Christmas Tnreed is 1 
Cash Cron 
Plant Now for Future Prosperity 

LET NATURE WORK FOR YOU — 
SALABLE CHRISTMAS TREES READY 
IN 4 TO 8 YEARS. 
e Over 40,000,000 Christmas Trees used in the United 
States each year. 
¢ Original sources of supply are rapidly decreasing and 
quality is becoming more inferior. 
e Average wholesale price over long period of years 
is 50 cents per tree. 

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS 
For the past twenty years we have been growing and shipping 
Christmas Trees. We have shipped large quantities to most of the 
important markets in eastern United States. The business of grow- 
ing Christmas Trees is in its infancy. 
Some people have the mistaken idea that there will soon be an 
overproduction of Christmas Trees. During the past number of 
years, we have inspected practically every source of supply of Christ- 
mas Trees in the United States and Canada. We have made a 
thorough study of the markets and the demand for quality trees. 
From our experience, we are convinced that there will be a very 
good market for high grade Christmas Trees for a great many 

Scotch Pine plantation seven years old and ready to be cut. 
years to come. The market for select, planted pine trees is prac- 
tically unlimited. Although in the past, Spruce and Fir trees have 
been generally used for Christmas Trees, planted pines are rapidly 
replacing them. All pines are much faster growing than Spruce. 
All pines retain their long needles: and fresh appearance for months 
after being cut, whereas the short needled trees which are com- 
monly shipped in, begin to ‘shed within a day or two after being 
decorated. 
We offer in this article some of the information we have 
gathered from our own experience. Although we have a large 
acreage growing Christmas Trees, we know that all we can possibly 
produce will not fill even a small part of the demand for quality 
trees. For this reason, we do not hesitate to furnish to anyone, 

any information that we have gathered togeher over a long period 
of years. The custom of using Christmas Trees started a great 
many years ago and will undoubtedly continue to do so, in both 
good and bad times. 
SPECIES 
The most desirable species to plant for Christmas Trees de- 
pends upon several factors. First, and probably most important 
to be considered, is the quality of the soil; second, is the local 
demand for a certain species of tree; and third, is the question of 
economy of production. 

Christmas Trees cut—ready for bundling. Standing trees in back- 
ground will be left for timber. 
Pines — If you already have the land you intend to plant, 
look at its characteristics. Hilly, stony, eroded or otherwise poor 
land with low moisture content is the logical site for all varieties 
of pines. Pines will grow in nearly all types of soil—poor or good. 
Due to their rapid rate of growth, during the first 6 to 8 years, 
they are the most economically produced of the planted trees. In 
5 to 8 years they are ready to market. Although comparatively 
new on the Christmas tree market, they are becoming more popular 
each year. All pines hold their needles for several months after 
being cut. Pines are all considered the long needle variety ot 
Christmas trees and are very easy to decorate. If seedlings grown 
from the best strains of seed are used, beautiful, compact, premium 
Pine Christmas trees can be developed. Trees of this type will 
always command the highest prices. Scotch, Red, Banks and White 
Pine are the most rapid growing of Pine Christmas trees (5 to 
8 years). However, on some particularly good soil, they will grow 
too fast to develop into bushy, symmetrical trees. Under these 
conditions it is necessary to prune or shear them in order to raise 
quality Christmas trees. This is a simple procedure, which. is ex- 
plained later. Austrian Pine, although a little slower growing than 
the above mentioned varieties, is an excellent Christmas tree. 
Without pruning or other care, it develons into a perfectly sym- 
metrical tree. 
Spruces—the short needle variety—have been used for years. 
These have been wild trees taken from the northern woods, and in 
general are very much inferior to planted trees in shape and ap- 
pearance, the reason being that they grew much too close to- 
gether, did not obtain sufficient sun, which resulted in weak, thin, 
poorly shaped trees. However, bushy, symmetrical quality Spruce 
will always be very much in demand as living and cut Christmas 
trees and ornamental trees. They will also command premium 
prices. Spruce must be handled very carefully. Due to the fact 
that the needles begin to shed from a cut tree within a couple 
of weeks, they cannot be cut too early. Spruce requires rich, 
moist soil and the species are much slower growing than the 
pines (approximately 10 years). Spruce is easily bundled and 
does not require pruning or shearing. All varieties of Spruce may 
be used for Christmas trees. Spruce will grow in all temperate 
climates. 
Firs (Short Needle, Douglas and Balsam) have been used as 
Christmas Trees for years. The facts related above as to Spruce 
apply to Firs, except that Firs should be raised in the extreme 
northern states only. 
