Indian Forest Records. 
[VoL. IX 
Summary and general conclusions. 
(1) Although the most satisfactory solution of many of the season- 
ing problems in India depends upon kiln seasoning, most of the species 
dealt with in this study can be seasoned by natural methods with 
very good results. 
(2) Timber, except in the case of a few species, should not be 
held in the form of logs for seasoning. The amount of splitting by 
seasoning in the log is considerably greater than by green conversion 
and the surface cracking is no less. Timber in the log is liable to 
excessive damage by fungi and insects. Every possible effort should 
be made to conveiT logs within a short time after felling. 
(3) The majority of the species may best be converted green 
providing the timber is properly stacked and protected. 
(4) Girdling for a period of 18 months reduces appreciably the 
tendency of the wood to crack after conversion and duiing final season- 
ing, but greatly increases the liability to severe damage by insects. 
The risk is worth taking only in the case of certain refractory species. 
(5) When logs cannot be converted soon after felling, special pre- 
cautions should be taken to protect the logs against splitting, cracking, 
insects, and fungi. 
(6) Immersion in fresh water is the best method of protecting logs 
aw'aiting conversion, but does not appear to facilitate the seasoning 
except iu tile case of converted pieces of species especially hable to 
severe discolouration. Converted timber so treated is discoloured and 
cracks on the surface more than by green conversion directly followed 
by stacking on land. 
(7) Many species after conversion must be stacked in seasoning 
sheds so designed as to give protection not only from direct sun and 
rain, but also from hot, dry winds. The degree of protection required 
varies with the species and the climatic conditions. 
(8) The felling of trees which cannot be converted soon after cutting 
should not be carried on during the hot season or at the beginning of 
the rains. 
(9) Eefractoi’y woods should be converted during or as near the 
end of the rainy season as possible and not during the hot season 
unless the converted timber can be put into seasoning kilns or other- 
wise well protected. Soft, non-durable woods should be converted 
during the dry season and if possible stacked vertically so as to hasten 
the seasoning to avoid discolouration and decay. 
(10) The moisture content of seasoned wood varies with the season 
of the year and with the climatic conditions of the locality; iu -June 
from 4'8 per cent, in the Hazara Division, North-West Erontier Pro- 
vince to 15'2 per cent, in the Cox’s Bazar Division, Bengal. 
[ 238 :] 
