2 BULLETIN 1037, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
The molding of green timber has frequently been confused with 
sap-stain as well as with incipient decay. However, in so far as the 
production of permanent stain or the effect upon the durability of the 
wood is concerned, molding is of comparatively little importance. 
Incipient decay caused by true wood-destro}dng fungi, on the other 
hand, is of great importance. 
Early in the year 1918 the attention of the Office of Investigations 
in Forest Pathology was called to staining and molding occurring 
in green raw material by the wood-stock committee representing the 
National Implement and Vehicle Association and other Aehicle and 
vehicle parts manufacturers through the Forest Products Labora¬ 
tory of the United States Forest Service, Madison, Wis. The pres¬ 
ent investigation arose in connection with raw hardwood stock used 
in the manufacture of escort wagons and artillery carriages. A 
large quantity of this material was at that time being sawed or 
turned, largely from green instead of seasoned stock and shipped 
green from the saw. In some cases it was found necessary to cull 
severely such stock at destination, owing to the presence of mold, 
stain, or incipient decay which had developed during transit and 
while in storage. In cooperation with the Forest Products Labora¬ 
tory and the wood-stock committee, a questionnaire 2 was sent to a 
number of the contractors for Army vehicles and parts and to pro¬ 
ducers of wood stock. Personal investigations were also made of 
the conditions existing at 45 mills and factories engaged in the saw¬ 
ing of timber, dimension stock, and veneer, or in the manufacture 
of airplanes, furniture, flooring, handles, vehicles, and vehicle parts. 
Most of these mills were located in the central and southern portions 
of the United States and were directly concerned in the production 
of war material. The object of both questionnaire and personal 
investigations was to gain information concerning the general sani¬ 
tary conditions existing in the woods, railway cars, sheds, ware¬ 
houses, and kilns; the details of manufacture of many vehicle parts; 
the extent of deterioration occurring in green raw material; the finan¬ 
cial losses occasioned thereby; and, particularly, any practical meth¬ 
ods of handling green wood stock that would prevent the develop¬ 
ment of stain and mold therein. 
The investigations showed that many of the firms had experienced 
considerable pecuniary losses, which were due to the necessity of 
using a high percentage of green stock; to a shortage of cars, re¬ 
sulting in the congestion of material in the woods and railroad 
2 National Implement and Vehicle Association and other Vehicle and Vehicle Parts 
Manufacturers. Information Division of the Wagon and Vehicle Committee and the 
Wheel Manufacturers’ War Service Committee. Wood Stock Committee. Sap-stain and 
mold in green lumber. Nat. Implement and Vehicle Assoc., etc., Bui. 24, 2 p., 1 fig. 
1918. A. B. Thielens, chairman. Multigraphed. 
