wood for off set smoker

by brad
(waldport or)

How dry should the alder wood i use for my off set smoker be?

-green?

-6 months old?

-or bone dry?

I seem to get a lot of black meats even with all the tips I get from this site.
The wood I'm using is not bone dry but about 6 months old so still a little wet per say.

help

thank you