Deal [White], White Fir, or Norway Spruce (Abies excelsa). —This tree inhabits the mountainous districts of Europe, and extends into N. Asia, being especially prevalent in Norway. It runs to 80-100 ft. high, and about 2-3 ft. max. diam. The tree requires 70-80 years to reach perfection, but is equally durable at all ages. It is much imported in spars and deals, the latter about 12 ft. long, 3 in. thick, and 9 in. wide. The wood glues well, and is very durable while dry, but much more knotty than Northern Pine. It is fine-grained, and does well for gilding on, also for internal joinery, lining furniture, and packing-cases. A principal use is for scaffolds, ladders, and masts, for which purpose it is largely imported from Norway in entire trunks, 30-60 ft. long, and 6-8 in. max. diam. It is shipped from Christiania, Friedrichstadt, Drontheim, Gottenburg, Riga, Narva, St. Petersburg, &c. Christiania deals and battens are reckoned best for panelling and upper floors; Friedrichstadt have small black knots; lowland Norway split and warp in drying ; Gottenburg are stringy and mostly used for packing-cases ; Narva are next in quality to Norway, then Riga ; St. Petersburg shrink and swell even after painting. The wood is generally light, elastic, tough, ea,sily worked, and extremely durable when properly seasoned. It weighs 28-31 lb. a cub. ft. ; cohesive force, 8000-12,000 lb. a sq. in.; strength, 101 ; stiffness, 104 ; toughness, 104. (See Rosin, p. 1680 ; Pine-oils, p. 1408 ; Turpentine oils, p. 1431 ; Pitch, pp. 1678-9; Tar, p. 1684.) Deodar (Cedrus Deodara).—This tree is found in the Himalayas at 5000-12,000 ft., and on the higher mountains from Nepal to Kashmir, measuring 150-200 ft. high, and over 30 ft. dm. Its wood is extremely valuable for all carpentry, and most generally used in the Punjab for building. Its weight is 37 lb. a cub. ft. ; breaking-weight, 520 lb.
American dogwood (Corms florida) is a tree 30 ft. high, common in the woods of many parts of N. America. Its wood is hard, heavy, and close-grained, and largely used locally for tool-handles ; it has been imported into England with some success as a rabetitnte for box in making shuttles for textile machinery.
The black dogwood or alder buckthorn (Rhamnus Frangula) is abundant in Asia Minor, and affords one of the best wood charcoals for gunpowder-making (tree p. 882). Its berries probably contribute to the yellow dyestuff known as Persian berries (see p. 864).
Doorn Boom or Kameel Boom (Acacia horrida). —This tree is a native of S. Africa, and affords small timber used for fencing, spars, fuel, and charcoal. (See Cape Arabic, p. 1632.) Ebony (Diospyros spp).—The best and most costly kind of ebony, having the blackest and finest grain, is the wood of D. reticulaga, of Mauritius. Two E. Indian species, D. Afelanoxylon and D. Ebenastcr, also contribute commercial supplies, and anothor kind is obtained from D. Ebenum, of Ceylon. Tbe heart-wood of the trunk of these trees is very bard and dense, and is largely used for fanoy cabinet-making, mosaic work, turnery, and small articles. The approximate London market values are 5-20/. a ton for Ceylon, and 3-121. for Zanzibar, &c.
Elm (Ulmus spp.).—Five species of elm are now grown in Britain :—The common rough leaved (U. campestris) is frequent in scattered woods and hedges in S. England, and in France and Spain, attaining 70-80 ft. high and 4 ft. diarn. Its wood is harder and more durable than the other kinds, and is preferred for coffins, resisting moisture well. Tbe cork-barked (U. suberosa) is common in Sussex, but the wood is inferior. The broad-leaved wych-elm or wych-hazel ( U.
montana) is most cultivated in Scotland and Ireland, reaching 70-80 ft. high and 3-43 ft. diam. The smooth-leaved wych-elm (U. glabra) is abundant in Essex, Hereford, the N. and N.-E. counties of England, and iu Scotland, growing to a large size. The wood is tough and flexible, and preferred for wheel-naves. The Dutch elm (U. major), the smallest of the five, is indigenous to Holland ; its wood is very inferior. Elm-trunks average 44 ft. long and 32 in. diam. The wood is very durable when perfectly dry or constantly wet. It is not useful for general building, but makes excellent piles, and is used in wet foundations, waterworks, and pumps ; also for wheel naves, blocks, keels, and gunwales. It twists and warps in drying, shrinks considerably, and is difficult to work ; but is not liable to split, and bears the driving of bolts and nails very well. Its weight is 34-50 lb. a cub. ft. ; cohesive force, 6070-13,200 lb.; strength, 82 ; stiffness, 78; toughness, 86.
These species of elm are indigenous to N. America, and have similar uses to the European kinds :—The common American (U. americana) grows in low woods from New Eugland to Canada, reaobing 80-100 ft. high ; its wood is inferior to English. The Canada rock or mountain (U. racemosa) is oommon to Canada and the N. States ; the wood is used in boat-building, but is very liable to shrink, and gets shaky by exposure to sun and wind ; its weight is 47-55 lb. a eub. ft. The slippery (U. fulva) gives an inferior wood, though much used for various purposes. Quebeo elm is valued at 4-5/. 9, load.
Fir [Silver] (Picea pectinata).—This large tree (100 ft. high, and 3-5 ft. diem.) is indigenous to Europe, Asia, and N. America, growing in British plantations. It is said to attain its greatest perfection in this country at 80 years. The wood is of good quality, and much used on the Continent for carpentry and ship-building. Floors of it remain permanently level. It is liable to attacks of the worm, and lasts longer in air than in water. It weighs about 253 lb. a cub. ft.
Greenheart or Bibiri (Nectandra Rodicsi Eleucantha]).—This celebrated ship-building wood is a native of British Guiana, and has been largely exported from Demerara to English dockyards. It gives balks 50-60 ft. long without a knot, and 18-24 in. sq., of hard, fine-grained, strong, and durable wood. It is reputed proof against sea-worms, and placed in the first class at Lloyd a ; it is very diffloult to work, on account of its splitting with great force. Its weight is 58-65 lb. a cub. ft. ; orushing-weight, 12,000 lb. ; breaking-weight, 1424 lb. (See Starch, p. 1823.) Gum [Blue] (Eucalyptus Globulus).—This Australian and Tasmanian tree is of rapid growth, and often reaches 150-300 ft. high and 10-20 ft. diam. Its wood is hard, compact, difficult to work, and liable to split, warp, and shrink in seasoning. It is used for general carpentry and wheel-spoke& Its weight is 60 lb. a cub. ft. ; crushing-force, 6700 lb.; hreaking-weight, 55° 900 lb. (See Eucalyptus-oils, p. 1420 ; Hine, p. 1668 ; Tannin, p. 1993.) Gum [White or Swamp] (E. triminalis).—This tree is found chiefly in Tasmania, and a variety called the Tuvart occurs in W. Australia. The wood is valued for its great strength, and is sometimes used in ship-building, but more in house-building, and for purposes where weight is not an objection. It is sound and durable, shrinks little, but has a twisted grain, which makes it difficult to work. Its weight is about 70 lb. a cub. ft. ; crushing-force, 10,000 lb.; breaking weight, 730 lb.