THE PRODUCTS OF THE WOODLOT 147 



the boards according to the defects and kinds and selling by 

 grades than by selling the mill run. 



The value of lumber will also vary according to the way 

 it is sawed from the log. Boards cut from the side of a log 

 have what is called flat grain. The annual rings of wood 

 will pass through the board at a greater angle than 45 degrees. 

 Boards cut running from the edge toward the center of the 

 log will have the annual rings more or less vertical to the 

 surface of the boards. Such logs are called rift-sawed or 

 quarter-sawed boards. In quarter-sawed boards the medul- 

 lary rays will pass through the board from edge to edge. With 

 woods that have large medullary rays, as white and red oak, 

 cherry and sycamore, the medullary rays where they come to 

 the surface of the board and are cut across by the saw, will 

 give the figured grain which is in so great demand for furni- 

 ture and decorative purposes. The name quarter-sawed 

 boards comes from the early practice of first cutting the log 

 into quarters before the quarter-sawed stock was cut. Quar- 

 ter-sawed boards shrink less and wear better than flat grained 

 boards, and so are of especial value for flooring. 



It is often necessary to keep lumber several weeks or 

 months after it has been sawed before a sale is made or for 

 the purpose of seasoning the wood. The lumber should be 

 sorted as nearly as possible by grades, and the different kinds 

 and sizes piled by themselves neatly in the lumber yard. This 

 should be located in an open area where there is a good circu- 

 lation of air and good drainage. The lumber should not be 

 piled on the ground, but should be raised a foot or more on 

 crosspieces. The edges of the boards should not touch each 

 other and between every two tiers of boards well-seasoned 

 slats should be placed every few feet to permit the air to 

 circulate freely. The front and rear cleats should be laid 

 flush with the ends of the boards to prevent checking, and 

 cleats should be laid one above another to keep the boards 

 from bending. With woods that have a tendency to warp 



