
THE AIR SEASONING OF WESTERN SOFTWOOD LUMBER 37 
tice, and differences in natural conditions present a variety of prob- 
lems. However, the wide differences in practice indicated below are 
too largely the result of failure to appreciate fully the basic relation- 
ship between spacing and the drying process and so to give recogni- 
tion to it in pile construction: 




Region Average 
spacing Range 
E Tees Inches Inches 
SE AnTORMAAyDING Ake.) eset ee kee asks). bs | i ADO LE IE Re OREN aos 4 4 2-8 
ine binipirotas. 352 SV 5 i NPE) te yey eee FY 3 1-6 
Re WOCd meee ee ERNE Tk oy OE eS Soe SE eC 12 Y-2 
1D Yayo ed NS Fi Vins Se en ah ae he Be ee A DE To SR A Ae De Se hee 121% V4 

1 Approximate. 
Proper spacings must be worked out at each plant, due weight 
being given to the facts presented here. Coordination with other 
requirements in pile constructions is also essential. As a general 
guide, it may be stated that wide stock requires a greater spacing 
80 
DESCRIPTION OF PILES 
STOOKSNE ME Wh? tlt PESTLE HITE PUNE 
BOX TVPE PILES 
V6 FEET SQACE SIO COURGELS 
VXE CROSGSELRE 
SLANG BETHELW BOARDS 22 AND F 
Moisture content, per cent 

° 
12 20 27), 3 10 17 24.)\( 7 8 15 22 29) S 12 19 26)\ 3 10 17 24 63 ee 
OCT. NOV. DEC. 
AUG. SEPT. SAN 
Fic. 6.—Comparative drying rates in lower third of pile for stock piled with different 
spacing between boards 
than narrower stock, 5/4 and thicker stock requires more than 4/4 
stock, and pine, because of its susceptibility to stain, more than other 
species. A dual system may be necessary to meet the drying ex- 
tremes of different seasons. Standard practice may call for a 
narrower spacing during the active drying season than will meet the 
needs during the rest of the year. 
In piling random-width stock, the usual practice of allowing a 
fixed interval between boards irrespective of their width permits no 
unbroken flues from the top to the bottom of the pile. As stated be- 
