THE SEASONING OF WOOD. 19 



The bottom boards in a stack rest on skids, which in turn rest on 

 foundations, preferably of stone, cement, or metal. Pieces contain- 

 ing rot should never be used for foundation timbers or skids, or allowed 

 to remain in the pile. The vicinity of the pile should be kept clear 

 of weeds. 



The use of cement and metal foundations is especially feasible in 

 retail lumber yards and in those maintained by wood-using factories. 

 In retail yards, where economy in space often is the essential thing, 

 the piles are high and a particular space usually is allotted to each 

 class or species of lumber. In factory yards lumber often is held for 

 a number of years before being used. In such cases the frequent 

 renewal of wooden foundations under lumber piles entails consider- 

 able expenditure of time and money, to say nothing of the danger 

 of infecting lumber by bringing it in contact with partly rotted 

 foundation timbers. For these reasons foundations of a more per- 

 manent character are constantly growing in favor in retail and factory 

 yards. Plate IV shows foundations of this kind. 



Sawmill yards, on the other hand, often contain several million 

 feet of material and cover several acres. Lumber coming from the 

 saw generally is piled wherever most convenient, provided it is placed at 

 the distance from the mill required by insurance companies. Economy 

 in storage space generally is not essential, and piles of the same spe- 

 cies and kind of lumber are likely to be found in a number of different 

 sections of the yard. In addition, the stock is constantly being turned 

 over, thus giving an opportunity to renew the foundation timbers at 

 comparatively small expense. A number of large lumber companies, 

 however, have adopted cement as a foundation material. 



Lumber-storage yards need to be reasonably well drained, or at 

 least the contour of the ground should be such that water will not 

 stand under the stacks after a storm. Otherwise decay is apt to get 

 a start and spread throughout the pile. Where the ground offers 

 but poor natural drainage facilities, some artificial system of drainage 

 usually is employed. Figure 15 shows the system used in the yards 

 of two large lumber companies in the southern hardwood region. 

 This arrangement not only prevents the collection of rain water 

 under the lumber piles, but also gives the required slope to the stack, 

 which on level ground has to be secured by building up the founda- 

 tions. 1 



A top dressing of cinders has been found satisfactory in some 

 storage yards. 



The following set of rules for piling lumber covers the more im- 

 portant points to be observed in the construction of foundations, 

 shape of stack, arrangement of stickers, etc. : 



i Humphrey, C. J. Timber Storage Conditions in the Eastern and Southern States, with reference to 

 Decay Problems. U. S. Dept. Agr. Bui. 510. 1917. 



