WHAT OUR CHRISTMAS TREES ARE 



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lished and profitable business in some localities. There 

 is a private forest of about 1,500 acres in Pennsylvania 

 upon which 560 acres have been planted to forest trees. 

 Among the planted trees suitable for Christmas tree 

 purposes are Norway Spruce, Douglas Fir, White Fir, 

 White Spruce and a few other evergreen trees. Plant- 

 ing operations did not begin until 1919, but they have 

 continued annually since then. A careful study of the 

 established plantations shows that the trees crowded 

 each other as they increased in height and extended their 



A CHRISTMAS TREE FARM 



This is located in Berks county, Pennsylvania. The thrifty young 

 trees in the foreground are Norway Spruce. 



lateral branches. The Forester in charge found that it 

 was advisable to remove some of the trees for the ulti- 

 mate good of the plantation and began to inquire if he 

 could market them as Christmas trees. He went to a 

 nearby city and found that he could dispose of some of 

 the trees. In a few years the demand for home-grown 

 Christmas trees became very strong, and now there ex- 

 ists a ready market for his entire output. As a result of 

 this development a net profit of $3,800 was realized in 

 1917, $4,300 in 1918, $5,350 in 1919, and $6,200 in 1920. 

 The growing of Christmas trees is now a profitable busi- 

 ness on this forest. Numerous plantations have been 

 established for the purpose of raising evergreen trees 

 suitable for decorative purposes at Christmas time. It 

 is reasonable to assume that they will be successful and 

 profitable from a financial point of view, and will help 

 relieve the Christmas tree shortage which is now devel- 

 oping rapidly. 

 In regions where the Firs and Spruces are not avail- 



able, the Red Cedar is often used as a Christmas tree. 

 It has a characteristic conical to pyramidal form and de- 

 velops a dense and attractive crown. It is frequently 

 found naturally along fences, roads, abandoned fields and 

 open hillsides, where it forms a distinctive but impres- 

 sive feature of the landscape. When it develops in such 

 open situations it is well adapted for use as a Christmas 

 tree. 



Another tree that is sometimes used is the Hemlock. 

 It, too, just as the Spruces, has leaves that are attached 

 to the twigs by tiny little stalks, which cause them to 

 drop off shortly after the trees are cut. Those who live 

 close to the forest and can procure a hemlock tree a day 

 or two before Christmas, will find that it gives satisfac- 

 tion, for if not kept too long after it is cut, the needles 

 will persist and the tree will serve as a Christmas tree. 



Local customs have much to do with the selection of 

 Christmas trees. In some localities the pine trees are 

 well liked and used rather extensively, but they do not 

 have the desirable form or the attractive foliage required 

 of a good Christmas tree. The pines are not difficult to 

 identify for their leaves are put up in the form of long 

 slender needles, and arranged in clusters of two, three, 

 four or five. 



Courtesy Amawalk Nurseries 



COLORADO BLUE SPRUCE 



An ornamental tree, the Colorado Blue is coming into a new 



use in some sections, being carried into the house in 



a large tub and used for a Christmas tree. 



