446 SELLING LUMBER 



EXPLANATORY NOTE FOR STANDARD HEART 



GRADE. 



These specifications state the maximum limit of sapwood 

 which will be accepted. In practice, with good inspection, the 

 effect of these specifications should be to secure timber the 

 bulk of which is practically all heart. In permanent bridge 

 timber, not protected from decay, sapwood is not only useless 

 in itself, but by furnishing a lodgment for the spores of fungi, 

 it is the cause of starting and promoting the continuance of 

 rot in the heart. Sapwood, especially after decay has set in, 

 is also extremely susceptible to fire, while with precautions 

 ordinarily exercised heartwood is practically immune from this 

 source of danger. 



On the other hand, for ordinary commercial purposes sap- 

 wood is as valuable as heart. Therefore, if the mill owners 

 understand what is wanted, good heart timber can be obtained 

 for a small advance in price over what is usually furnished, 

 much of which contains in bulk 50 per cent or more of sap- 

 wood. 



To obtain proper results inspection should be made at the 

 mills, where unsatisfactory timber can be rejected without hard- 

 ship to the mill owner. Extensive buyers of timber should 

 have inspectors stationed at the mills. To cover the nee'ds of 

 smaller buyers and municipalities, it seems that some of the 

 established inspection companies might maintain an organiza- 

 tion of timber inspectors at the mills, which would prove profit- 

 able to themselves, satisfactory to the. mill owners and of in- 

 calculable benefit to those who use the timber. 



