Planting 
When growing trees are spaced too closely together, they crowd, 
and the resulting competition speeds up the height growth but tends 
to make the trees thin and thus poor Christmas Trees. The best 
shaped trees will be grown by spacing far enough apart that they do 
not interfere with each other. However, it is economical to speed up 
the growth somewhat, and it is advisable to utilize all the land. 
Through years of experimenting we have arrived at an average spac- 
ing of 4 to 5 feet for Spruce and 5 to 7 feet for Pines as being best 
for all Christmas Tree plantings. Planting is done as with any forest 
trees. Directions appear on page 16 of this Planting List. 

Baling Musser Christmas Trees for Car Lot Shipments 
Pruning or Shearing 
Pruning or shearing is recommended for all varieties of Pine 
Christmas Trees. It develops a solid, extra heavy branched and bushy 
tree. This procedure will produce a premium tree that will com- 
mand the very highest prices. Pruning is done at about the fourth 
year, and before the new, tender growth starts to get tough and 
woody. It is usually done between June Ist and July 31st. Pruning 
is an easy thing to do. One man using long shears can prune at least 
50 trees per hour. Trim off about 4 the new growth made during 
one season. Later in the season many new buds will form which will 
a symmetrical form as indicated in diagram on this page. 
Except for pruning, no care or cultivation is necessary. 
Harvesting 
The trees of a Christmas Tree plantation do not all arrive at 
marketable size the same year. As soon as some are of suitable size 
they should be cut and marketed. The following year more will be 
ready. Where much land is available it is a good plan to combine 
reforestation with the Christmas Tree cutting. Under this system you 
will plant a new tract each year, and as they become of age to harvest, 
cut only 50% of the trees leaving the remainder to grow into timber. 
This 50% may be cut over a period of three or four years, but in 
that time you will have several tracts to cut over. 
Marketing 
Your particular marketing conditions will determine the manner 
in which you will handle your cutting operations. Some growers 
merely market their trees on the ground. The customer selects his 
tree, you cut it and he takes it home. Or you may sell trees on the 
stump to a dealer who comes in and cuts his trees. If you retail your 
trees on a lot or sell in small amounts to other dealers, cut trees may 
be transported loose on a truck or wagon. However, if you intend to 
ship trees or truck them long distances, they should be baled. This 
amounts to tying several trees together, and binding the branches 
down flat on the main stem. This allows many more trees to be 
loaded in the same space, and tends to protect them from damage 
and breakage while handling them. Many ingenious devices have 
been constructed for aiding in tree bailing, but as yet none have 
been placed on the market. (See illustration at left.) 
Marketing a Christmas Tree crop must be done within about 
four weeks of the year. Conditions vary somewhat throughout the 
country, but usually you can expect a strong market for-your product. 
You will no doubt have competition from “shipped in” wild trees, 
but experience has shown that planted trees sell when others do not. 
They also command a much better price throughout. The reason for 
this is obvious when you compare the quality of the two types of tree. 
4 
MUSSER FORESTS, INC. 
Indiana, Pennsylvania 
produce many more branches the following year. Shape the tree to 
Black Hills Spruce 



Highly ornamental Spruce, with rich, dark 
green foliage. Grows with a dense, even, 
pyramidal form. Requires good rich soil for 
proper development. 

PRUNING DIAGRAM 
TO PRODUCE PREMIUM TREES 
Diagram showing proper method of pruning 
or shearing for more beautiful Christmas 
tree. Prune to a cone shape, roughly as in- 
dicated by dotted lines. Top should be 
trimmed shorter than would make a perfect 
cone, as this main shoot has a tendency to 
grow much faster than the side branches. 
Blue Spruce 

One of the finest of ornamental trees. It is 
4 

sturdy and compact in form, ranging in color 
from slightly blue-green to maryelous blue. 
dt thrives in moist rich soil; prefers sunlight. 
19 
