The Firs 



41 



as in hemlock, but on leading shoots and fruit-bearing twigs they have generally a 

 more upright, bristling arrangement. 



The twigs frequently come out from the branch in pairs and almost opposite 

 each other. They are smooth and, after the leaves have dropped off, are marked 



^^^^b::P^ t'^^'^ZtrnTiK^''' 



/? , /?(7/s/?/7?(2 



with small, circular scars left by the base of the leaf. The winter buds are small, 

 covered with resin, and not pointed. These features aid in distinguishing it from 

 the Douglas fir, which has pointed buds that are free from resin. 



The cones are 2 to 4 in. long and 1 in. broad. As with all firs they stand erect 

 on the branch, and, when ripe, the scales drop off leaving the core, or axis, standing. 

 They are purplish in colour. 



This is a tree which has only in late years been properly appreciated. Its wood 

 forms at least one-quarter of the pulpwood produced annually, and the pulp manu- 

 factured is equal in many respects to that made of white spruce. The tree is sawn 

 into lumber in the Maritime Provinces and used for rough constructon. It is not 

 used extensively elsewhere except for pulp and poles. 



ABIES LASIOCARPA (Hook.) Nutt. ALPINE FIR 



Common names: Alpine fir, mountain fir, white balsam, white fir*, 

 western balsam fir, caribou fir (Northern British Colum- 

 bia). 

 French name: Sapin concolore. 

 The alpine fir, as the name designates, is a tree of the mountains. It is found 

 in British Columbia, Alberta, and Yukon territory at elevations of 2,000 to 7,000 



