EVERGREENS IN THE LANDSCAPE 9 



There are two ways by which Christmas trees can be sup- 

 plied to meet the demand. Both are in perfect accord with the 

 best principles and practices of forestry. One is by means of 

 intermediate or improvement cuttings, whereby the value and 

 quality of a given stand of forest can be bettered; the other is 

 through the establishment of Christmas-tree plantations, where 

 firs or spruces are grown for this special purpose. 



At present the larger number of Christmas trees, both in the 

 United States and Canada, are cut on privately owned lands. 

 Many farmers take advantage of the opportunity thus afforded 

 to clean up pastures where the forest is starting to come back, 

 or to clear land that should be kept open. In parts of New 

 England and in other regions where it is the desire of the owner 

 that abandoned pastures should revert to forest, the taking out 

 of small trees, especially balsam fir, may be of distinct advan- 

 tage to the stand. The practice of making thinnings is, when 

 judiciously applied, an integral part of forest management. 

 The demand for Christmas trees often makes it possible for the 

 owner to sell the trees removed at a price sufficient to cover the 

 cost of such thinnings, if indeed he does not make an actual 

 profit. Small trees of the coniferous genera have little value for 

 other purposes. Comparatively few owners feel that they can 

 afford to make thinnings which require an outlay for labor, 

 without some immediate return. The indiscriminate clearing of 

 any area of forest land, without making adequate provision 

 for its restocking by young growth is, of course, to be dis- 

 couraged. True conservation of the forest is its perpetuation 

 through wise use. 



The other method, that of establishing commercial planta- 

 tions of Christmas trees, is already attracting the attention of 

 many owners of non-agricultural land. As the trees are to be 

 removed while still small, close spacing is indicated; three by 



