ON THE CORSICAN FIE. 



225 



I zone 



oak, asli, elm, maple, beech, and hornbeam, the "sprini, 

 remains more or less constant, wliile the " autumnal zone " (con- 

 sequently also the weight and durability of the timber) depends 

 on the total breadth of the annual ring. The following table 

 (extracted from Nordlinger) tends to give a general idea of the 

 specific weight of the Austrian or Corsican fir as compared with 

 a few of the most common conifers, although, as before stated, 

 the values are not to be regarded as constant : — 



This would prove it to be one of the heaviest of the conifers 

 generally cultivated in the temperate zone. 



Its wood is neither hard nor elastic, and is difficult to split by 

 means of wedges. On being cut up into planks, &c., it shrinks 

 and swells but moderately. As regards durability, it ranks 

 between the larch and the Scotch fir, and, when with narrow 

 annual rings, and containing a large quantity of resinous fluid, 

 is well suited for exposure under unfavourable circumstances, 

 e.g., railway sleepers, wooden pipes for drainage purposes, &c. 

 When the above conditions are fulfilled the Corsican fir, too'ether 

 with the larch and the Scotch fir, yields in durability only to 

 the oak, and must be looked upon as suj)plying one of the 

 hardiest timbers capable of being reared in our climate. As 

 fuel it also possesses high value, but, coal and peat being plentiful, 

 it will never be cultivated in Scotland solely on that account. 



Notwithstanding the good qualities possessed by the timber, 

 this tree is frequeutty used for the purpose of gaining oil of 

 turpentine, colophonium, tar, lamp-black, charcoal, and the like. 



In the wild, thinly populated, mountainous regions, where the 

 Corsican fir is mostly to be found forming pure forests, there is 

 but little demand for railway sleepers, beams for mill-wheels, 

 timbers for pit shafts, &c., and as the expense of conveying the 

 forest produce annually to a favourable mart Avould scarcely be 

 covered by the prices realised, the proprietors must seek to 

 derive an income from the tree in another manner ; they extract 



