CHAPTER XXX. 



FIRS (continued}. 

 THE SWEDISH FIR TREE 



Is, as its name indicates, a native of Sweden, where it is 

 very abundant, and attains, under favourable circum- 

 stances, a height of from 50 to 80 feet, with a circum- 

 ference of from 4 to 5 feet ; it yields timber in logs of 

 20 to 35 feet in length by 10 to 16 inches square. 

 From the smaller trees, deals 3 inches thick, by 7 to 9 

 inches broad, and 12 feet and upwards in length, are 

 obtained. 



The wood is of a yellowish-white colour, soft, clean 

 and straight in the grain, with only small knots, and 

 very little alburnum or sap-wood on it. Of late it has 

 been in great request for common building purposes, as 

 as it is about 30 per cent, cheaper than Dantzic, and 

 15 to 1 8 per cent, cheaper than Riga Fir timber. 



Swedish Fir is liable to the heart and star shakes, 

 and not unfrequently the cup-shake. On this account 

 it is not suitable for conversion into board for joiners' 

 work, but only for the rougher and more ordinary works 

 in building operations. This species of Fir is of very 

 slow growth, and, during the early stage of its existence, 

 it makes wood at only about half the rate of the Dantzic, 

 Riga, and Polish Firs, but gains slightly upon this rate 

 as it approaches maturity. 



