HOW TO PLANT 
In planting Christmas Trees, the extra 
effort of preparing the ground as for any 
field crop will pay. Then the field is fur¬ 
rowed out in each direction with a one-horse 
shovel plow. Furrows are spaced about 
four feet apart. This allows for cross 
cultivation with a horse for the first two 
years and hence cuts hand weeding to a 
minimum. Trees are planted by two men; 
one man carrying the trees in a pail and 
placing them in an upright position at the 
intersection of the furrows, while the second 
man, using a garden hoe, places the dirt 
around the roots of the tree, firmly stamp¬ 
ing it down with his feet. Care should 
also be taken not to plant deeper than the 
earth line on tree. Two men should plant 
better than an acre a day, or 2,700 trees, 
after the ground is furrowed. 
CHRISTMAS TREE PLANTING 
AS A FUTURE CROP 
Many farmers are finding it worth their 
while to plant Christmas Trees as a future 
crop. The general practice is to plant trees 
4 years old and to cut them after 5 to 8 
years. The following figures were used by 
the Michigan State College in their March 
1931 Bulletin 145 (Revised) entitled 
“Christmas Tree Plantations.” They are 
cited for what they may be worth, but are 
not guaranteed. 
A planting of Balsam Fir, spaced four by 
four feet, 2,720 trees per acre: 
Costs per Acre: 
2,720 trees, Balsam Fir 4 year 
transplants @ $20.00 per M.... $ 54.40 
Freight. 10.60 
Plowing and Fertilizer. 20.00 
Planting 2 Yi man days @ $4.00. .. 10.00 
Total Possible Cost.$ 95.00 
Int. on $95.00, 7 years @ 6%. 47.88 
Total Cost per Acre.$142.88 
Receipts: 
(Figuring loss of possible 10% of 2,700.) 
2,448 trees @ $.30 each.$734.40 
Total Cost per Acre. 142.88 
Net return per acre.$591.52 
Net return per acre per year. 84.50 
This difference shows the cash profit at the 
end of 7 years if labor were hired for the 
first year. Cultivation was figured a small 
item and done in spare time. Taxes and 
land interest were not figured in but a good 
figure was included for possible bank inter¬ 
est. 
INTENSIVE CULTIVATION 
Another method of more intense culti¬ 
vation has trees planted three feet apart, 
using 4,800 to the acre, and cutting alter¬ 
nate trees when branches touch. This gives 
a crop of table trees from 15 inches up after 
two or three years, and leaves six foot spac¬ 
ing for the second harvest of four to six foot 
trees which comes in another three years. 
Two foot spacings have been used 
similarly with over ten thousand trees per 
acre. Profits are quoted that run up to 
over $1,700 an acre during a 9 year period. 
This deducts cost of stock, but not labor. 
There is talk of a scarcity of available 
Balsam Fir for Christmas Trees in New 
England which may however lead to the 
eventual use of the Red, White and 
Norway Spruces. 
SELLING 
There are fine possibilities in growing trees 
on farms within easy shipping distance of 
cities. Forest trees are often of poor shape, 
and lose needles because of long storage and 
shipments after cutting. Local trees also 
conserve forests, as they can be put on the 
market as needed. Quoting again from the 
Michigan booklet: 
“Prices vary with the locality and other 
factors. It is reasonable to assume that a 
tree 4 to 6 feet will bring a wholesale price 
of 10 to 30 cents, and a tree 6 to 8 feet tall 
30 to 40 cents. Retail prices are somewhat 
higher, trees 6 feet tall sometimes selling 
for $1.00 or more per tree.” 
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