When reading grain direction for planing, either by hand or machine, follow the rays rather than annular rings. The mechanical bond between the rays and the normally oriented wood structure is generally the weakest in bond in the wood and usually where tear out happens. Usually, the rays in the wood are oriented in the same direction as the annular rings but it often isn't. The rays appear as small specks in flat sawn faces that almost appear to be pores. Here's an example of the rays running in the opposite direction as the annular rings:
Just my opinion, but it seems to me that riift sawn and quarter sawn are the most stable and easiest to work.
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