Page:Timber and Timber Trees, Native and Foreign.djvu/263

XXVIII.] of Eliasberg and Saldowitz, from the districts in Russia whence it is drawn.

It is a very clean, sound, straight, and well-squared wood, of great average length, and more closely resembles the Riga Fir than any other in colour, texture, general appearance, and even in its defects, the heart and star-shakes being common to it. This wood cannot, therefore, be safely reduced to thin planks near the centre of the log without incurring the risk of some faulty pieces being produced at that part.

The classification for the market is similar to that of the Dantzic Fir, but there is very little of the common middling quality in it. When made up for sale it is generally arranged in parcels according to the size of the logs, those of 13 to 16 inches being kept distinct from those over 16 to 20 inches square, the latter being about the maximum size obtainable from the tree, while the lengths vary from 20 to 76 feet, and include many pieces of mast dimensions.

The employment of this description of Fir for mast purposes does not, however, appear to be contemplated by the shippers, and it is not, in my opinion, suitable for it, owing to its free character and liability to split in seasoning. The clean, straight, and even grain is, nevertheless, quite sufficient to recommend it to notice for furniture purposes, and its superior dimensions will always entitle it to preference over Dantzic or Riga Fir for works requiring long timber.

The prices of "Eliasberg" and "Saldowitz" Fir timber in general rule somewhat higher than that of the best Dantzic Fir.

There is also an inferior species of Fir brought in small quantities from Dantzic, and put upon the market under the name of Whitewood. It is white in colour