7 MARCH 1947, Page 15

Horne Fires In a log fire, the discussion of which

has been proceeding off and on for several hundred years and is not yet exhausted, the size makes more difference than the nature of the wood. The truest of the old tags is: "One log can't, two logs won't, three logs must burn, and four make a fire," or some variant On a small fire elm is a bad wood ; on a big one of the very best. It is not, I think, generally allowed that roots burn very well if kept. I happen to have dug up a number of elm roots some five inches or so in diameter. They have dried quickly, being rather loose in texture, and have burned well. The ideal is doubtless to keep a supply of small wood, say, two inches in diameter, to burn along with the giants. Wood of such a size is usually wasted, except where villagers go " wooding," and as a rule it cannot be bought.