Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 07.djvu/688

* fir. 630 FIRDAUSI. tained exclusively for species of the genus Abies, and the related trees should be called hemlock (Tsuga), spruce (Picea), etc. Much confusion has existed in the botanical nomenclature of all these trees, but, following the best modern con- ception of them, the use of fir should be limited as above. The species of Abies are mostly trees of pyramidal habit, with erect cones, maturing in one season. Their short leaves, arranged upon the horizontal branches in such a way as to ap- pear to be two-ranked, are flattened, the midrib showing prominently upon the under side. There are about 25 species found throughout the cooler portions of the north temperate zone. One of the most common is the silver fir of Europe (Abies picea or Abies pectinata). It is a com- mon tree in central Europe, attaining a height of 150 to 200 feet, with a basal diameter of six to eight feet. In some places it occurs over exten- sive tracts to the almost entire exclusion of other species. The wood, which is white, soft, of light weight, and contains little resin, is employed in many ways. The tree yields the Strassburg tur- pentine, which is a superior clear variety. Quite similar is the North American balsam-tree (Abies balsamea). This species is found from Virginia northward. It attains a height of 50 to SO feet: the wood is light and not durable. From the sap Canada balsam i- obtained. Closely related to it is Fraser's fir (Abies Fraseri), which is found farther south. This is a smaller tree, with smaller cones and different shaped bracts. Upon the Pa- cific Coast are a number of indigenous species of fir, the timber of which is very valuable. Abies grandis, which is found from British Columbia to Lower California, one of the finest trees of that region, is known as the great silver fir. and at- tains a height of 300 feet and a diameter of 10 feet or more. The wood is white and soft, and is extensively consumed for cooperage, boxes, etc. Closely related to it is the Abies nobilis of the same range, with much the same characteristics. Both species are highly valued in England as ornamentals, but they have not been extensively planted in the eastern United States. Abies i-rtl '.mannia mi of the Caucasus is one of the most hardy of all the species of fir. It is a tree that becomes 150 feet high, with a trunk diameter of four or five feet. It has been introduced for forest and windbreak planting in parts of the United States, and has already proved one of the most valuable evergreens for such uses. The Mount Enos fir (Abies oephalonica) and the Spanish fir (Abies Pinsapo) occur in the south of Europe, where they are trees 50 to 80 feei tall. Their timber is considered valuable. Abu li i ' hiiimi occur- in the Himalaya Mountains at ele rations from 7000 to 13.000 feet. It is a fine tree, glowing to a height of 130 feet or more, and diameter of eight to ten feet. The wood is harder nnd heavier than that of most specie, of fir, con- tain- more resin, and as timber i- very valuable In Mexico is found Abies religiosa, a magnifi- cent silvery-leaved tree, which grows to a heighl of 150 feet and a diameter of six feet It is well adapted to lath and shingle making. The bou| 1 1 tensively u led as a church decora tion. Dumber of oilier species attain the size of 1 bra< tenia of the Pa< i : Coast; I hies si in rim of Siberia and Russia i L&ies cilicica of Asia Minor: lot'es Veitohii, and Abies hoti fa pan I 'f many of t he above enu- merated species of Abies there an cultural va- rieties that differ in habit of branching, color of foliage, drooping habit, etc., .some of them being very handsome ornamental trees. For accounts .,f the somewhat similar and often combined species of evergreen conifers, see Spbuce and Hemlock. FIRANGI, fe-ran'ge. An Eastern name for Europeans, whose land is called Firangistan. The name is supposed by some to be a corruption of Frank, and to date from the Crusades, while by others it is derived from the Varangians (War ings), Norsemen who entered into the service of the Byzantine emperors at Constantinople. In Bengal the mixed descendants of the Portuguese, though differing in no respect but religion from the natives, are especially distinguished by the term Firanghis. FIR'BOLGS. The name given in the fabulous early history of Ireland to a tribe said to have descended from the Nemedians, who, under their leader Nemedius, came to the island some twen- ty-three centuries before the Christian Era. After remaining for about two centuries, the greater part tied because of the oppression of African pirates known as the Formarians. The Nemedians formed three bands, one going to Scot- land, another to a northern part of Europe, be- coming the Tuatha de Danann of a later period, and the third to Greece. The colony in Greece, or the Firbolgs, became restive under oppression and decided to return to Ireland, and under the rule of the five sons of Dela they enjoyed full possession of Ireland for something less than a century. Their kinsmen, the Tuatha de Danann. also returned, and the Firbolgs were forced to consent to the partiton of the land. Such was Hie condition of Ireland until the Milesians came. These had left Egypt for Spain, and after sub- jugating the latter country, had determined to conquer Ireland. They became masters of the island about B.C. 1700. See Ireland. FIRCKS, ferks, Theopob von, Baron (1812- 72). A Russian author, born at Kalven, Cour- land, and known under the pseudonym Schedo- Ferroti. He became an officer in the engineer e.nps of the Russian Army, and subsequently Russian diplomatic agent at Brussels. He was dismissed in consequence of his publication of a brochure in favor of the Polish cause entitled, 1, <<tre iVini patriate polonais n<i gouvernement national de la Pologne (1863). His most impor- tant work. Eludes sin- I'avenir de la Russie 1858-68), his Lettres sur I'instruction populnin en Russie (1869), and Die Internationale Arbei- terbewegung i 1872), made him in his time a very influential writer in the domain of Russian politics. FIRDAUSI. fer'dou-se'. or FIRDTJSI. fer'- 1 '. i:i'i. KaSIM M.wsrii. or Ahmad, or lls (c.935-1020). The greatest epic poet of Persia, and one of the foremost in all literature, lie was horn in Tus in EQiorassan about 323 a.ii. i v.d. 935). The name of his father is quite un- known, but he seems to have been a man who lived in very comfortable circumstances and one of the Dihqan or landed gentry. The beei i ount of the poet's life is given by 'ArudI of Samarkand, who visited Tus ahoul a century after the death of Firdausi. This record i- preserved by Ibn [sfan- diyar in his chronicles of Tabaristan (the passage is published by Ethi? in vol, xl. of the Journal <if the German Oriental Society). i the age of i wcni eight firdausi married, and of the two children horn to him one, a daughter, survived