Posted by Mike Field on February 07, 2009 at 12:04:12 user mikefield.
In Reply to: Re: Four firs that used to be in a wood posted by ACB on February 07, 2009 at 08:45:41:
Now here we might differ, Andrew. I have an idea that Captain Flint's "Norway pole" was a spruce rather than a pine (Picea abies, although to be honest I'm not sure why I think that.)
Traditionally, the best timber for a mast has always been Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) which is native to north-western America (US and Canada) -- now unfortunately becoming so hard to get that most builders seem to settle for oregon (Douglas fir.)