GRAND FIR 



(Abies Grandis) 



IN California, Oregon, and Idaho this tree is called white fir, but it has 

 several other names, silver fir and yellow fir in Montana and Idaho. 

 In California some know it as Oregon fir, western white fir, and great 

 California fir. Grand fir is more a botanist's than a lumberman's name. 

 The range extends from British Columbia to Mendocino county, 

 California, and to the western slopes of the continental divide in Mon- 

 tana. The coastal growth lies in a comparatively narrow strip. In the 

 mountains an altitude of 7,000 feet is sometimes reached, the soil and 

 moisture requirements, however, being the same. The largest trees are 

 found in bottom lands near the coast where trunks 300 feet tall and six 

 feet in diameter are found, but the average is much less. In mountain 

 regions at considerable altitudes a height of 100 feet and a diameter of 

 two or three is an average size. The leaves are about an inch and a 

 half in length, occasionally two and a half. They are arranged in rows, 

 along the sides of the long, flexible branches. Cones are from two to 

 four inches long, and bear winged seeds three-eighths of an inch long, the 

 wings being half an inch or more in length. The bark of old trunks may 

 be two inches thick, but generally is thinner. It is unfortunate that the 

 wood of the large western firs lacks so many qualities which make it 

 valuable. It is generally inferior to the woods of Douglas fir, western 

 hemlock, Sitka spruce and the western cedars, sugar pine, and western 

 yellow pine. The wood of grand fir is light, soft, weak, brittle, and not 

 durable hi contact with the soil. Its light color and the abundance of 

 clear material in the giant trunks are redeeming features. These ought 

 to open the way for much use in the future. It cannot find place in 

 heavy construction, because it is not strong enough. That shuts it from 

 one important place for which it is otherwise fitted. Box makers find 

 it suitable, as all fir woods are, and large demand should come from that 

 quarter. Trunks that will cut from 15,000 to 20,000 feet of lumber 

 that is practically clear, and of good color, and light in weight, are 

 bound to have value for boxes and slack cooperage. Trees grow with 

 fair rapidity. Annual rings are usually broad, and the bands of summer- 

 wood are wide and distinct. This guarantees a certain figure in lumber 

 sawed tangentially, but it is not a figure to compare in beauty with some 

 of the hardwoods, or even with Douglas fir, or the southern yellow pines. 

 It ought to be a first class material for certain kinds of woodenware, 

 particularly for tubs, pails, and small stave vessels, and as far as it has 

 been used in that way it has been satisfactory. It cannot be recom- 



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