THE SILVER FIR. 47-5 



The timber of the Silver Fir in this country, at least 

 such as has been allowed to attain age or maturity, is 

 found to be of excellent quality, and adapted for almost all 

 purposes to which the w r ood of the Pine is applicable ; it 

 possesses both elasticity and strength ; its grain being 

 straight and even, it is not subject to w r arp or twist, even 

 when sawn out of the green or new-cut log. Upon the 

 continent, the forests of the Silver Fir, besides affording 

 a large supply of naval timber for masts, yards, &c, pro- 

 duce much of the wood used in building, and in every 

 descrijDtion of carpentry and joinery ; and, as it is found to 

 endure a long time when driven as piles under water, it is 

 extensively used for that purpose in Holland and other 

 places. Other products of considerable value are also ob- 

 tained from it ; among these is the resinous fluid found 

 in the small tumours beneath the outer bark, and known 

 by the name of Strasburgh turpentine, a large quantity 

 being collected from the forest of the Silver Fir near that 

 town, by opening the cysts and securing the included 

 liquid turpentine. The bark is also used in some parts 

 of Switzerland for tanning, and the charcoal it produces, 

 though inferior to that of the beech in evolving heat, is 

 preferred for the forging of iron, as it renders that metal 

 more pliant and more easily worked, in consequence of its 

 producing its heat more slowly. 



As an ornamental tree, it has the advantage over the 

 Spruce Fir of growing to a greater size and attaining a 

 more lofty height, and the more important one of growing 

 upon a variety of soils where the other would never reach 

 a timber-like size, or wear a healthy aspect ; thus the 

 Silver Fir thrives and advances to large dimensions upon 

 tenacious or stiff clays, as well as upon loams of a richer 

 description. It is, however, in our opinion, inferior to the 



