320 SELLINGLUMBER 



fies and sells the customer, and if the customer follows the in- 

 structions he got from the dealer he usually remains satisfied, if 

 he does not,, then all is not so lovely. 



Now in the foregoing I have attempted to outline general con- 

 ditions in yard grading, but I have not touched on the actual con- 

 ditions to be considered here, that of yard stock grading by the 

 manufacturer, and I am going to amend the title of the subject 

 Yard Stock by saying we must consider it under the caption of "Yard Stock 

 Grading by the ]y| anu f acturing and Grading," and the manufacturer who is doing 

 the best work along this line is the one who has given intelligent 

 consideration to every physical characteristic of the trees he is 

 using, and I am speaking wholly of Southern Yellow Pine. 



He must recognize that there should be the least possible time 

 allowed to elapse between the cutting of the tree and putting the 

 logs into the water; that logs should never be cut and allowed to 

 lie end to end in the woods, or singly, or on a skidway, in hot 

 weather, or blue sap is a sure consequence. He must recognize 

 the fact that his machinery must be kept at the highest condition of 

 efficiency, that lengths should be checked every day, and widths 

 at least twice a day at the sawmill; that lumber should be piled 

 to shed rains, have ample air spaces in the pile ; that cross strips 

 should never be more than four inches wide; that a pile should 

 never lean forward ; that it should be roofed to drop the rain clear 

 of the rear of the pile; that 2x4 should be piled on edge and have 

 a cross-piece every 4J^ feet ; that he should keep enough mois- 



_ . ture in his kiln to prevent the surface of the piece from shrink- 



b actors of f 



Efficiency in in g f irst an d checking in consequence, and that he must saw his 

 Lumber i O g S j n f- o material that will carry the defects, that is, red heart 



into boards and very pitchy material into timbers, fencing and 

 dimensions where pitch is a virtue, and keep it out of siding, ceil- 

 ing and finish, which presupposes a paint, stain or oil finish ; and 

 then when he brings it to his planer to put the finishing touch 

 upon it he should see that the best is done there that cari be done 

 it should come out evenly and smoothly dressed, not torn and 

 chipped in the machine ; it should be gauged by steel gauges milled 

 out to a machinist scale both as to thickness and widths, and not 

 measured by a rule, which, if not held accurately at right angles 

 is sure to give incorrect results, whereas with the gauge it can 

 be 'measured in the dark; in simple words we should add noth- 

 ing to the natural defects of our material in the process of manu- 



