous kindlings and hardwoods 

 for a steady fire. 



Unfortunately the woods which make the most valuable 

 timbers also make the best firewood, and many a valuable 

 saw log is cut up into cordwood. The straight trunks of 

 these species should be set aside for saw logs. At least 

 a third of the tree would still be left for firewood and those 

 parts, too crooked or too small for lumber, make excellent 

 cordwood, especially for home use, when more or less odd 

 lengths make very little difference. 



The process of selecting trees for firewood should 

 roughly follow this general outline : 



Decide how much cordwood is to be cut. 



Select first the old trees that show signs of rot or have 

 suffered some injury. Take first from these trees saw 

 logs, ties, fence posts or any other valuable pieces for which 

 there is a market. Cut the rest into cordwood. Of course, 

 if there is no market for any of these products, it is sense- 

 less to save them and the whole tree should be put into 

 cordwood. 



Select next the weed trees of the forest, the trees that 

 have no special value. They may not make particularly 

 good firewood, but they will burn well enough when 

 mixed with some better wood. They should be removed, 

 to keep them from seeding up the ground and to give the 

 better species a chance to reproduce themselves. 



If any more trees are needed, they should be taken from 



