94. DEPARTMENT BULLETIN 1425, U. S. DEPT, CF AGRICULTURE 
a reasonable addition to the piling cost may readily pay for itself 
many times over by a considerable saving effected through reduction 
of degrade. More rapid stock turnover, lower shipping weights, and 
the customer’s appreciation of low, uniform moisture content are 
also actual returns from what may appear to be more costly piling 
methods. 
Of course, climatic conditions must serve as a guide to piling 
practice. To illustrate, during the active drying season in the Inland 
Empire hot days with extremely low humidity are common. In the 
redwood region a greater humidity is the rule. The method of pile 
construction used in the Inland Empire must anticipate deprecia- 
tion from checking to a greater degree than would be needful in 
the redwood region. Again, high piles are more practicable in a 
warm climate than in one less favorable to drying, for in the warm 
climate the amount of direct sunlight which reaches the lumber pile 
is less important. 
The layout of the drying yard also bears on the methods of piling 
to be followed. Stain development is a more acute problem of pile 
construction in a crowded yard than in a less congested one. If 
trams are employed, slow drying and the incident evils occur in the 
stock below the tram level. Under such conditions more expensive 
pile construction is justified to build up the air circulation in the 
lower part of the pile. | 
It has been pointed out that, because of their different degrees of 
susceptibility to defect, different species need individual treatment. 
Similarly, the several grade groups of the same wood may require 
different pile construction, not only because of differences in defect 
development but also because the greater the value of the product 
the greater the expense justified to prevent depreciation. Thickness 
of the stock, since it affects the rate of seasoning and liability of 
depreciation, also necessitates adaptations in piling, 
TYPE AND SIZE OF PILES 
Three general types of lumber piles are used in western softwood 
yards. The so-called box pile is commonly employed in all of the 
producing region. Plate 5, C, is a rear view of excellent box piles. 
What may be termed a “ modified box ” pile is shown in Plate 5, D. 
This type is used very generally in the Douglas fir region but is not 
common elsewhere. <A third type, and one that is found in too many 
yards in each region, may be called the “random length” pile. This 
method of piling, which is illustrated in Plate 6, A, is obviously an 
improper one for efficient air seasoning, 
THE BOX PILH 
Box piling is a method that permits the ends of the stock to bear 
upon the front and rear crossers, which should in turn bear directly 
upon the front and rear foundation stringers. Expressed another 
way, the stock does not overhang the rear crosser. This method has 
real advantages. Both segregated and random-length lumber can 
be piled in this manner. Stock is uniformly protected from the 
weather and all parts of the lumber are given adequate bearing sur- 

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