INDIAN FOREST RECORDS 
Vol. VII 
1918 
Part I 
Preliminary Note on the Seasoning of some Indian 
Timbers, by Natural Methods 
by 
R. S. PEARSON, i.f.s., f.l.s. 
Economist at the Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun, India . 
I. Introduction. 
A considerable amount of information is available as to the methods 
of seasoning a few of the better known timbers of India, such as Teak, 
Sal, Deodar, etc., though little information is to hand in respect of the 
many valuable hardwoods, other than the above. It was therefore 
thought advisable to start an enquiry in 1914, with a-view of ascertain¬ 
ing the best methods of dealing with certain important Indian hard¬ 
woods, and as a commencement 33 species were selected for testing. 
The results obtained have been of sufficient importance to justify an 
immediate extension of the enquiry on a much larger scale. 
That we have little or no information as to how to season many 
of our timbers would in itself be a sufficient reason for such an 
enquiry, and if further justification is needed it is only necessary to 
state that many useful timbers found in the forests of British India 
either only command a very small market or are unsaleable. 
There is yet another factor of equal, if not greater, importance than 
the above, viz., that the more scientific and intensive working of our 
forests, a subject which is now receiving much attention from all Forest 
Officers, demands not merely the removal of mature trees of a few of the 
best species but also heavy fellings of all species. Such operations can 
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