42 DEPARTMENT BULLETIN 1425, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 
12 inches at the front and 214 feet at the rear, is essential. A pitch 
of 1 inch to each foot of length is required to assure good run-off, and 
the height of the roof over the rear tier of crossers should best be 
about 4 inches. Drip boards, sometimes used with roofs that have no 
overhang to throw drip away from the rear of the pile, are praised 
by some and condemned by others. However, this method is far less 
effective than the overhang type of roof. 
SUMMARY OF METHODS FOR IMPROVING DRYING PRACTICE 
It has been stated, and the preceding discussion of the entire air- 
seasoning process must certainly have led to the very definite con- 
clusion, that the air- -seasoning problem can not be solved by “ cut- 
and-dried ” rules. Neither the present discussion, based though it is 
on comprehensive and detailed studies, nor any ‘other intensive in- 
vestigation of air seasoning, can alone determine efficient practice 
for every yard. Fundamental information on drying can be given 
and its application indicated in a general way. This material may 
be used by the individual as a guide, but only as a guide, in work- 
ing out his own problem. He “must give much time and effort to 
checking for his own yard the effect of different methods and com- 
binations of methods upon stock depreciation, rate of drying, final 
moisture content, operating costs, and yard-space requirements. And 
such time and effort can without question be made productive of 
handsome financial return through greater efficiency in air seasoning. 
Will these very definite though intangible returns be appreciated at 
their full value and prove an incentive to improved yard operation ? 
The small plant, whose yard crew may consist of two or three men 
working under the direction of the man in charge of the entire manu- 
facturing operation and the great plant having an enormous daily 
production, with its yard superintendent and assistant, green and dry 
lumber foremen, stock clerks, piling crews, dry- lumber handlers, 
transportation crews, trackmen, foundation- repair men, crosser men, 
and clean-up men, both have one thing in common. The men who are 
qualified and who naturally should have the incentive to check and 
study seasoning methods in relation to actual results are so pressed 
with supervisory and other duties that little thorough work of this 
nature is possible. To this situation the majority of the difficulties 
and failures in air seasoning can very largely be charged. Real effi- 
clency in air-seasoning practice must have accurate detail knowledge 
for its basis. 
Indirectly, the major objectives of air seasoning are obtained by 
control of the drying rate. The aim of any method is therefore pri- 
marily to create conditions conducive to either faster or slower drying. 
The more general principles of bringing such conditions about should 
accordingly be summarized. 
If more rapid drying generally is desired, the means most ap- 
plicable are the following: 
Improved yard drainage. 
Hradication of vegetation. 
Wider spacing between sides of the piles. 
Higher foundations. 
Narrower piles. 
Thicker crossers. 
Wider spacing between boards. 
Chimneys in random-width stock. 

