116 SEASONING AND STACKING OF POI^KS AND TOSTS. 



not broad, the tiers may be laid directly one over another, the lowest 

 tier alone being skidded perfectly level off the ground. In this 

 case, the pieces in two successive tiers will cross one another at 

 right angles. An inch or two of space should be left between 

 every two pieces in each tier. If individual pieces are likely to 

 bo required from time to time, it should be possible to take them 

 out without breaking up the stack, and then small blocks should 

 be placed under each piece ; as soon as these blocks are pushed 

 away, the piece which was resting on them can be at once drawn 

 out. If the pieces are wide, each tier should be blocked below by 

 laths from 1 to 3 inches thick and 3 to 4 inches broad. In every 

 case, the last tier should be sheltered from sun, rain, and wind with 

 a covering of thatch or inferior slabs of wood. 



Thin deals, boards, and battens are extremely liable to warp 

 strongly almost as soon as they have been sawn. They should be 

 stacked without delay and kept as close together as possible until 

 they are fairly dry, when they should be stacked like broad thick 

 stuff. The last tier should be well weighted to prevent warping 

 and sheltered in the usual way. Even if the timber is to be re- 

 moved almost immediately, it should be stacked close together, as 

 without the most careful and unremitting precautions a very large 

 proportion of newly sawn stuff will be rendered useless or at least 

 have its value considerably lessened by cracks and warping. 



3. ^ Stacking and seasoning of poles and posts. 



While they are stiU green, poles should be piled up horizontally 

 in stacks between pairs of vertical posts fixed firmly in the ground 

 and they should be well weighted on the top, in order to straighten 

 those which are crooked and to prevent straight ones from becom- 

 ing crooked in drying. If the stacks are not to be disturbed for some 

 time, a few cross pieces should be laid under them on the ground 

 as skidding. 



A common method adopted in many parts of India is to stand 

 up the poles close together round the trunk of a tree, the thick end 

 being on the ground. Placed thus, the poles are freely exposed to 

 air and their upright position causes the sap to run down. More- 

 over, the crown of the supporting tree shelters the thin ends. Ob- 

 viously only straight poles should be so stacked. 



Posts may be stacked according to either of the two methods 

 just described, but the second is preferable, as, even if they are 

 crooked, they are not capable of being straightened under ordinary 

 pressure, and straight ones cannot become appreciably crooked. 



