The Farmer and Christmas Trees 



251 



quantities to other markets reported 

 in short supply. 



A fully stocked timber stand may 

 mature less than 100 trees an acre, all 

 that are left of an original stand of 

 5,000 to 10,000 seedlings established 

 by nature. These surplus seedlings are 

 desirable to provide competition for 

 the final crop trees. Such competition 

 is nature's way of pruning side limbs 

 and ultimately growing high-quality 

 lumber, for knots in lumber are caused 

 by limbs. A reasonably well-stocked 

 stand of young Christmas trees estab- 

 lished by nature can produce, under 

 management, at least 50 trees an acre 

 annually. Many young forest stands 

 are so thick that thinnings are neces- 

 sary to assure satisfactory growth of 

 timber. Thinnings release the final 

 crop of trees so they can make their 

 best growth. Actually a properly super- 

 vised harvest of Christmas trees proves 

 beneficial to the remaining stand. 



Evergreens on the poorer forest soils 

 grow more slowly. This slow growth 

 usually produces good-quality Christ- 

 mas trees trees that are denser and 



more symmetrical. On many forested 

 areas, the Christmas-tree crop is the 

 only practicable one. On some such 

 areas the trees grow satisfactorily for 

 15 to 25 years, then stagnate and, if 

 they are not cut for Christmas trees, 

 they likely will not be utilized at all. 

 On certain State lands in Minnesota, 

 up to 750,000 trees are cut annually 

 under such a management plan. 



Even though some trees grow larger 

 than the usual Christmas-tree sizes, 

 the utilization can be complete. For 

 example, this is how a Michigan 

 Christmas-tree grower markets trees a 

 foot or more in diameter. The tops 

 provide a well-shaped Christmas tree, 

 often with a good cluster of cones, and 

 such trees command a premium on the 

 market. The main stem or trunk of the 

 tree is made into a building log or 

 timber, with the smaller cuts suitable 

 for building rafters. The green foliage 

 of the side limbs is tied into bundles 

 and provides material for wreaths. 

 Thus, usually the entire tree is utilized. 

 On some operations the main stem may 

 go into pulpwood. 



THE FARMER AND CHRISTMAS TREES 



ARTHUR M. SOWDER 



Many farmers are finding that 

 Christmas trees are a profitable crop. 

 A Christmas-tree plantation fits in well 

 with good land utilization and aids in 

 the conservation of soil and moisture 

 a good way to salvage an eroded hill- 

 side or gully or to make use of rocky 

 land or an idle corner. Some planta- 

 tions are only part of an acre in size. 



Most of the Christmas trees used in 

 the United States are cut from areas 

 where the trees have grown naturally. 

 However, the number of trees har- 

 vested from plantations is increasing 

 annually. About 100,000 acres of plan- 

 tations are now devoted to growing 

 Christmas trees in this country. Two- 

 thirds of the acreage is owned by 

 farmers. Pennsylvania has nearly 40,- 



000 acres in Christmas-tree production. 



Each plantation-grown tree can be 

 given plenty of space to grow into a 

 symmetrical tree, in contrast to un- 

 cared for wild trees in crowded or 

 dense stands. However, merely plant- 

 ing the tree and expecting to return in 

 a few years and reap a harvest cannot 

 be depended upon. A well-shaped tree, 

 grown under adequate spacing condi- 

 tions, with uniform distance between 

 whorls or branches and fully shaped, 

 will command the best price. Christmas 

 trees respond to intensive manage- 

 ment. Returns can normally be ex- 

 pected in 8 to 10 years after planting. 



Things to consider in selecting a 

 Christmas-tree planting site are value 

 of the land, soil and climate, location 



