40 BULLETIN 1485, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Noble Fir (Abies nobilis) 
Other names in use. — Red fir, larch, noble fir, and bigtree. 
Range. — Western Washington and Oregon and northern California. 
Oven-dry weight per cubic foot, green volume. — 22 pounds. 
Fiber length. — 
By Sulphite Process 
Reduces readily. 
Unbleached pulp: Of excellent color and strength; fibers fine and tough; 
easily bleached. 
Yields: 45 to 50 per cent. 
Bleach required: 10 to 15 per cent. 
Uses to which pulp is suited: News, wrapping, book, and high-grade printing 
papers. 
By Sulphate Process 
Reduces readily. 
Yields: 45 to 50 per cent of strong pulp, 40 to 45 per cent of pulp for bleaching. 
Bleach required : 20 to 30 per cent. 
Uses to which pulp is suited: High-grade kraffc wrapping papers and fiber 
board. 
By Mechanical Process 
Reduces readily. 
Pulp: Of excellent color and standard strength. 
Power required: 20 per cent less than for spruce. 
Uses to which pulp is suited : Practically all uses requiring ground wood. 
Red Fir (Abies magnifica) 
Other names in use. — California red-bark fir and California red fir. 
Range. — California (Sierra Nevada Mountains) and northward in the Cascade 
Mountains of southern Oregon. 
Oven-dry weight per cubic foot, green volume. — 23 pounds. 
Fiber length. — 
By Sulphite Process 
Reduces fairly readily. 
Unbleached pulp: Very strong, darker then spruce sulphite but lighter than 
hemlock sulphite; fibers fairly fine; fairly easily bleached. 
Yields: 45 to 50 per cent. 
Bleach required: 15 to 25 per cent. 
Uses to which pulp is suited: News, wrapping, book, and high-grade print- 
ing papers. 
By Sulphate Process 
Reduces readily. 
Unbleached pulp: Very strong. 
Yields: 45 to 50 per cent of strong pulp, 38 to 43 per cent of pulp for bleaching. 
Bleach required: More than 30 per cent. 
Uses to which pulp is suited: High-grade kraft wrapping papers and fiber 
board. 
By Mechanical Process 
Reduces readily. 
Pulp: Color slightly reddish; of standard strength. 
Power required: 15 to 25 per cent more than for spruce. 
Uses to which pulp is suited: Practically all uses requiring ground wood, except 
as limited by dark color. 
Silver Fir (Abies amabilis) 
Other names in use. — Red fir, red silver fir, fir, and larch. 
Range. — From southeastern Alaska to Vancouver Island and British Columbia 
and southward in the Cascade Mountains to northern Oregon; also in the coast 
mountains of Washington and Oregon. 
Oven-dry weight per cubic foot, green volume. — 22 pounds. 
Fiber length. — 
