314 TIMBER AND TIMBER TREES. [chap. 



over very large districts in Prussia proper, Prussian 

 Poland, and upon the borders of Russia, whence the 

 timber, after being prepared partly in the round and 

 partly in the square state, is floated in large rafts down 

 the River Vistula to Dantzic, advantage being taken of 

 this mode of transit for bringing considerable quantities 

 of corn from the interior to be shipped to foreign 

 markets. 



These trees frequently grow to a great height, and 

 throw out numerous branches; they yield the Dantzic Fir 

 of commerce in the shape of rough spars for masts, 

 from small to medium sizes ; timber varying from 1 1 to 

 20 inches square and from 18 to 45 feet, and occasionally 

 even greater lengths ; deals of various thicknesses, from 

 2 to 5 inches and 18 to 50 feet in length; railway 

 sleepers, &c., &c., which are shipped in large quantities 

 chiefly to this country. 



The Dantzic Fir is known locally as Redwood, 

 although its colour is whitish, and only slightly tinged 

 with red. It is even and straight in the grain, tough, 

 elastic, and easily worked, and as it is moderately hard 

 in texture, as well as of light weight (the specific gravity 

 being only about 582), it is used more generally, and in 

 much larger quantities, than any other kind of Fir for 

 building purposes. It is characteristic of it to have a 

 large amount of alburnum or sap-wood, especially upon 

 the small and medium size trees. Very great care is 

 therefore necessary in the conversion of this wood, to 

 ensure the production of the deals and other scantlings 

 of the required dimensions free from sap, the difficulty 

 being often enhanced by the fact that in working on fresh 

 logs, the sap can scarcely be distinguished from the heart- 

 wood, although, if exposed a short time only to the 

 atmosphere, the difference soon becomes visible, the 



