摘要:
A method for treating whole logs to prevent them from splitting as they are dried to a desired moisture content. Whole green logs are placed in a pressure vessel which is sealed. Preferably the logs are debarked before they are placed in the vessel, but they may be debarked after their removal therefrom. Steam is thereafter injected into the vessel until the wood throughout the logs has reached a temperature within the range of about 190.degree.-240.degree. F., while condensed water and other fluids from the wood are drained from the vessel. Subsequently the pressure in the vessel is released at a rate slow enough that no significant collapse of the wood within the logs occurs, and when the logs are cool enough to handle they are removed, debarked if necessary, and dried in a room whose relative humidity is maintained not less than about 45% until the logs have reached a predetermined moisture content.