FIR. 



(Abies.) 



Several of the fir-trees of the western United States attain 

 to very great size. The silver fir (Abies grandis) and the 

 white fir (Abies concolor) supply much wood in the section in 

 which they grow. The balsam fir (Abies balsamed) of the 

 Eastern States is of some commercial importance. 



Fir wood resembles spruce in appearance and in structural 

 qualities. It may be told from spruce as well as from pine 



and larch by the fact that fir 

 has no resin-ducts. The bal- 

 sam fir is distinguishable by 

 clear liquid resin which ap- 

 pears in blisters in the bark. 

 The coarse, weak wood is 

 cleaner than the bark would 

 indicate. Spruce and fir woods 

 are often confused in the 

 United States, while pine, 

 spruce, and fir are similarly 



BALSAM FIR (Ate, takamea). confounded in Europe. The 



great sizes often attained by 



Western Species rank them with Redwoods, Douglas Firs and 

 Giant Cedars as needing special logging methods.* Platforms 

 are arranged so that large trees can be cut through, far up from 

 the ground, where defects common near the roots are excluded. 

 Trees are felled so as to strike uniformly along most of their 

 lengths as otherwise the wood would break or splinter. These 

 large logs are gathered or " yarded " by engines so powerful as to 

 operate against all usual obstructions, and the logs finally leave 

 the forests, moved by endless cables, over roads termed skidways. 

 Steam is employed and the processes involve many features not 

 usual in Eastern fields. 



Fir trees have flat, scattered, evergreen leaves, and cones that 

 stand erect (see footnote under spruce). 



* Bishop, " I.ngineering Magazine," Vol. XIII, p. 70; Gannett, " National 

 Geographic Magazine," Vol. X, No. 5, May, 1899. 



162 



