EFFECT OF SEASONING ON VOLUME OF STACKED WOOD 123 



100. Effect of Seasoning on Volume of Stacked Wood. Green 

 hardwoods shrink on seasoning, decreasing from 9 to 14 per cent in 

 volume. Conifers shrink from 9 to 10 per cent. Contractors some- 

 times stipulate an extra height of 3 to 4 inches on the stack to offset 

 this loss. Where such extra allowance for shrinkage, or for any other 

 reason, is required, it must be specified by contract unless generally 

 accepted in the locality. 



101. Methods of Measurement of Cordwood. Stacked cordwood 

 is measured by a stick usually 8 feet long, marked off in feet and tenths. 

 Choppers prefer to pile each cord separately, since the division into 

 a number of smaller piles reduces the cubic contents required for one 

 cord (§ 103). When surface measure, 32 square feet, is accepted for 

 short or long cords, their measurement is identical with that of standard 

 cords, the length of piece being measured only to insure conformity 

 with specifications. Stacks piled to more or less than standard height 

 and length are reduced to cords by dividing the surface feet by 32; 

 e.g., a stack measuring 12.7 feet by 6.4 feet contains 81.28 surface feet, 

 or 2.54 cords. 



When standard stacked contents is used as a basis, the length of 

 piece is also measured, the cubic contents of stacked wood obtained 

 and divided by 128; e.g., a stack of 30-inch bolts with the above surface 



203 2 



dimensions gives 81.28 by 2.5 = 203.2 stacked cubic feet; -—-^ = 1.5875 



128 



standard cords, while a similar stack of 5-foot wood gives 81.28 by 5 



406.4 

 = 406.4 stacked cubic feet. ' =3.175 standard cords, instead of 



128 



the 2.54 cords based on surface standard. 



A cord foot is a pile measuring 1 by 4 by 4 feet or containing one- 

 eighth of a standard cord. It is also termed a foot of cordwood, being 

 equal to 1 foot in length in a stack of cordwood of standard dimensions. 

 The unit applies to short or long cords when surface only is measured 

 and not cubic contents. 



The chopper is required to pile the rank to an even height, pref- 

 erably the standard of 4 feet. Unless otherwise specified, the height 

 of the pile is to be the average height of the tops of the sticks in the top 

 layer. With uneven, crooked or poorly piled stacks a point 1 or 2 

 inches below this is taken. From this height is subtracted whatever 

 allowance is required for shrinkage, when so specified. 



If the ends of the stacks are not vertical the length is measured at 

 one-half the height of the pile. If wood is piled in irregular stacks 

 the average of both height and length is obtained, if necessary from 

 several equally spaced measurements. 



Wood piled on inclined surfaces is measured incorrectly if the length 



