Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/483

 1868.] Lumber and, Lumber Yards. 333 That of the fourth, to afford additional protection from the weather, as well as to give the pile a neat and uniform ap- pearance. That of the fifth is to prevent the boards from coming into contact at the edge. That of the sixth, to shield the pile from snow, rain and sun. A thorough observance of these rules will contribute largely to the satisfac- tion of the builder ; and insure a very considerable saving to the dealer. A very good invention for drying boards, and one much used in some quarters, consists in a frame or rather horizontal piece, supported by posts, and having a rack formed of cuts, about one inch apart, in which the upper ends of the boards are inserted, and by which they are retained in an upright position. It is found that newly manufactured Lumber will dry out in a much shorter time when standing on end than in any other position ; and if the rack is in a situation to receive plenty of air ; and particularly, if so placed, as to allow the boards to have their edges towards the northeast winds — it will be found, that the seasoning process is very greatly accelerated. Artificial Seasoning, while it may prove useful in some cases, is not en- dorsed by those who are the best judges of its efficiency ; and, while it is not wise to indulge in a wholesale condem- nation of any system, it nevertheless appears self-evident, to the writer, that the unnatural " forcing " of Lumber, under an enormously high temperature, must tend to render it brash and lifeless, by baking the sap in the pores and boil- ing the A'ery substance out of it. Hard woods, and the better qualities of Pine, after having become seasoned, should, if possible, be put under cover. A shed facing East and West, with the sides open and the ends boarded or slatted, forms the best possible protec- tion. It is not desirable to exclude even the diyest Lumber from damp air. Experience proves, that March — during which there is such a prevalence of atmospheric dampness — is the best month for drying stock. When exposed to a circulation of air, there is less clanger of dry Lumber splitting, although it is nearly impossi- ble to discover an absolute prevention of this difficulty. It is suggested, that the tacking of plastering-laths along the end-edge of wide plank, and afterwards whitewashing them, is the best preven- tive in use. Whitewashing is also found to be very efficacious for preserving- Spruce, a branch of the Pine family, which, of all others, is the most prone to crack at the ends. White Pine Plank and Boards will frequently deteriorate in quality during the process of seasoning, or, more cor- rectly speaking, imperfections, which are entirely hidden when the wood is green, become visible, after it has dried out; and, as the best judges are liable to be deceived, it should be subjected to a second inspection, when it is re-piled. The law is very clear on the subject of the quality of lumber ; and distinctly specifies the maximum degrees of im- perfection, which shall allow it to pass into the various grades. " All boards and plank shall be re- "duced and counted as inch measure, of " which there shall be but three qualities, " viz. : Panel, Common, and Cullings, " that is to say, all boards and plank that " shall not have more than three small " sound knots, not more than £ an inch " in diameter, without sap, or shake, or " any other defect, or being free from " knots and not having, on an average, " more run of sap than half the thickness " of the board or plank, shall be deemed " and counted as Panel ; and all boards " and plank that shall not contain more " than three round knots, nor more " than 1 inch in diameter, and not more " run of sap than half the thickness of "the board or plank, shall be deemed " and counted as Common ; a split in the " end of a board or plank nearly straight