8 



FORESTS OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 



The Douglas fir ranks first among the trees of the Pacific slope in 

 importance for the production of lumber. It is often sold under 

 the name of Oregon pine. Lumber dealers class the coarse-grained 

 reddish wood produced by the young growth in open forests as " red 

 fir." The older growth produced when the forest is more dense 

 is a finer grained and more valuable wood, sold under the name of 

 "yellow fir." 



FIG. 3. Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga taxifolia). 



The Douglas fir is used for nearly all purposes where durability, 

 strength, and hardness are desirable. It is made into dimension 

 timbers, lumber, flooring, and is particularly adapted for masts and 

 spars. The lumber is shipped by rail to the Middle Western States. 

 The foreign cargo shipments are made to all parts of the Avorld. 

 The greatest amount goes to Australia, the west and east coasts of 

 South America, China, the United Kingdom, and Europe, Japan, 

 and the South Sea Islands. Coastwise shipments are made to Cali- 

 fornia, Alaska, and Panama. Large quantities of the seed of this 

 tree are sent to Europe, where the Douglas fir is grown for timber 

 and for ornament. 



