Camping and woodcraft - Scoutmastercg.com

238 CAMPING AND WOODCRAFTdoes the same. Black birch also ranks here; it hasthe advantage of " doing its own blowing," as aCarolina mountaineer said to me, meaning thatthe oil in the birch assists its combustion so thatthe wood needs no coaxing. All of the birches aregood fuel, ranking in about this order: black, yellow,red, paper, and white. Sugar maple was thefavorite fuel of our old-time hunters and surveyors,because it ignites easily, burns with a clear,steady flame, and leaves good coals.Locust is a good, lasting fuel; it is easy to cut,and, when green, splits fairly well; the thick barktakes fire readily, and the wood then burns slowly,with little flame, leaving pretty good coals; henceit is good for night-wood. Mulberry has similarqualities. The scarlet and willow oaks are amongthe poorest of the hardwoods for fuel. Cherrymakes only fair fuel. White elm is poor stuff, butslippery elm is better. Yellow pine burns well, asits sap is resinous instead of watery like that of thesoft pines.In some respects white ash is the best of greenwoods for campers' fuel. It is easily cut and split,is lighter to tote than most other hardwoods, andis of so dry a nature that even the green woodcatches fire readily. It burns with clear flame,and lasts longer than any other free-burning woodof its weight. On a wager, I have built a bullyfire from a green tree of white ash, one match, andno dry kindling whatever. I split some of thewood very fine and " frilled " a few of the littlesticks with my knife.Softwoods.- •Most of the softwoods are goodonly for kindling, or for quick cooking fires, andthen only when seasoned. For these purposes,however, some of them are superior, as they splitand shave readily and catch fire easily.Liquidambar, magnolia, tulip, catalpa, and willoware poor fuel. Seasoned chestnut and yellowpoplar make a hot fire, but crackle and leave no