30 



BULLETIX 510, U. S, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Somewhat higher foundations than these are to be preferred in 

 many situations, but in this yard, where every precaution was taken 

 to keei3 the ground free from all infected debris, and where the 

 drainage was excellent, this height has proved satisfactory. 



Piers have the advantage over a solid wall in permitting better 

 ventilation, but piers also involve the use of wooden skids, which if 

 not treated with a good preservative may more than offset the ad- 

 vantage gained in better ventilation. 



The careless handling of crossing sticks and lumber in retail yards 



is just as evident as in 

 mill yards. The gen- 

 eral practice in many 

 of the yards visited is 

 to throw sticks about 

 on the ground when 

 the stacks are torn 

 down, and there they 

 often remain until 

 they are needed again. 

 This insanitary prac- 

 tice needs no further 

 comment. A compari- 

 son of the yard shown 

 in figure 40, where the 

 lumber is scattered 

 about promiscuously 

 on the ground, with 

 the yard shown in fig- 

 ure 15, where concrete 

 foundations and treat- 

 ed ties are in use and 

 all debris is carefully 

 collected into a wagon (fig. 41) and hauled away, maj be of interest 

 in this connection. 



FUNGI WHICH ROT STORED LUMBER. 



Fig. 31. — A retail shed in Tennessee, well roofed, pro- 

 vided with gutters, and set on brick piers with ample 

 ventilation beneath from all sides. 



A considerable number of different species of wood-destroying 

 fungi have been encountered in lumberyards. These, of course, are 

 more frequently found fruiting on the foundations, tramway timbers, 

 and ties than on the stored lumber, but this is only a question of the 

 time which the timbers have been in the yard. The fact that elevated 

 tramway posts and girders will rot in the South in a few years is 

 proof conclusive that lumber stored in the open will also rot if it 

 becomes necessary to hold it in storage too long. In the Gulf States 

 low-grade lumber stored in the ordinary manner Avill show consider- 



