Hemlock Splitting

[glfisherman]

Dropped some hemlock trees last winter to have sawn into lumber for my new sugar shack. The bottom 6-8' of 4 out of the 5 logs had something like dead spots in the growth rings. Is this a disease?

[northwoods_forestry]

Sounds like it could be ring shake, a relatively common condition for hemlock growing in wet or ledgy soils.

[maple flats]

Likely what is called shake in the lumber business. Hemlock in some areas tend to do this. What diameter were these dbh? (diameter breast height). Where this happens it is a problem that reduces the log value. That portion should be removed. It will work just fine in the wood pile, burn it. This is most often found in wetter areas but can be found in dry areas too. Sawmills do not like it, the growth rings will separate. Just use what is above this for lumber.

[glfisherman]

Those logs were 18-24" dbh.