EFFECT OF KILN DRYING, ETC., ON FUNGI IN WOOD. 5 
METHODS OF STUDY. 
The logs and other pieces assembled for this study were cut into 
test pieces at the sawmill of the Forest Products Laboratory under 
the direct supervision of the writer. The 16-foot logs were first cut 
into 8-foot logs. A 3-inch disk was then cut from one of the 8-foot 
logs. (Pl. I.) The 8-foot logs were divided into imaginary 4-foot 
bolts and lettered A, B, C, D, etc., beginning at the first bolt at the 
base of the first log taken from a tree. The tree number was used 
in conjunction with these letters in labeling the bolts, the planks, 
and the test pieces cut from each. For example, the first 4-foot bolt 
in tree No. 14 was labeled 14A, the second 14B, and so on, including 
the second and third 16-foot log. The 8-foot logs were cut into 
2-inch and 4-inch planks, and an attempt was made to include the 
maximum quantity of incipient decay in each plank. The planks 
from each log were numbered consecutively, and records were thus 
made, showing the position of each plank in the log. Diagrams of 
the longitudinal extent of the rot in each plank were also made. 
The planks were next cut into the required sizes for test pieces, 1 
by 4 by 24 inches, 2 by 4 by 24 inches, 4 by 4 by 24 inches. These 
are referred to in this bulletin as 1-inch, 2-inch, and 4-inch stock. 
These test pieces were numbered and sorted. In cutting the test 
pieces care was taken to include in each piece a maximum of the 
incipient stage of decay. Incipient or typical decay extending from 
the edge to the center of the piece constituted the minimum require- 
ments. (PI. III, A.) : 
A series of preliminary cultures was next made, using fragments 
of infected wood taken from test pieces cut from each of the logs. 
This was done to test the vitality of the fungous mycelium within 
the infected wood. 
The sets were open piled, using half-inch to 1-inch crossing sticks 
between layers, thus providing free circulation of air about the 
pieces and about the piles. 
CULTURAL METHODS. 
Upon the removal of the test pieces from the kiln, culture blocks 
2 inches thick were cut from the center of each piece. (PI. ITI, 
B.) These were given the piece number and placed in boxes to 
await culturing. The culture work called for special equipment in 
order to handle more efficiently and speedily the large number of 
cultures. A special culture or transfer case (Pl. [V) was constructed 
with motor-driven spray apparatus (Pl. IV, A, /#’), special clamp 
for holding the culture blocks (Pl. IV, 2), an opening in the rear 
of the case allowing the instruments used to be sterilized over a gas 
flame placed on the outside of the case near the opening (PI. IV, @), 
and a sliding cloth curtain (Pl. IV, Y), which allowed the free use 
of the hands during the operations. 
The cultural process in detail is as follows: 
A culture block is selected and quickly dipped in a solution of 1 to 1,000 
mercuric chlorid; it is then split open along a central line with a sterilized 
hatchet blade. After the interior of the case has been thoroughly sprayed 
with distilled water or an antiseptic solution, half of the block is clamped 
as shown in Plate IV, H. The chisel forceps,is next sterilized by dipping 
it in 95 per cent aleohol and flaming over the gas jet. The fragments of 
