2 BULLETIN 1037, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The molding of green timber has frequently been confused with 

 sap-stain as well as with incipient decay. However, in so far as the 

 production of permanent stain or the effect upon the durability of the 

 wood is concerned, molding is of comparatively little importance. 

 Incipient decay caused by true wood-destroying fungi, on the other 

 hand, is of great importance. 



Early in the year 1918 the attention of the Office of Investigations 

 in Forest Pathology was called to staining and molding occurring 

 in green raw material by the wood-stock committee representing the 

 National Implement and Vehicle Association and other vehicle and 

 vehicle parts manufacturers through the Forest Products Labora- 

 tory of the United States Forest Service, Madison, Wis. The pres- 

 ent investigation arose in connection with raw hardwood stock used 

 in the manufacture of escort wagons and artillery carriages. A 

 large quantity of this material was at that time being sawed or 

 turned, largely from green instead of seasoned stock and shipped 

 green from the saw. In some cases it was found necessary to cull 

 severely such stock at destination, owing to the presence of mold, 

 stain, or incipient decay which had developed during transit and 

 while in, storage. In cooperation with the Forest Products Labora- 

 tory and the wood-stock committee, a questionnaire - was sent to a 

 number of the contractors for Army vehicles and parts and to pro- 

 ducers of wood stock. Personal investigations were also made of 

 the conditions existing at 45 mills and factories engaged in the saw- 

 ing of timber, dimension stock, and veneer, or in the manufacture 

 of airplanes, furniture, flooring, handles, vehicles, and vehicle parts. 

 Most of these mills were located in the central and southern portions 

 of the United States and were directly concerned in the production 

 of war material. The object of both questionnaire and person;\l 

 investigations was to gain information concerning the general sani- 

 tary conditions existing in the woods, railway cars, sheds, ware- 

 houses, and kilns; the details of manufacture of many vehicle parts; 

 the extent of deterioration occurring in green raw material ; the finan- 

 cial losses occasioned thereby ; and, particularly, any practical meth- 

 ods of handling green wood stock that would prevent the develop- 

 ment of stain and mold therein. 



The investigations showed that many of the firms had experienced 

 considerable pecuniary losses, which were due to the necessitj'^ of 

 using a high percentage of green stock; to a shortage of cars, re- 

 sulting in the congestion of material in the woods and railroad 



- National Implement and Vehicle Association and other Veliicle and Vehicle Parts 

 Manufacturers. Information Division of the Wagon and Vehicle Committee and the 

 Wheel Manufacturers' War Service Committee. Wood Stoclc Committee. Sap-stain and 

 mold in green lumber. Nat. Implement and ^'ehic'.e Assoc, etc., Cul. 24, 2 p., 1 fig. 

 191 S. A. iS. Thielens, chairman. Multigraphed. 



