THE PRODUCTS OF THE WOODLOT 151 



The Method of Stacking. — Where the wood is thrown on a 

 pile without much order, some pieces being crossed, less wood 

 will be contained in a pile than if the pieces are regularly 

 stacked. In measuring stacked cordwood it is customary to 

 deduct a certain amount from the measurement if the wood 

 is not carefully piled. 



Whether the Wood is Large or Small. — The smaller the 

 pieces of wood the more space they will occupy. A cord of 

 wood swells by splitting the pieces. Large wood stacks closer 

 than small wood. It is customary to split large pieces into 

 smaller ones for fuel wood. This permits of better drying 

 of the wood. 



In general a standard cord will contain about 90 cubic 

 feet of solid wood. Large, smooth, straight wood, such as 

 pulpwood, will contain often as high as 100 cubic feet per 

 cord, while a pile of small crooked wood may contain but 30 

 to 40 cubic feet or less. 



Cordwood for sale should be piled neatly and regularly. 

 It should not be stacked in the woods but should be hauled 

 out to an open place and stacked where the sun and wind 

 will quickly season the wood. It should be stacked on sticks 

 run lengthwise of the pile and not on the ground. Rank vege- 

 tation should not be permitted to grow up around it, for it 

 will keep the lower part of the stack moist and subject to 

 decay. Cordwood is supposed to be made of green wood, cut, 

 piled and seasoned. If too much dead wood is mixed in with 

 the green wood the cordwood will have a dull appearance and 

 will bring a lower price. 



Very often special markets can be found for cordwood, 

 especially near large towns. Selected pieces of hickory or 

 oak cut to proper length for burning in fireplaces and well 

 seasoned will bring more than the same wood cut and stacked 

 in the usual way. Many wood-using industries purchase wood 

 of certain sizes cut and piled in cords. Woods vary in the 



