Bill Tindall
The drying rate for wood is about 10X from the ends compared to the face and quartered is faster than flat.

Drying rate depends on the above factors as well as species, temperature, relative humidity, air circulation and where in the drying stage the wood is at. All these factors make the adage of 1" per year a useless guide.

If I cut firewood in TN in the spring by fall a 20" diameter section is, or is nearly, equilibrated to outside conditions, providing the wood is covered to exclude rain but allow wind. It is certainly well below 30% MC for it will have checked and the checks stabilized, evidence that the piece is has lost most all of the intercellular water that it is going to. (volumetric shrinkage does not begin until about 30% MC. ) I have some 20-24" beech in the wood pile that I cut last May and it is thoroughly dry. It was dry in August. Beech dries more rapidly than oak.

Given good drying conditions I would have expected that block of wood to be air dry in 3 months. Even with retarded air circulation I have air dried 10/4 walnut lumber in less than a year.