34 TIMBER 
trade, “ bracings” being always constructed of this 
wood. It is generally imported in 3’ by 9”, 3' by 
11” and smaller sizes, that shipped to the London 
market being generally in 12 ft. and 13 ft. lengths. The 
wood is white in colour, tough and strong, does not work 
very kindly, but planes well and leaves a clear satiny - . 
surface. It is durable both for outside and inside work, 
but is rather inclined to twist, and in the inferior qualities 
has, occasionally, many dead knots. The deals or 
planks exported are usually graded, those arriving for 
the London market being generally divided into four 
classes. 
Columbian Pine.—Alternative names for this timber, 
as with many others, are common. It is known as 
Oregon Pine, Yellow Pine of Puget Sound, Douglas 
Fir, yellow or red fir in the United States, red fir or 
red pine in Canada. It is the chief tree of British 
Columbia, and from the heavily afforested valleys and 
hillsides of this far-away territory the largest exports 
are made from Vancouver and other Pacific ports. It 
is, however, also found in Canada and growing on the 
slopes of the Rocky Mountains in California, reaching 
its most perfect development in the coast regions of 
Washington, Oregon and British Columbia. 
The tree is said to attain a height of between 200 ft. 
and 300 ft., with a diameter upto 8 ft. The wood is 
of strong nature, durable, somewhat coarse in texture, 
and difficult to work. With a tree of such fine growth, 
timber of excellent specifications can be converted, 
and the wood as a constructive material has a great 
future in view. It is held in high esteem for bridge 
building and similar work, for which it offers the com- 
bination of lightness, stiffness and strength, besides 
furnishing pieces of exceptional length. Squared 
planks or logs 24 in. in diameter and up to 100 ft. long 
