SPECIES	EASE OF STARTING	COALING QUALITIES	SPARKS	FRAGRANCE	HEATING CLASS*
Apple	Poor	Excellent	Few	Excellent	2
Ash	Fair	Good	Few	Slight	2
Beech	Poor	Good	Few	Slight	1
Birch White	Good	Good	Moderate	Slight	2
Cherry	Poor	Excellent	Few	Excellent	2
Cedar	Excellent	Poor	Many	Good	3
Elm	Fair	Good	Very Few	Fair	2
Hemlock	Good	Low	Many	Good	3
Hickory	Fair	Excellent	Moderate	Slight	1
Locusts Black	Poor	Excellent	Very Few	Slight	1
Maple Sugar	Poor	Excellent	Few	Good	1
Oak Red	Poor	Excellent	Few	Fair	1
Pine	Excellent	Poor	Moderate	Good	3

* 1 is best

Different types of wood have different heating values. You should expect to pay more for a cord of mixed wood containing a lot of seasoned hickory, for example, than an equivalent measure with mostly aspen or hemlock. Generally speaking, you'll get much more heat from hardwood than from softer, lighter wood. Most firewood you purchase will be green and have a fair amount of water in it. It takes at least six months of air drying for wood to be considered seasoned and ready for burning. When selecting wood, also take into consideration ease of splitting, ease of ignition and burning, how much smoke it produces and its "coaling" qualities. "Coaling" refers to the ability of a species of wood to form a long- lasting bed of hot coals when burned. Coaling qualities improve with higher density.