.3 1 8 TIMBER AND TIMBER TREES. [CHAP. 



often left to sink by their own weight into soft earth, 

 where they absorb a large amount of moisture. All logs, 

 therefore, as they are brought in, unless stacked at once, 

 should be blocked or skidded off the ground, as a 

 temporary measure ; it involves little trouble, and will 

 amply repay the cost of labour. 



In stacking timber the following suggestions may be 

 useful : 



First. Let the skidding as a rule be placed as nearly 

 as possible level both ways, and in no case allow the 

 upper side of it to be less than 1 2 inches distant from the 

 ground ; it will then necessarily follow that, whether the 

 stacking ground be level or upon the hill-side, there will 

 be ample space for ventilation under the timber to be 

 piled thereon. 



Secondly. Let the butt-ends of the logs be placed 

 to the front, and keep the back or top ends of each tier 

 slightly higher than the butts, for facility in withdrawing 

 them from the stack. 



Thirdly. Let the skidding over each tier of logs be 

 level, and place short blocks under it, as packing pieces 

 i l /z or 2 inches in thickness upon every log ; the advan- 

 tage of this is, that by removing the packing pieces any 

 log in the tier, between the two layers of skidding, may 

 be withdrawn from the stack without disturbing the 

 .remainder. 



Fourthly. If the timber to be stored cannot be 

 placed in a permanent shed, it should, with the view to 

 its preservation, have a temporary roof placed over it. 

 The size of the stack should therefore be considered in 

 setting it out, limiting the breadth or span to about 25 

 or 30 feet. 



Fifthly. Let each tier as it rises be set back 6 to 8 

 inches, to enable the converter to get over it without a 



