12 
Indian Forest Records. 
[VOL. IX 
prevent excessive cracking and splitting and which are commonly 
thought to be benefited by this treatment, are often more damaged 
than by green conversion, inasmuch as the drying goes on quickly 
from the exposed surfaces, but not at all from the inside, with the 
inevitable cracking and splitting. By this method the portions of 
the log which season at all are usually so severely cracked that the 
material has to be sawn out and wasted when the logs are converted, 
so* that the effects of the seasoning that does take place are almost 
entirely vitiated. As a rule, the cracks extend into the log to 
the depth that the seasoning has taken place or, in other words, the 
seasoning progresses only as far as the depth of the cracks and 
splits. 
Excessive cracking and splitting may be reduced by leaving the- 
bark on the logs and by painting the ends with a protective coating ; 
but the seasoning is retarded to a degree that the time is practically 
wasted, and the timber is liable to damage from the effects of too 
slow drying, that is, by fungi and insects. 
If decay is present in the tree in an incipient stage before felling, 
as it often is, it is given every opportunity to develop. But even if 
the logs are absolutely sound at the time of felling, the chances are 
very good that they will be attacked during the period of seasoning. 
The less durable woods such as Tetrameles nudijlora, Sterculia villosa, 
etc., are rendered absolutely useless by this method of seasoning, and 
the experiments have shown that in the majoidty of cases timber 
seasoned in this way is severely damaged. The practice of holding 
timber in the form of logs either for seasoning or for purposes of stor- 
age is responsible for much of the waste in conversion due to decay, 
splits, and cracks. 
Some of the more valuable cabinet woods, such as Dalbergia 
latifolia, whose value depends largely upon the colour are said to be 
greatly improved by partial seasoning in the log before conversion. 
It is not to be denied that some woods may be held in the form of 
logs quite safely, and, if timbers whose colour is improved by this 
practice are included among them, the practice may well be con- 
tinued. 
The experiments earned out during the course of this investiga- 
tion show that in general the surface cracking of the converted tim- 
ber is no less by seasoning in the log than by green conversion. 
That is, taking the average of all species in all of the Divisions in 
which the experiments were carried out, the surface cracking was 
the same by seasoning in the log as by green conversion. • On the 
same basis, splitting was 24 per cent, greater by seasoning in 
the log than by green conversion. As a general rule, and ■v\ith m.ost 
woods, the practice of seasoning in the log should be strongly dis- 
couraged inasmuch as there is much to lose and little to be gained 
through the practice. 
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