Four packages of lumber were selected at the green chain for study. Three of the 

 packages were 2 by 4's and a fourth was 2 by 6's, reflecting the approximate proportion 

 of a day's production. The moisture content was measured with a resistance-type meter 

 equipped with a four-needle, 1/2-inch-long probe. Three moisture meter readings were 

 taken from each board in the sample packages approximately 2, 6, and 10 feet from one 

 end. Later the moisture meter readings were adjusted for temperature and an average 

 reading for each board calculated. In addition, a subsample containing 10 boards from 

 package No. 2, 9 boards from package No. 3, and 6 boards from package No. 4 was selected 

 at random for destructive sampling. Package No. 1 was not available at the time this 

 subsample was selected so packages 2 and 3 were more heavily sampled than package 4 to 

 make up for this deficiency. 



Four pieces, approximately 20 inches long, were cut from each of the subsample 

 boards. The pieces were cut 2 and 6 feet from each end of the board. These pieces, 

 identified as to board, were placed in polyethylene bags and carried to the shop where 

 three sections about an inch long, were cut from near the center of each piece (fig. 1) . 



The first section of each board, which we labeled the A sections, was left intact 

 and used to determine the moisture content by the standard ovendry test. The B sections 

 were further cut into shells and cores (fig. IB) and used to determine the moisture 

 distribution by the ovendry method. The C sections were sliced into four prongs (fig. 

 1C) and placed on a table in the shop where they were permitted to dry at room tempera- 

 ture. These drying stress sections were examined periodically to determine the presence 

 of any casehardening or reverse casehardening . 



SHELL 



CORE 



y y 



i 



Figure 1 . — Schematic showing 

 how board pieces and sec- 

 tions were cut. Sections 

 A 3 B 3 and C are end views; 

 A is moisture content sec- 

 tion, B is moisture distri- 

 bution section, and C is 

 drying stress section. 



2 



