BALSAM FIR. 229 



Propagation. The species by seeds, horticultural varieties by 

 grafting. 



Properties of Wood. Very soft, light, weak, not durable, with 

 distinct coarse grain, color whitish with a slightly reddish tint 

 toward the heart. Specific gravity, 0.3819: weight of a cubic 

 foot, 23.8 pounds. 



Uses. The Balsam Fir is very striking and very pretty when 

 young. On moist, retentive soil it holds on well in this section, 

 but is poorly adapted for general planting, and should be used 

 sparingly, if at all. The wood is of very little value, and is sel- 

 dom sawed into lumber, but is used for laths, shingles, boxes, 

 packing and pulp making. It furnishes Canada Balsam, which 

 is an aromatic oil-like resin of considerable commercial impor- 

 tance. It is obtained by puncturing the vescicles (blisters) 

 formed under the bark of the stem and branches, which contain 

 from a few drops to a half teaspoonful each. This is used in the 

 arts and medicinally in chronic bronchial and catarrhal affections. 

 The smaller branches exhale a delightful odor, and are preferred 

 by campers in the woods for beds. 



Abies concolor. White Fir. Silver Fir. 



Leaves mostly obtuse, pale green, one to two and one-half 

 inches long, with two resin ducts close to the epidermis of the 

 lower surface. Cones oblong, cylindrical, three to five inches 

 long, one to one and three-quarter inches in diameter, pale green 

 or sometimes dull purple. A large tree. 



Distribtition. From Arizona to Southern Colorado, Utah, Cal- 

 ifornia and Oregon. 



Propagation. By seeds. 



Properties of Wood. Very light, soft, coarse grained, compact, 

 not strong; color very light brown or nearly white, with some- 

 what darker sapwood. Specific gravity, 0.3638; weight of a 

 cubic foot, 22.67 pounds. 



Uses. The White Fir is justly gaining in popularity as an 

 ornamental evergreen. When young it often spreads out on the 

 ground, and seems slow to make an upward growth, but after a 

 few years it takes on a good broad conical form. Its rather long 

 leaves of a pale green color, and its light bark and good form 

 give it a very pretty appearance. It has stood for more than ten 



