20 DEPARTMENT BULLETIN 1425, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 
GENERAL YARD CONDITIONS 
Plates 2, A and 4, C offer a remarkable contrast of sanitary condi- 
tions as actually found in the West. There is much room for im- 
provement in most of the yards. No yards have been seen where 
recommendations for sanitation have been taken too literally or 
overdone. The cleanliness of a yard is largely a matter of habit 
with the workmen, and therefore the prevention of débris accumu- 
lation should be definitely insisted upon. Incidentally, cleanliness 
and order about the yard inevitably inspire the employees with more 
pride in their work and result in greater efficiency. 
Weeds and other vegetation in the drying yard not only retard 
air movement under the piles but also decrease the rate at which 
the ground dries after rains. How unfavorable both of these effects 
may be can be visualized by referring to Plate 5, B, particularly if 
this view is compared with the admirable conditions shown in Plate 
9, A. Excessive vegetative growth in the yard should be prevented, 
and this may be accomplished in a number of ways. Chemical weed 
killers or sheep grazing may supplement or entirely do away with 
the more costly and less effective use of the scythe. 
Methods of handling and sorting crossers not in use may also © 
have an important bearing on seasoning. It is not unusual to find — 
the circulation under a green lumber pile entirely or partially 7 
blocked by crossers and roof boards which have been thrown or ~ 
stacked on the ground against the front, rear, or sides of the founda- — 
tion. Plate 4, A illustrates a practice which greatly reduces this 
evil. The extension at the front of the foundation provides a con- — 
venient place for roof boards, and cross pieces between the sides of — 
adjacent foundations afford similar storage for crossers. With such — 
practice, none of this material left after the erection of a new pile 
will be lying about to stop circulation beneath the foundation. 7 
Methods of this kind tend also to prevent breakage and warping © 
and to keep crossers off the ground and consequently drier. Dry 
crossers are less lable to become infected with blue stain and to 
transmit the stain to the stock piled upon them. 
Yard sanitation is a very practical measure in the control of blue 
stain. It has already been stated that the principal source of blue- 
stain infection is in the spores produced when the fungi have de- 
veloped sutliciently on piled stock or other suitable material. Incipi- — 
ent infection of decay is caused in the same manner. Preventive 
measures are quite logically aimed at attempting to avoid the condi- © 
tions favorable to growth of blue stain; but the lability of infection — 
should also be reduced as far as practicable. Mull refuse should ~ 
never be placed in the yard, and broken boards and like débris should ~ 
not be allowed to accumulate. Such material, in addition to increas- — 
ing the fire risk, is soon infected with stain and decay organisms and © 
rapidly becomes a new source of infection. | 
YARD TRANSPORTATION 

As would naturally be expected over such a large territory as the © 
western lumber-producing region, numerous and varied methods for © 
the movement of lumber to and from the drying yard are employed. © 
Transportation over a track system by either motors or horses is 
a ee 3 
