THE COMPLETE OUTDOORSMANS HANDBOOK.pdf - Doczine

such as those produced by seasoned hickory.Wood (and trees) can be divided into two groups - hard and soft. In the case of trees, this division issomewhat of a misnomer. Conifers are called softwoods, while deciduous trees are called hardwoods byforest workers from pulp cutters to forestry engineers. Although all evergreen trees have soft wood, sodo many species of hardwood or broad-leafed trees such as poplar, alder, and basswood. The hardwoodswith truly hard wood are oak, hickory, maple, birch, and sweet gum.THE HARDWOOD OR DECIDUOUS TREESAlder The alder is a fast-growing tree of swamplands and stream bottoms. It is found from Alaska to theGulf coast, from Newfoundland to the mid-west, and from the Rockies to the Pacific. It bums fast, witha quick flame and strong heat, but it also bums out quickly.Alder tends to spit and snap, so watch for sparks. It is excellent for quick boiling and cooking and isgood for baking. Because it burns fast, have plenty of it cut. It makes excellent kindling when wellseasoned.Ash There are about fifteen species of ash in eastern North America. Their range extends from centralOntario and British Columbia south to Florida. Ash, particularly the red, white, and black varieties thatare most often used as campfire wood, live on moist sites.All ash are heavy hardwoods. They don't make good kindling because they tend to start burning slowly.White ash can be used for firewood green, while red and black ash should be seasoned first. They allthrow good strong heat, and produce coals which are ideal for broiling and frying.Basswood The linden, as the basswood is sometimes called, is found from Maine to the Dakotas andfrom southern Ontario to Kentucky. It is very light and soft. When used for fuel, it should be wellseasoned. It bums quickly and turns to ash rapidly. It spits and snaps and throws sparks readily, so becareful and be certain the area around your campfire is cleared of humus and dead leaves. Basswood,like all soft woods, is good for boiling and quick cooking.Birch The birches - black, yellow, and white - make good firewood. Black and yellow birch are superiorto white. However, trappers in northern Canada depend on the hardy white birch to heat their cabinsthrough the long winter. Birches are hard and heavy. Yellow birch is found from New England toMinnesota and from Central Ontario south to Pennsylvania. Black birch ranges from southern Maine andsouthern Ontario to northern Alabama along the Appalachian Mountains. White birch, sometimes calledpaper or silver birch, is found from Alaska south through Canada and the Great Lakes states to theAtlantic seaboard.The bark from all these birches is easily stripped off and makes excellent kindling. Birches burn welleven when wet. They start readily, and bum slowly and with an intense flame. The coals retain heat for along time and are good for frying a steak or simmering a stew.