British Native Trees - Their Past and Present UsesBritish Native Trees - Their Past and Present Uses Including a guide to burning wood in the home A new book by trained tree surgeon and smallholder Piers Warren This unique book explores the past and present uses of products (wood, bark, fruit, sap etc) of the 35 species of British native trees. With sections: A genus by genus break down of past and present uses of native tree products A guide to Coppicing The history and practice of Charcoal Production Firewood - including an exploration of the environmental issues involved in burning wood in the home, sources of firewood, which wood to burn, seasoning and storing firewood, kindling and a foolproof guide to building the one-match-fire! For example - find answers to the following questions: Which tree saps can be used to make wine? Which was the best wood for making longbows? Oil from the bark of which tree is an effective insect repellent? Which tree's bark contains chemical compounds that can selectively kill human cancer cells with no side effects? What is a faggot? What do bodgers do? Which berry was used as a coffee substitute? What wood is the panelling in the House of Commons made of? Which tree's wood has the right acoustic qualities for making electric guitars? Which tree's wood made charcoal taken to cure flatulence? ...and many more fascinating facts! This book is for smallholders, wood owners, tree surgeons, gardeners and anyone who loves trees! |
Contents
| 7 | |
TREES BY GENUS | 27 |
Crataegus Hawthorn | 42 |
Pinus Pine | 56 |
Sorbus Rowan Whitebeam Service | 66 |
Ulmus Elm | 72 |
Common terms and phrases
alder ancient Apple arboriculture Association bark beech berries birch boxes branches British brown building burn carving century charcoal Cherry chimney colour common coppice craft demand energy environmental example excellent fire firewood flame flooring forests fruit fuel furniture grain green ground growing handles hard Hawthorn hazel head heat hedge Holly Hornbeam important industry interest Juniper kindling known leaves light Lime logs Maple materials native trees natural occasionally once organisations Past pine planting poles Poplar practice Present produce promoting result roots Rowan Salix Scots seasoned seeds slowly smoke sometimes sought Species split stems sticks stove strawberry sustainable technique timber tool traditionally treated turnery turning veneers wheel willow wine winter Wood Properties woodland
Popular passages
Page 18 - No flame is to be seen. Pear logs and apple logs, They will scent your room. Cherry logs across the dogs, Smell like flowers in bloom. But Ash logs, all smooth and grey, Burn them green or old ; Buy up all that come your way, They're worth their weight in gold. Catholicity of taste may have compelled the inclusion in this collection of fragments excerpts from the poets, including Tennyson's "The Talking Oak" and Browning's "Ivan Ivanovitch.
Page 17 - Larch logs of pinewoods smell But the sparks will fly. Beech logs for Christmas time ; Yew logs heat well ; " Scotch " logs it is a crime For anyone to sell. Birch logs will burn too fast ; Chestnut scarce at all ; Hawthorn logs are good to last If cut in the fall. Holly logs will burn like wax, You should burn...
Page 18 - ... splendid logs for sale. But read these lines and generally learn The proper kind of logs to burn. Oak logs will warm you well If they're old and dry. Larch logs of pine wood smell, But the sparks will fly. Beech logs for Christmas time Yew logs heat well. " Scotch " logs it is a crime For any one to sell. Birch logs will burn too fast, Chestnut scarce at all. Hawthorn logs are good to last If you cut them in the fall. Holly logs will burn like wax, You should burn them green. Elm logs like smouldering...
Page 18 - LOGS TO BURN. Logs to burn, logs to burn, Logs to save the coal a turn. Here's a word to make you wise, When you hear the Woodman's cries, Never heed his usual tale, That he has splendid logs for sale. But read these lines and generally learn The proper kind of logs to burn. Oak logs will warm you well If they're old and dry. Larch logs of pine wood smell, But the sparks will fly. Beech logs for Christmas time Yew logs heat well. " Scotch " logs it is a crime For any one to sell. Birch logs will...
Page 18 - If you cut them in the fall HOLLY logs will burn like wax You should burn them green ELM logs like smouldering flax No flame to be seen PEAR logs and APPLE logs, they will scent your room. CHERRY logs across the dogs, Smell like flowers in bloom But ASH logs, all smooth and grey, burn them green or old; Buy up all that come your way, They're worth their weight in gold.
Page 50 - The origin has been traced to the Druids, who decorated their huts with evergreens during winter as an abode for the sylvan spirits, holly (and ivy) being one of the few evergreens available.
Page 7 - I became fascinated with native trees and the variety of uses to which they have been put in the past.