SCOTCH PINE 
Rapid growing; light gray-green foliage. Will 
grow in poor soil and under adverse condi- 
tions. This species, used extensively for 
Christmas trees — also for windbreaks, etc. 
NORWAY SPRUCE 
Norway Spruce has short, shiny, dark green 
needles, thick foliage, and strong branches. 
It is one of the most widely used as an 
Ornamental. A premium Christmas Tree. 
BLUE SPRUCE 
One of the finest of Christmas trees. It is 
sturdy and compact in form, ranging in color 
from slightly blue-green to marvelous blue. 
It thrives in moist rich soil; prefers sunlight. 
72. 
Natural sources of Christmas Trees 
are rapidly decreasing and becoming 
more inferior in quality. 
Plant a Variety of Species 
Plant 70% Pines, and 30% Spruces or Firs. 
A mixture of species in the same plantation is 
the most desirable method of planting. With a 
variety of species to offer, you will undoubtedly 
make additional sales. Also different species 
have different rates of growth, making it pos- 
sible to harvest more crops from. the same 
plantation. 
You may have several varieties of both spe- 
cies, depending on your particular soil and 
climate conditions. Keep in mind that Pines do 
well in poor, dry, thin soil, with southern or 
western exposure. Spruces and Firs require 
moisture, but good drainage, need some or: 
ganic matter in the soil and pre- 
fer the cool, protected northern 
and eastern slopes. 
Your Farm Agent, State For- 
ester, or Soil Conservation repre- 
, sentative will be glad to assist you 
in selecting planting sites best 
suited to various types of trees. 
Land Needs 
No Preparation 
We recommend no preparation of soil be- 
fore planting. The added expense is usually not 
justified, and often a light growth of grass and 
weeds is actually beneficial to the growth of 
young trees since they offer shade and moisture 
retention during the early stages of the plan- 
tation. If sod is heavy, a 12 inch area should 
be removed for each tree. If you intend to cul- 
tivate your trees after planting it will be neces- 
sary to plow the site first. 
Space Trees Properly 
For Greater Profit 
When growing trees are spaced too closely 
together, they crowd, and the resulting com- 
petition speeds up the height growth but tends 
to make the tree thin and thus poor Christmas 
Trees. The best shaped trees will be grown by 
spacing far enough apart that they do not inter- 
fere with each other. However, it is economical 
to speed up the growth somewhat, and it is ad- 
visable to utilize all the land. Through years of 
experimenting we have arrived at an average 
spacing of 4 to 5 feet for Spruce and 5 to 7 
feet for Pines. Planting is done as with any 
forest trees. Directions appear on page 20 of 
this Planting List. 
Pruning or Shearing 
Pays Well 
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 command the very highest prices. 
Pruning is begun 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 eff about 
“Ty the new growth made during one’ season. 
Later in the season many new buds will form 
which will produce branches the following year. 
Shape the tree to a symmetrical form as in- 
dicated in diagram below. The additional mar- 
ket value may justify pruning two or three times 
before cutting. However do not prune in the 
year the tree is to be harvested. 
Except for pruning, no care or cultivation is 
necessary. 
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. Cut 
no more than one-half new growth (about 12 
inches) beginning at about the fourth year. 
Average wholesale price of Christmas 
Trees in recent years, $1.00 per tree 
Musser 
SPECIAL STRAIN 
Scotch Pine 
3-year (2-1) 
TRANSPLANTS 
7 to 12 inches 
Per 1000 ........ $80.00 
Musser 
Norway Spruce 
3-year 
SEEDLINGS 
Nicely Branched 
5 to 9 inches 
Per 1000 ........ $35.00 
Over 40,000,000 Christmas Trees 
used each year 
