SEASONING OF WOOD 285 



proceeds more rapidly on the outside than 

 inside, the greater shrinkage of the outer portions 

 IS bound to result in many checks, the number 

 and size increasing with the degree of inequality 

 of drying. 



" In cold weather drying proceeds slowly but 

 uniformly, thus allowing the wood elements to 

 adjust themselves with the least amount of 

 rupturing. In summer, drying proceeds rapidly 

 and irregularly, so that material seasoned at that 

 time is more likely to split and check. 



" There is less danger of sap rot when trees 

 are felled in winter because the fungus does 

 not grow in the very cold weather, and the 

 lumber has a chance to season to below the 

 danger point before the fungus gets a chance 

 to attack it. If the logs in each case could be 

 cut into lumber immediately after felHng, and 

 given exactly the same treatment, for example, 

 kiln-dried, no difference due to the season of 

 cutting would be noted." 



The conversion of timber is also important. 

 The timber for efficient seasoning should be 

 quarter or " rift " sawed, that is cut radially. 

 It is more expensive than tangential sawing, 

 but provides wood of better wearing qualities. 

 Cutting radially also avoids the undesirable 

 feature of having an outside and an inside to 

 each board, a state of affairs which leads to the 



