Part V.] Sweet: On Air Seasoning of Indian Timbers. 
45 
stacked under protection from rain so as to facilitate rapid seasoning 
under conditions non-conducive to white ant attack. 
(49) Stereospermum chelonoides (Appendix I — 49). Buxa Division, 
Bengal. 
This timber showed a distinct tendency to surface crack, especially 
along the annual rings, in V-shaped cracks from the edges of the slash 
sawn boards, due to diagonal grain. This tendency was accentuated in 
numerous cases so as to resemble shake more than surface cracking. 
Insect attack and decay were negligible. The discoloration, which 
was present in each method of seasoning, was confined mostly to the 
surface of the timber and could be planed off easily. This timber 
seemed largely immune to white ant attack although it was piled in 
close proximity to Litscca polyantha which was badly attacked. 
Girdling and green conversion gave the best results in that surface 
cracking and shake were considerably reduced. 
Water seasoning gave the poorest general results inasmuch as the 
surfa.ce cracking and shake were accentuated. 
Unsatisfactory results were obtained from seasoning in the log 
although this method gave slightly better results than water seasoning. 
The seasoning characteristics of this timber require careful attention 
to stacking and protection from the sun so as to avoid too rapid 
seasoning from the surface while the wood is green. 
(50) Stereospermum suaveolens (Appendix I — 50). Gonda Division, 
United Provinces. 
This wood seasoned very well, whatever depreciation there was 
being due to a slight amount of surface cracking, cupping, and twisting. 
The cracks were small and caused little damage. The twisting was 
due to the fact that the material under test was sawn from small logs 
containing much sapwood. There was no evidence of decay even in 
those boards which were piled in a poorly ventilated shed. Insect 
attack was also absent except for a slight amount of damage by white 
ants. 
Girdling gave the best general results because of the reduction in 
surface cracking. The twisting was most marked in this group due to 
the small logs from which the timber was cut. 
Green conversion gave results second to those of girdling and but 
slightly worse. 
TT’afcr seasoning resulted in the greatest amount of cracking and 
splitting and gave the poorest general results. 
Although girdling and green conversion gave the best results it is 
evident that this species may be seasoned quite satisfactorily by any 
one of the four methods, of which green conversion is preferable. 
(511 Tetrameles nudiflora Appendix I — 51). Kalimpong Division, 
Bengal. 
This wood should be seasoned with little difficulty if carefully 
handled so as to avoid damage by insects. In these experiments 
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