Phil i don't think there are any rules about drying logs,though the experts reckon it takes 1 year for every 1 inch of wood thickness to dry.
I've spent hours reading up on others varying methods of drying logs/blanks etc and have had varying successes on all,but still had a large amount of wood split,which just gets cut down into useable sizes for other smaller items.
I have had some Ash in my shop now for about 12 years which i got from the local park. I cut some down into 1" thick boards,a lot split,i have cut into bowl blank sizes taking the pith out sealing the ends with PVA neat,its split.
I've part turned it,left it in woodshavings,plastic bags etc you name i've probably tried it,like most others have and most has split.
The only 100% success i had was using the metholated spirits soaking,but that gave the wood a different feel when turned and a slight stain to the whiter woods.
I have had wood that was used for shelving where i used to work that was over 100 years old so nice and dry i used it to make summat and even that started splitting.
Its probably best to keep logs as long in length as you can handle hopefully just getting the splitting taking place on the ends but again some reckon once a log splits that split continues right through even though its not visible??
There are just too many variables in drying wood i think,especially the wood we all normally use/get from where ever we can??
Good luck
