THE ARTIFICIAL SEASONING OF TIMBER 389 



out system. It is true that timber which has been over-dried, either 

 artificially or in a very dry climate, will take up moisture if allowed to 

 remain in a damp atmosphere. Such re-moistened timber will have most 

 of the attributes of timber that has not been reduced beyond the dryness 

 natural to the moister climate. The " Ufe " or elasticity and brittleness 

 is, however, in many cases impaired, and if the timber is being used for 

 structural or engineering purposes, over-drying should be avoided. 



Partial drying at the saw-mill allows for acclimatisation by natural 

 air-drying at the user's works for about six months, or one or two weeks 

 in the user's dryer, so that the material can be brought to the exact state 

 of dryness most suitable for the work in hand. 



To summarise : Relatively little artificial seasoning has formerly 

 been effected in Great Britain, owing to general prejudice and the lack 

 of urgent necessity. Impelling national need during the war caused the 

 process to be then taken up scientifically, and the timber so treated 

 was found to pass the most stringent tests. In the future, those timber 

 merchants and timber users who continue to ignore this factor wiU be 

 at a great disadvantage in the commercial field compared with those who 

 in a vigorous and enlightened spirit embrace the most modern methods 

 of seasoning their timber ; while it must be remembered that competition 

 will not be confined to this country, but will also include the progressive 

 continental peoples. 



