CHAPTER XXVIII. 



FIRS. 



THE DANTZIC FIR TREE (Pinus sylvestris). 



THE wood of this tree takes its name from the port of 

 .shipment, the forests from which it is drawn being spread 

 over very large districts in Prussia proper, Prussian 

 Poland, and upon the borders of Russia, whence the 

 .timber, after being prepared partly in the round and 

 partly in the square state, is floated in large rafts down 

 .the River Vistula to Dantzic, advantage being taken of 

 this mode of transit for bringing considerable quantities of 



J>corn from the interior to be shipped to foreign markets. 

 These trees frequently grow to a great height, and 

 throw out numerous branches; they yield the Dantzic Fir 

 <of commerce in the shape of rough spars for masts, 

 from small to medium sizes ; timber, varying from 1 1 to 

 20 inches square and from 18 to 45 feet, and occasionally 

 even greater lengths ; deals of various thicknesses, from 

 2 to 5 inches and 18 to 50 feet in length; railway 

 sleepers, &c., &c., which are shipped in large quantities 

 chiefly to this country. 



The Dantzic Fir is known locally as Redwood, 

 although its colour is whitish, and only slightly tinged 

 with red. It is even and straight in the grain, tough, 

 elastic, and easily worked, and as it is moderately hard 

 in texture, as well as of light weight (the specific gravity 

 Toeing only about 582), it is used more generally, and in 

 much larger quantities, than any other kind of Fir for 

 building purposes. It is characteristic of it to have a 

 large amount of alburnum or sap-wood, especially upon 



