A PRELIMINARY GROWTH AND VOLUME STUDY 



of 

 NOBLE FIR (ABIES NOBILIS) 



EDWARD J. HANZLIK, B. S. F. '11, Forest Examiner, U. S. Forest Service. 



The data presented in the following pages were obtained as a side 

 study in the course of a silvical study of western hemlock by the United 

 States Forest Service during the season of 1912. The information given 

 here is all too meager concerning this little known,, very much confused, 

 and important species of the upper slope type ; and this lack of pertinent 

 data dealing with noble fir should stimulate interest toward securing 

 further and more complete information throughout its commercial range. 



Noble fir (Abies nobilis) is one of the main components of the 

 forest in the upper slope type on the west slope of the Cascade Range in 

 Oregon and Washington. It is rarely found in pure stands, usually oc- 

 curring in mixture with Douglas fir, western hemlock, and amabilis fir 

 in the lower part of its range ; in the upper limits associating with western 

 white pine, amabilis fir, mountain hemlock, and yellow cypress in Wash- 

 ington and Northern Oregon, and with white fir, white pine, sugar pine 

 and western hemlock in Southern Oregon. It has also been reported as 

 being found sparingly in the Coast Range in Oregon, but it has not 

 been authentically reported in the Olympic Mountains in Washington. 



The altitudinal limits of noble fir growth are between 2500 and 5000 

 feet, occurring at this higher point only in the southern part of its 

 range. In Northern Washington its upper limit is between 4000 and 

 4500 feet. Below 3000 feet it occurs only as a rare scattered individual 

 in mixture with Douglas fir and hemlock. It rarely forms any appreciable 

 part of the stand at this low elevation. 



Noble fir products in the past have been placed on the market under 

 the name of "larch" without exception. Recently, however, more at- 

 tention has been paid to its correct name, and advertising of its products 

 is to be noticed under the name of "noble fir." There is really no 

 good reason for the subterfuge of a fictitious name, since the wood of 

 noble fir is of excellent quality. The wood is light brown in color, 

 odorless, free from pitch and resin, splits readily, and is easily worked. 

 Its strength qualities are not definitely known, although both Douglas 

 fir and western hemlock rank above it in this respect. Noble fir is suitable 

 for interior finish, sash and door stock, and is excellent for boxwood. 

 Due to its freedom from pitch, this wood should have great value in the 

 manufacture of pulp. 



Object of This Study 



The object of this study was to secure definite data concerning the 

 growth, volume, and other characteristics of this little-known species 

 which no doubt will play a very important part in the lumber industry 

 in the near future. 



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