BALSAM FIR. 229 
Propagation.—The species by seeds, horticultural varieties by 
grafting. 
Propertics of WWood.—Very soft, light, weak, not durable, with 
distinet coarse grain, color whitish with a slightly reddish tint 
toward the heart. Specific gravity, 0.3819: weight of a cubic 
foot, 23.8 pounds. 
Uses.—The Balsam Fir is very striking and very pretty when 
young. On moist, retentive soil it holds on well in this section 
but is poorly adapted for general planting, and should be used 
sparingly, if at all. The wood is of very little value, and is sel- 
dom sawed into lumber, but is used for laths, shingles, boxes. 
packing and pulp making. It furnishes Canada Balsam, which 
is afi aromatic oil-like resin of considerable commercial impor- 
tance. It is obtained by puncturing the vescicles (blisters) 
formed under the bark of the stem and branches, which contain 
from a few drops to a half teaspoonful each. This is used in the 
arts and medicinally in chronic bronchial and catarrhal affections. 
The smaller branches exhale a delightful odor, and are preferred 
by campers in the woods for beds. 
Abies concolor. White Fir. Silver Fir. 
Leaves mostly obtuse, pale green, one to two and one-half 
inches long, with two resin ducts close to the epidermis of the 
lower surface. Cones oblong, cylindrical, three to five inches 
long, one to one and three-quarter inches in diameter, pale green 
or sometimes dull purple. A large tree. 
Distribution—From Arizona to Southern Colorado, Utah, Cal- 
ifornia and Oregon. 
Propagation..—By seeds. 
Propertics of IVood.—Very light, soft, coarse grained, compact, 
not strong; color very light brown or nearly white, with some- 
what darker sapwood. Specific gravity, 0.3638; weight of a 
cubic foot, 22.67 pounds. 
Uses.—The White Fir is justly gaining in popularity as an 
ornamental evergreen. When young it often-spreads out on the 
ground, and scems slow to make an upward growth, but after a 
few years it takes on a good broad conical form. Its rather long 
leaves of a pale green color, and its light bark and good form 
give it a very pretty appearance. It has stood for more than ten 
