Bailing Musser Christmas Trees for Distant Shipments 
Harvest Christmas Trees 
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 he ready. Where much land is avail- 
able 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 thev become of age to harvest, cut only 
50% of the trees leaving the remainder to 
grow into timber. The 50% used as Christmas 
Trees may be cut over a period of about ten 
years, more or less, depending upon variety of 
species planted, but in that time you will have 
several tracts to cut over. Where a site is par- 
ticularly favorable, planting and harvesting may 
continue indefinitely. 
Musser 
Colorado 
Blue Spruce 
Special Strain 
FAST GROWING 
3-year SEEDLINGS 
Note size - 5 to 10 in. 
Very Superior Stock 
Per 1000 ............ $35.00 
Musser 
American 
Red Pine 
3-year (2-1) 
TRANSPLANTS 
4 to 8 inches 
Exceptionally Thrifty 
Per 1000 ............ $60.00 
Planted Quality Christmas Trees 
ALWAYS command premium prices 
“Plant a variety of species. 
Then, after fst harvest 
year, Christmas Trees may 
be cut over a period up 
to 10 years, without addi- 
tional annual investment 
— a fine cash crop.” 
Selling Your Tree Crop 
Your particular marketing conditions will de- 
termine 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 rail ship 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 baling, 
but as yet none have been placed on the 
market. (See illustration at top of this page.) 
Marketing a Christmas Tree crop must be 
done within about six to eight weeks of the year. 
Conditions vary somewhat throughout the coun- 
try, but usually you can expect a strong market 
for your product. You will no doubt have com- 
petition from “shipped in” wild trees, but ex- 
perience 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 trees. 
Planted Musser Trees 
1. Improve soil by retaining mois- 
ture, preventing erosion, and 
restoring fertility. 
2. Bring idle agriculturally useless 
land into production profitably. 
3. Make a $1000 investment to 
plant a 50 acre tract worth 
$15,000 for timber in about 30 
years ($10 per acre per year). 
4. Bring cash profits by thinning 
Christmas trees from a forest 
plantation. 
5. Have no restrictions as to selling 
for Christmas trees or lumber. 
6. Are a cash crop requiring no 
cultivation or extra care. 
7. Are always at the top of the 
| Christmas tree market. 
AUSTRIAN PINE 
Stands out on account of its heayy, bushy 
form. An excellent tree for windbreaks, 
screens, and for single specimens. One of the 
most beautiful and sturdy Christmas trees. 
BLACK HILLS SPRUCE 
Highly ornamental Spruce, with rich, dark 
green foliage. Grows with a dense, even, 
pyramidal form. Requires good rich, moist 
but well-drained soil, for proper growth. 
DOUGLAS FIR 
A fairly long needle fir, grayish green in 
color. Highly ornamental. It will do well in 
open sunlight or partial shade, northern or 
eastern exposures. Popular Christmas Tree. 
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