204 WOODS OF COMMERCE. 



Fir, Scots. See Pine, Northern. 



Fir, Silver (A. pectindta DC.). Mountains of Central and 

 Southern Europe. "Swiss Pine." French " Sapin des Vosges, 

 Sapin de Lorraine." Germ. "Tanne, Edeltanne, Weisstanne, 

 Silbertanne." Height 100 180 ft.; diam. 6 8ft. Yellowish or 

 pinkish-white without distinct heart, and with few or no resin- 

 canals, with regular circular, well-defined rings, owing to the 

 darker autumn wood, light, soft, porous, silky in lustre, strong, 

 elastic, easily worked, not durable, taking glue well. Used by 

 the ancient Romans for masts and ship-building (Virgil, Georgics 

 ii., 68, Pliny. Nat. Hist, xvi.), and still so employed. One of the 

 most sonorous of woods, and, therefore, imported into London as 

 " Swiss Pine " for the sounding-boards of pianos and bellies of 

 violins. Much used in toy-making, for carving, and for packing- 

 cases, which are largely exported from Switzerland and the Tyrol. 

 Used also, where it grows, for fence-posts, internal work, sluices, 

 joists, planks, general carpentry, paper-pulp, and charcoal; but 

 inferior to Spruce. 



Fir, Colorado Silver (A. cdncolor Lindl. and Gordon). 

 Western United States. "White Fir, Balsam Fir, Black 

 Balsam." Germ. " Californische " or " Gleichfarbige Weisstanne." 

 Height 1 00 250 ft. ; diam. 4 ft. or more. Very light, soft, coarse- 

 grained, neither strong nor durable. Used locally for butter- 

 tubs, etc. 



Fir, Great or Tall Silver (A. grdndis Lindl.). North-western 

 United States and British Columbia. " White Fir of Oregon." 

 Germ. "G-rosse Kustentanne." Height 250300 ft. ; diam. 35 

 ft. or more. Light, soft, easily worked, not strong. Used for 

 indoor carpentry, packing-cases, cooperage, etc., and forming, with 

 Oregon Pine, the chief lumber exported from the Pacific ports. 



Fir, Indian Silver (A. WebUdna Lindl.). Himalayas. 

 Height 120150 ft.; diam. 35 ft. Whitish, scentless, non- 

 resinous, open-grained, soft, easily worked, but not durable, if 

 exposed. Used locally for shingles and building. 



Fir, Western or Lovely Silver (A. amdbilis Forbes). North- 

 western United States and British Columbia. "White Fir." 



