2 5 



Yearboo^ of Agriculture 1949 



THE ESTIMATED ANNUAL PRODUCTION OF 

 CHRISTMAS TREES BY SPECIES, UNITED 



STATES 



Estimated Percentage 

 Species production of total 



i Less than I percent. 



cutting was not destructive but gave 

 needed room for neighboring trees to 

 grow faster and better. It was cut 

 under the supervision of the U. S. For- 

 est Service on the National Forest." 

 Many Christmas-tree growers and 

 producers attach tags to trees to indi- 

 cate species and height class. This is a 

 means also of identifying the places 

 where the trees were grown and can 

 be an aid in stamping out trespass and 

 theft. Minnesota requires that a ven- 

 der's tag be attached to every Christ- 

 mas tree sold in the State. 



Because the trees begin to lose mois- 

 ture as soon as they are cut, no more 

 time than necessary should elapse be- 

 tween cutting and use to avoid dis- 

 coloring and falling of the needles. As 

 soon as a tree is obtained, it should be 

 stored in a cool, shady place with the 

 butt end placed in water and the 

 branches sprinkled daily. A fresh diag- 

 onal butt cut about an inch above the 

 original cut will aid the absorption of 

 water. It is surprising how much mois- 

 ture an evergreen will absorb when the 

 butt is placed in water. As the moisture 

 evaporates through the foliage, the air 

 becomes redolent of the forest. 

 ( Lighted candles or other open flames 

 should never be used on or about 

 Christmas trees. All possible precau- 

 tions against fire are necessary, includ- 

 ing the checking of electric lights and 

 connections and avoiding combustible 

 decorations and flammable reflectors 

 for the colored lights. Overloading the 

 electric circuits and accumulations of 

 wrapping paper under the tree are 

 other common fire hazards.) 



Outdoor living Christmas trees are 

 becoming increasingly popular for one 

 can use such an evergreen as part of 

 the home landscaping. Some commu- 

 nities encourage outdoor tree decora- 

 tions by providing prizes for the 

 best-decorated home tree. Probably the 

 best-known outdoor living Christmas 

 tree is the one lighted and dedicated 

 annually by the President in Wash- 

 ington. This Christmas Eve program 

 was first begun in 1923, and a living 

 tree has been used since 1924. Throngs 

 gather around an evergreen on the 

 White House lawn to participate. 



In the years in which there appears 

 to be a surplus of Christmas trees on 

 some markets of the country, the ques- 

 tion is raised whether the tradition is 

 not a wasteful one. It would be de- 

 sirable to balance supply with demand, 

 but that is difficult. In this respect the 

 marketing of Christmas trees shares 

 the same hazards as many other semi- 

 perishable commodities. Some of the 

 larger dealers, when they find one city 

 market oversupplied, quickly reship 



