DOUGLAS FIR. 157 



in immense quantities for tanning- leather and is largely obtained 

 for this purpose in Wisconsin. 



Genus PSEUDOTSUGA. 



A genus of a single species midway between the Firs and 

 Hemlock. Leaves somewhat 2-ranked by a twist at the base. 

 Cones upright, maturing the first season. 



Pseudotsuga taxifolia. (P.douglasii.) Douglas Spruce. 

 Red Fir. Douglas Fir. 



Leaves linear, distinctly petioled, mostly blunt or rounded, 

 nearly an inch long on old trees but a little longer on young 

 thrifty trees, falling during fifth season; in color generally a 

 rich dark green, but some specimens occur on which the 

 foliage is a light glaucous blue. Cones 2 to 4 inches long, 

 cylindrical; bracts toothed, protruding above the scales and 

 giving a fringed appearance to the cones; seeds triangular, 

 reddish on the upper side, flat, and white on the lower side. 

 A gigantic tree sometimes 200 to 300 feet in height. When 

 young it is seldom very symmetrical in form and is likely to 

 produce heavy limbs unless severely crowded. 



.Distribution. Throughout the Rocky Mountains and thg 

 mountains of California, reaching its greatest height in 

 Oregon. 



Propagation. One of the easiest conifers to grow from 

 seeds, which may be readily obtained from the trees in the 

 Rocky Mountain region. 



Properties of wood. Hard, strong, durable, varying great- 

 ly with age and conditions of density, quality and amount of 

 sapwood; difficult to work; color varying from light red to 

 yellow; sapwood nearly white. Specific gravity 0.5157; weight 

 of a cubic foot 32.23 pounds. 



Uses. The Douglas Spruce is a fine ornamental tree of 

 graceful proportions, good color, rapid growth and wonderful 

 hardiness. Probably one of the most valuable evergreens for 

 general planting in Minnesota and apparently destined to 

 partly supersede the White and Norway Spruce for this pur- 

 pose. It is also the most promising foreign tree for sowing 

 on the cut-over timber lands of this section and should be 

 largely experimented with for this purpose. Two varieties 



