Here's the old poem -
The Firewood PoemBeechwood fires are bright and clear
If the logs are kept a year,
Chestnut's only good they say,
If for logs 'tis laid away.
Make a fire of Elder tree,
Death within your house will be;
But ash new or ash old,
Is fit for a queen with crown of gold
Birch and fir logs burn too fast
Blaze up bright and do not last,
it is by the Irish said
Hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread.
Elm wood burns like churchyard mould,
E'en the very flames are cold
But ash green or ash brown
Is fit for a queen with golden crown
Poplar gives a bitter smoke,
Fills your eyes and makes you choke,
Apple wood will scent your room
Pear wood smells like flowers in bloom
Oaken logs, if dry and old
keep away the winter's cold
But ash wet or ash dry
a king shall warm his slippers by.
As for how long to harvesting - you can coppice to encourage lots of new growth and it gives you some wood (or cuttings for new trees if it's willow, maybe some others will take in this way, but I know willow's great) maybe around 5 years before you start to get any wood, but again, this depends on the exact varieties you choose and if you're looking to cut down entire trees a fast growing pine or spruce will be around 15 years or so before it's worth the effort involved in felling. Although this is just my opinion, I'm sure you'll get lots more advice
Hope this helps a bit ?
Karen