CHAPTER VIII. 



COMMERCIAL ASPECT OF CONIFERS. 



When viewed in a truly commercial sense, the various species 

 of coniferae are perhaps the most useful and valuable of all 

 trees to mankind. For general utility the timber is not sur- 

 passed by that of any other trees, and possesses qualities that 

 render it peculiarly suitable for building and general con- 

 structive purposes, while being obtainable in such vast 

 quantities the price is comparatively cheap. The arts and 

 manufactures are also largely indebted to coniferous trees for 

 many of their staples tar, pitch, turpentine, resin, balsams, 

 spirits, paper pulp, etc. Tar, which at present is largely im- 

 ported from the Baltic ports and Southern United States of 

 America, is obtained principally from Finns palitstris^ P. 

 Pinaster^ and P. silvesU'is. Turpentine comes from incisions 

 made in the stems of several species of Pinus^ principally P. 

 Tceda, P. silvestris, and P. pahistris. The famous Strasburg 

 turpentine is obtained from the common silver fir {Abies 

 pectinatd), while the larch is the source of the Venice turpen- 

 tine of commerce. Larch bark contains a large quantity of 

 tannin matter, and this may also be said of that of the 

 Canadian hemlock fir ( Tsuga canadensis), which is, how- 

 ever, inferior in quality to that of the larch. From spruce 

 branches that well-known beverage, spruce beer, is principally 

 obtained, while in the manufacture of gin the much esteemed 

 flavour and aroma are mainly due to our common juniper. 

 In New England the sapling pines are made into pasteboard, 

 and the fibre threads of the wood into cloth. That valuable 

 product coniferin is obtained from several species of Abies 

 and Pinus ; an oil largely employed in veterinary practice 



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