52 DEPARTMENT BULLETIN 1425, U. S. DEPT, OF AGRICULTURE 
(Table 1.) It is therefore obvious that blue stain is not a factor in 
air seasoning. However, the high green moisture content of the red- 
wood, together with the less favorable climatic conditions, makes for 
real seasoning difficulties. 
Production of boards or 4/4 stock is large in the redwood region, 
especially in the common grades, but a big volume of thick “ uppers ” 
and shop is also cut and considerable dimension is made. Inch com- 
mon is rather generally piled in separate widths. Thick shop and 
uppers are ordinarily seasoned in random widths. Probably 60 to 
70 per cent of the production is shipped green, owing to the facilities 
for water transportation and the absence of the stain danger. As a 
result, much stock is simply stored at the plants, little or no attempt 
being made to obtain drying. 
Drying yards in this region are almost without exception badly 
congested, a, condition that could well be avoided where drying is 
slow and where a species of high moisture content is involved. This 
situation is probably the outgrowth of the practice of shipping green 
stock, as well as of a rather common shortage of yard space, and of 
the fact that seasoning losses are less obvious and obtrusive than in 
regions where stain occurs. Not only are yards crowded, but the 
entire air-seasoning practice is ordinarily such as to preclude any- 
thing like as rapid drying as is easily possible, even with the unfavor- 
able conditions existing. Low foundations are the rule. Drainage 
and vegetation in many yards could hardly be worse. The “ random- 
length ” type of pile is often used. Wide piles are commonly em- 
ployed and sometimes piled two layers to the course. The 4/4 
crosser is standard for this region, and frequently an excessive 
number are used on each course. Spacing between boards in a 
course is generally inadequate, and the use of chimneys in piles of 
random-width stock does not follow the best practice. Finally, care- 
less or inadequate roofing is a frequent and serious obstacle to rapid 
drying. 
RESULTS FROM PRESENT PRACTICE 
A survey of the depreciation resulting from air seasoning in the 
redwood region indicates an actual footage loss of 2.5 per cent which, 
very conservatively, means a regional average loss of $1.23 per 
thousand feet. Favorable natural conditions, and not air-seasoning 
methods, prevent much greater depreciation. But even if the de- 
preciation loss does not appear to justify more concern, the cost to 
the operators of a drying period of such excessive length as is 
necessitated under present practice ought to do so. 
Figure 9, which only attempts to picture the average regional 
drying situation, clearly indicates unsatisfactory seasoning. Ex- 
cept for stock piled in May, June, July, and August, very long 
drying periods are required. Also, reasonable final average mois- 
ture contents are obtained only from about June 1 to September 30. 
Weather conditions and the species concerned are, of course, in part 
responsible for such difficulties, but improper practice aggravates 
these inherent difficulties unnecessarily. 
What does this mean to the industry? ‘In addition to the very 
real objections of marketing a product of unsuitable moisture con- 
tent, there is a more tangible loss. Careful estimates of the average 
air-seasoning in both the redwood and California pine regions will 

