u 
Indian Forest Records. 
[VOL. IX 
Immersion in water is of marked benefit in connection with the 
storage of logs and timbers either awaiting conversion or facilities for 
proper seasoning. As 'has been pointed out, the storage of wood in 
the form of logs or squares on land is decidedly hazardous. There- 
fore, where storage is necessary, immersion in fresh water is much to 
be preferred to ordinary storage on land. Cracking and splitting are 
prevented and organisms of decay will not develop. Likewise insect 
attack is prevented. It is absolutely essential, however, that the 
wood is completelij immersed, otherwise severe cracking will occur 
above the water line, and insects and decay organisms are liable to 
damage the exposed portions. Another point of the greatest 
importance is that the water must be known to be free of teredos 
and other molluscs 'ordinarily found in salt and brackish water in 
rivers close to the sea and in adjacent backwaters. It is quite 
generally appreciated that these forms of lower animals are as 
destructive of wood as white ants and other insects. 
• The general conclusions to be drawn are that immersion in fresh 
water is effective as a means of eliminating the defects commonly 
attending the storage of logs and large timbers ; but that from the 
standpoint of seasoning, benefits are to be realized only after periods 
of time which are entirely impracticable in ordinary practice. 
{Hi) Girdling. 
Girdling has come to be recognized as the standard method of 
seasoning teak and is claimed to have many advantages, in that it 
not only renders the logs light enough to float in water, but is said 
to reduce the subsequent cracking of the wood so that the wood may 
be used with little attention to further seasoning. It is common 
opinion that girdled teak is “ thoroughly seasoned ” and ready for 
use. It is an indisputable fact that girdled teak will float, and that 
ungirdled teak will not float, so that some appreciable degree of 
seasoning must take place after girdling and before felling. Some of 
the seasoning is accomplished through the evaporating surfaces of 
the crown of the tree, but this drying effect is limited entirely to the 
sapwood and, more particularly, to that portion just under the bark. 
Additional seasoning is accomplished through the periphery' of the 
bole which soon becomes stripped of bark. 
Although girdling accomplishes sufficient drying to permit of 
floating the logs, there is the question as to how much the main bulk 
of the log, i.e , the heartwood, is seasoned. There is abundant proof 
that even properly girdled teak cracks and shrinks badly when put to 
use in the dry regions, so that the theory that girdling in itself accom- 
plishes thorough seasoning must be discounted. Comprehensive 
studies are under way in Burma to determine the effects of girdling 
various species, the degree of seasoning accomplished prior to con- 
version, etc. At the present time there is little information at 
hand to indicate the actual degree of seasoning that takes place in 
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