VII.] STORING TIMBER. 79 



The boards forming the screen at the sides were slipped 

 into a groove at top and bottom, and a rail or fillet mid- 

 way up and outside was secured to the inner framework 

 of the shed by nails driven between the edges of the 

 boards. No other fastening was required, and the 

 advantage of the plan was this — it allowed sufficient play 

 for the boards to shrink or expand according to the 

 weather and the season, while they were still removable 

 at pleasure for any other purpose. 



The end or working face of the stack was similarly 

 closed up, but in this case, the boards being more 

 frequently shifted, they were, for convenience, clamped 

 together in twos and threes, and secured with a shifting 

 bar half-way up. The timber was thus well protected 

 from the weather, and well ventilated, though not 

 subjected to a draught; and, in 1869, Woolwich yard 

 contained probably the finest and best-preserved stock 

 of timber in England. 



It will be seen, then, that the preservation of 

 timber may be cheaply and economically effected, and 

 its seasoning brought about in a steady and regular 

 manner by the adoption of the simplest precautions. 

 Experience has shown that this is the only certain 

 method of ensuring its durability, and it is therefore fit 

 that the best attention should be paid to it. 



Sheds of a cool, dry, lofty, and permanent character 

 are required for the proper seasoning of thick-stuff, 

 planks, and deals; and it is desirable that the stacks of 

 each of these should be of a moderate breadth only, a 

 passage through the middle of the shed being necessary 

 for the convenience of examining and working each 

 parcel. The ground skidding should be like that of the 

 timber stacks, placed level, and be at least a foot in 



