44 
BULLETIN 1136, TJ. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
While it is not possible to lay down any hard4md-fast rules for 
proper final moistures, the information in Table 16, based on average 
conditions in the East and Middle TVest, may serve as a guide in the 
drying of stock for specific purposes. 
Table lo. — Mean relative humidities at various points in the United States. 
City. 
Cleveland, Ohio. . 
Denver. Colo 
El Paso, Tex 
Galveston, Tex. . . 
Madison, Wis 
Memphis, Tenn. . . 
New Orleans, La.. 
New York,N.Y.. 
Pensacola, Fla 
Phoenix, Ariz 
Portland, Or eg. . . 
S an Diego, Calif.. 
Spokane, Wash... 
"Wilmington, N. C 
Mean relative humidity, per cent. 
Winter, j Spring. Summer. Fall. Annual 
Table 16. — Final moisture content of stock- for various uses. 
Final 
moisture, 
per cent. 
Furniture o to 7 
Interior woodwork 6 to 8 
Vehicle stock, except wheel and box parts 15 to 18 
Vehicle wheel and box parts 8 
Gunstocks 6 to 8 
Aircraft (Army) 8 
Aircraft (Navy) 12 
Outdoor sporting goods (bats, golf sticks, tennis rackets, polo mallets, 
etc. ) '. 10 
Musical instruments 5 to 7 
Softwoods for long freight shipments 12 or less 
Miscellaneous outdoor material 12 
Note. — Thoroughly air-dried wood ranges from 12 to IS per cent moisture 
content, depending on local climatic conditions. 
MOISTURE SPECIFICATION. 
Much of the trouble experienced in the use of lumber results from 
improper seasoning, and many disputes arise from a misunderstand- 
ing of the use or meaning of broad and loose terms, such as " kiln 
dried " or " air dried," or even " thoroughly kiln dried " or " thor- 
oughly air dried." These terms are so indefinite that they really 
are without significance. There is now no universally accepted 
standard moisture specification, and each purchaser must draw his 
own. A moisture or seasoning specification is fully as important 
as a grade specification — sometimes much more important — and it 
is essential that the purchaser know that he is getting stock properly 
seasoned for his use. 
A number of wood users throughout the country are now specify- 
ing the amount of moisture that the stock shall contain at the time 
of shipment or receipt, which is excellent in every way. It is not 
