FIR. 



{Abies.) 



Several of the fir-trees of the western United States attain 

 to very great size. The silver fir {Abies grandis) and the 

 white fir {Abies concolor) supply much wood in the section in 

 which they grow. The balsam fir {Abies balsajned) of the 

 Eastern States is of some commercial importance. 



Fir wood resembles spruce in appearance and in structural 

 qualities. It may be told from spruce as well as from pine 



and larch by the fact that fir 

 has no resin-ducts. The bal- 

 sam fir is distinguishable by 

 clear liquid resin which ap- 

 pears in blisters in the bark. 

 The coarse, weak wood is 

 cleaner than the bark would 

 indicate. Spruce and fir woods 

 are often confused in the 

 United States, while pine, 

 spruce, and fir are similarly 

 confounded in Europe. 



Fir trees have flat, scat- 

 tered, evergreen leaves, and cones that stand erect (see foot- 

 note under spruce). 



156 



iV'" 



Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea). 



