Variations hot ween the .stat«>s may he aeeounte<l for hy several factors. 

 One is the proximity to trans-shipment points. In Pennsylvania and Ver- 

 mont, over 70 percent of lumher is delivered hy rail, whereas in Massa- 

 chusetts only 41 percent is delivered via railroad. Other factors affecting 

 mode of lund)er delivery are the proportion of eastern and western spe- 

 cies, location of yards relative to railroad sidings, and the distrihution 

 of yards in rural areas. 



In Maine, retailers use their own trucks to pick up nearly one-third 

 of the volume they purchase hut in all other states the seller arranges 

 delivery of the lundjer to the retail yards. 



Form and Condition of Lumber Purchases 



Yards procure their lumher needs in all forms — green, dried, 

 rough, and dressed — but primarily in a air-dried, dressed form (Fig- 

 ure 10) . Over ninety percent of all purchased lumber is finished (or 

 dressed) . Air-dried lumber is available in all four regional species. Sixty- 

 eight percent of yard stocks of eastern and Canadian species are dried 

 by this method, while only 32 percent of western and 50 percent of 

 southern woods are. At least half the volume of western and southern 

 species bought are kiln dried. Very little lumber is purchased green, 

 only eighteen percent, but this is nearly all western species. 



FIGURE 10. PURCHASES OF SEASONED LUMBER BY REGIONAL RETAIL YARDS 

 - PERCENT OF TOTAL VOLUME. 



17 



