NOBLE FIR 195 



of perpetuating itself if given a chahce, but it must be re- 

 membered that it is a slow grower and other trees may be 

 profitably grown in its stead ; this is undoubtedly true, for 

 the area in which it is found produces faster growing ones 

 and those yielding far better lumber. Still, it would be a 

 misfortune to have this beautiful tree become extinct. 



NOBLE FIR : Abies nobilis 



HERE is another unfortunate confusion of names. Some 

 Oregon lumbermen, finding a prejudice existing against 

 lumber cut from any Fir, concluded, a score or more years 

 ago, to conceal the true character of this tree and call the 

 Noble Fir a Larch. The excuse for this was that if given 

 its proper name, no one would purchase it, but if it were 

 thought to be something else, there would be no hesitation, 

 nor would the purchaser be wronged, for the lumber cut 

 from this tree was as good as that cut from the Larch. If 

 this had been true, such a course would have been open to 

 less criticism than it now deserves, as the wrong to the 

 purchaser would have been eliminated ; but it was not true, 

 for the Larch has some valuable qualities which the Noble 

 Fir does not possess, among which are hardness and dur- 

 ability when exposed to the ground. Then others, knowing 

 that Red Fir ranked high in quality among the Firs, con- 

 cluded, for reasons of their own, to call this one Red Fir 

 too. This confusion should cease. No suspicion of deception 

 should be attached to manufacturer or dealer. The red man 

 called the tree " Tuck Tuck." 



The name " Noble Fir " is very appropriate and significant 

 and should be adhered to, for there are few trees that can 

 equal it in grandeur and nobleness of form and appearance. 

 Its range is limited mainly to Oregon, Washington, and 

 northern California. It may be considered a moisture-loving 

 tree, both as to soil and atmosphere, and should not be 

 expected to thrive outside of its natural habitat or where 

 climatic conditions are unlike those it enjoys at home. At 



