The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-20
PREPARING FOR CHRISTMAS.
Yesterdays YERY BUSr SCENE IN THE
CIIr'S GREATEST MdRKET

Tree@, wreRths. nnd Ropes Of Pine and Lnu.
rel. .ueily and Mi-tietoe, and Game oi Every
Kind-A Gathering Place for Thousands.
Washington Market and its approaches
were gay with cvorgrccns yesterday. On all
sides were hugo masses OF Christmas dccora-
tions. stars. crosses. hearts. and anchors. con-
strudcd OF the pretticst Of mosscs. ovorgreona
and berries. and smellng OF tho frozen wood
land and swampland on which they grow. Be-
sldo the more artificial designs were piles Of
tall stately Christmas trees. whose green
boughs gave forth a rich balsamic smoll tn 1t
stirred up memories OF Santa Claus. his liz
tiny reindeer. and his capacious hood full OF all
manner Of presents.
Some OF the stalls whero gamo was sold dis
played entcing vistas OF quail and wild duck.
and rabbits. hanked by the brown coated deer.
hung up by tho heels. the whole being set on by
a warm. cheerful background OF Christmas
greens and mottoes. children were out in full
fogoo. and ruddy-facc youngsters wrestling
with toy sleds. bundles OF Christmas grcens.
and packages OF candy made the vicinity VI tho
stands and booths merry with laughter and all
sorts Of practical Jokes. The bright sunshine
and tho keen air lent n glow to every face. and
all congratulated themselves that we had at last
got something like Christmas weather.
| Christmas trees are. Of course the first thing
| In demand. and OF those there wore many thou.
sad M lSr 81 White gss WASH
| ington street are tho silver spruce. those
which display light silver tint on their
| branches when placed under tho Raslight,
| These are valued at from % cents 10 d. and
| even higher. The choicest varieties come from
| tho rocky country back Of the Ca,skills'
A consignment OF three hundred OF those
| trees Just arrived by rail. was shown. They
| were from 6 TO- . feet in height. tnpcrine grace
| fully to a point. with tho slight silver tngC
| which marks the variety barely percCptibe.
NcN In order comes the halsam nr the light.
| est green shade in the market. These give
forth the rich fir odor and are the most popular
| with children and young folks. The Nor
way spruce Is great faNorite win The
keepers 20 for II at sight Prices vary accord
ink to size. You can get the largest X ind of n
Tin f.Sh ho er IS W SF even H'.
! high ms tlO. Ten and fifteen foot trees can b,
had for a. 10 49, and the smaller and prettlri
class. such NJ are set up in parlors at homo. iol
from 25 10 IS cents.
Crosses and stars Of variegated mosses decket
| ofwth holly berries are ia great demand. Many
OF these designs are In standing and running
pine, the one plant and the other crceper
yr,,r nYu U,m G1 IN ,u wn aJ enih ~ color ron
stncks Of the standing pine. arranged in wrcnth'
or in rope, can be seen on West. Barclay. anC
Nesey slrr"ts. and in the outside stalls oi NASH
ington Market. IL Is sold very chenp, from ~
10 - per 100 feet. smaller quantities ia propor
tion. and makes tho most beautiful decoration
Crosses of the same material set of with
bunchcs OF holly berries and tinted balsam ARE
are decorated with tho common field hurrs
whiiewCshed 10 give them picturesque al
peHrance.
or laurel and boxwood there arc great guam
titles in the market. Laurel wrcaths laure
crowns. and laurel crosses are exhibited for sal,
everywhere. BoXwood is also great fayorite
and stacks and bunches of Il. arranged ~
Nroaths or rope. can be had at the tan'
prices as the standing and running pine.
| One OF the largest dealers In Christians grcen.
| estimates that the number Of trees sold in New
| York between Thanksgiving and the - OF Jan
uAry is $50 OOn They come from Su. wan anC
Ulster Counties. in New York state from Penn
sylVania, and from Maine. Those this year are
unusually nne The largest item In the cort %
Christmas decorations IA tho holly berries
which have risen IN price to II ccuts a barrel
OF late years the Erglish mistl"toc and its No
comUanying kissing gam hav" grown I'm
mcns"ly In the public favor Some firms hnv
| effected special arrangements with Iondol
de- lcrs whereby they are supplied with th
mistletoe in large quantities throughou
| the holiday season. Young folks ar
not contcnted unless they havo the rcu
English mistletoe To- hang up and kiss vacl
other under. There il good enough mist to-
down IN the swamps ~ Delaware and virginia
but 1t II not 80 easy 10 find. and when found .
not 80 fine ns the foreign spcci-s. IN" drlieH,,
rich. grrcu leaf and white waNcn berry ar
to b" had in perfection in the west ana souu
oi En-iand only.