The wood of this tree is paler than the Northern Pine both in the spring and autumn wood, and is not nearly so resinous, which probably accounts for the lighter colour of the wood. To distinguish it from the Northern Pine this wood is,usually called 'White Deal.' The annual rings are much narrower, and the wood is more close-grained than the Northern Pine.

White deal is light, strong, and elastic, and though the knots are very hard it is fairly easy to work. It has the valuable property of holding glue well.

The sapwood is not easily distinguishable, but in planing it always seems 'woolly,' and can only be made smooth with great difficulty.

The best quality of White Deal is brought to this country from Russia, St. Petersburg and Archangel deals being large (usually 11 ins. in width) and very free from knots.

The true Norwegian timber is smaller, and full of large glassy knots. This kind of White Deal of the smaller sizes is often imported in log with the bark on, and these logs are then called 'Norway spars.'

The American variety of White Deal (Abies alba) is of inferior quality, being extremely full of knots and more liable to twist and warp, besides being less durable than either Russian or Norwegian. The White Deal is extensively used for internal work in building in this country, and especially where its clean appearance is a recommendation, as in floor boards. It is not so durable, however, as the Northern Pine, especially in wet situations, where it decays with comparative rapidity.

Red Spruce Fir (Abies rubra), a reddish-coloured timber found in Canada and Nova Scotia, whence it is usually imported for the spars of ships.