CHAP. XXX.] 



FIRS. 



339 



is white in colour, straight and even in the grain, tough, 

 light, elastic, and more difficult to work than Pine, 

 owing chiefly to the excessive hardness of the small 

 knots which are frequently found in it. When cut into 

 dealsiit is somewhat disposed to warp, unless carefully 

 weighted in the stacks or piles during the process of 

 seasoning. The shrinkage is inconsiderable, and the 

 sap, though generally only of moderate thickness, varies 

 from half an inch, in some trees, to 2 or 3 inches in 

 others. 



The Spruce Firs are not suitable for the best-finished 

 carpenters' or joiners' work, but for framing and the 

 coarser descriptions of work it may be used with ad- 

 vantage, and also in ships for any of the fitments in 

 store-rooms, for lockers, shelves, mess-tables, &c. 



The trees are generally straight, and being strong 

 as well as elastic, they are admirably suited for making 

 the small spars required for ships and boats. They 

 are also in great request for ladders and scaffold poles, 

 and for stage-making in ship-yards. 



Norway spars are known under the following desig- 

 nations, and are classified for the navy contracts accord- 

 ing to their size, thus : — 



Table CXXXVII. 

 Specification. 



Z 2 



