THE LANDS OF UTAH. 101 
which are trifureate, sharp, pointed, and conspicuously exserted, and they 
are unlike those of any other species. 
Abies concolor, known in Utah as the “Black balsam”, grows at about 
the same altitude as the last mentioned species, and though rather cross- 
grained makes good lumber, being quite durable and strong. From its 
silvery foliage, the leaves being glaucous on both sides, this tree is known 
to tourists as the “White silver fir’. Lumbermen sometimes call it the 
“Black gum”, the wood being very dark colored. 
Abies Engelmanni, or Engelmann’s spruce, occupies the highest eleva- 
2 
tions, and constitutes the only timber above 11,000 feet in altitude. Above 
11,500 feet it is reduced to a dwarf. On the terraces of the high plateaus, 
at about 10,000 feet altitude, it appears to flourish best, and here it becomes 
a large, beautiful tree. The leaves are needle shaped, and thus differ from 
both the preceding species. The trunks are straight and free from limbs 
or knots, making fine saw logs. The wood is white and soft, but fine 
grained and durable, and being easily worked is held in high esteem for all 
the lighter uses, such as sash, doors, ete. Its place in the lumber industries 
of Utah is about the same as that of the ‘White pine” (Pinus Strobus) in 
the east. Lumbermen usually call it ‘‘White pine”. Because. of the 
altitude of its habitat it is difficult to obtain, yet it is systematically sought, 
and large amounts are yearly manufactured into lumber; it also makes 
good shingles. 
Abies Menzies, or Meuzies’s spruce, usually called “Spruce” by 
lumbermen of the country, is botanically very similar to the species last 
described, but the cones are larger and the leaves sharper pointed. — It 
bears a large quantity of cones, which are generally aggregated near the 
top, obscuring the foliage, and giving the trees a peculiar tawny appear- 
ance. ‘The wood is light, white, and fine grained, and would rival that of 
the last named species but for the fact that the trunk has a number of 
slight curves, so that it is impossible to obtain good saw logs of sufficient 
length from it. Its habitat is along the canons from seven to nine thou- 
sand feet altitude, and seems to end about where A. Engelmanni begins. 
“It is, however, a smaller tree, and less abundant. 
Abies subalpina is of little value as a timber tree; the wood is 
