48 DEPARTMENT BULLETIN 1425, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT 
The major air-seasoning problems of the Inland Empire should be 
evident. Briefly, these are (1) the reduction of blue-stain develop- 
ment on pine stock, (2) the minimization of checking, (3) shorter 
seasoning periods, and (4) lower final moisture contents. Without 
attempting to prescribe any “cure-all” for these difficulties, nor to 
outline an “ideal” practice for the specific yard, certain general 
suggestions for improvement can be made, which, if followed, will 
aid in the solution of the big regional problems and should assist the 
local yardman in the determination of efficient practice at his own 
olant. dats 
Any adequate measures for the reduction of blue-stain development 
will also tend to shorten the seasoning period and lower the final 
average moisture content. On the other hand, most remedies for 
checking are in direct opposition to such measures. But this situation 
is not as hopeless as it might at first appear. Methods of blue-stain 
prevention and of season-check reduction can fortunately be nicely 
harmonized because of the nature of these defects. Stain development 
is most severe on western yellow pine during spring and fall, in the 
lower part of the pile, and on the shop and select grades and the 
narrow sizes. On the other hand, maximum checking occurs with 
the white pine during the summer period, in the upper part of the 
pul, and on the common grades and wide sizes. It is also true that 
the greatest single factor contributing to long drying periods and 
unsatisfactory final moisture content is the lag in drying at the 
bottom of the pile. Reduction of this lag is possible without increas- 
ing the liability of checking in the upper section of the lumber pile. 
General conditions surrounding air seasoning in the Inland 
Empire can be bettered to great advantage, as follows: 
In many yards, improved drainage, better sanitation, and current 
eradication of vegetation are essential. 
Wider rear alleys and an increase in the spacing between sides of 
the piles are necessary. 
An outstanding need is that of higher foundations. 
Stock should always be piled one layer to the course. 
The use of special crossers 4 inches in width is essential on 8 inch 
and wider No. 3 common-and-better pine and No. 2 common and 
better grades of the other woods. 
The lower third or half of the lumber pile should be of more 
open construction to facilitate both the vertical and horizontal cir- 
culation. The 8/4 crosser should be used generally for that purpose 
and in 5/4 and thicker western yellow pine throughout the pile. 
In piles of separate-width stock a minimum spacing of 4 inches 
between boards in a course should be allowed during the inactive 
drying season, this being reduced during the rest of the year if 
checking is serious. 3 
Random-width stock should be given a uniformly wider spacing 
unless the more desirable practice of three or more chimneys is 
feasible. Finally, the practice of taking down and close piling 
stock that is thoroughly air-dry at the end of the active drying 
season should be greatly extended in the interest of lower shipping 
weights and satisfactory moisture content. 

