The New York herald., 1879-12-18

bad overstocked their stands and at thelast moment
and for two days after Thanksgiving were glad to
sell them at any price. Right after that the price,of
turkeys went up, and to-day you must pay from
thirteen to fifteen cents for good ones. Several large
ueaers nave bought up turkeys in the expectation
OF OF still further advance before Christmas Day.
The best turkeys for this market are said to
come from Long Island Dealers say there
are not SO many fine ones now. but still
tiey are 10 Dc got by paying for them year ago
sood turkey sold Tor from thirteen TO fifteen cents,
.ho same O., AS today, They have saying in tho
markers that a pad Thanksgiving will make good
Christmas and vice BY a bad Thanksgiving
they mean cheap market. and thus they expect su
Good Long Island chickens about the same in
quality and price that they were a few wears ago.
pound. Ducks more plentiful and cheaper
From ten to twelve cents is their price.
FANCY BEEF.
This season there will be fiuer display of beef in
Fulton Market between Christmas and New Years
than ever before. Prices have NOT changed ma
teraliy from those of year ago. Dealers are pay.
ing seven and one-half cents eight cents by tho
carcass for good beef. and selling prime roast for
sixteen cents chucks tor ten cents. porterhousa
for twenty cents and sirlon for sixteen cents There
is excellent mutton to be had for eleven cents, hind
quarter and eight cents for forequarter.
Those things which children value most upon the
Christmas table are generally more expensive than
year ago. Walnuts for instance. brought ten or
twelve cents pound last season. and now cost
eighteen cents. Bananas that could be bought for
ST 25 bunch in 1878 are worth now So so. Oranges
have increased in valuo from So and 81 barrel to
81 and So The stock is somewhat inferior, too.
Figs lemons. prunes and raisns all little more
in lady apples those little modest things that shine
in a dish OF fruit like snowdrops in garden and NIL
the toe Of babys stocking as nothing else possibly
could. The crop of lady apples must have been
failure. for where they have brought 81 $5 bar
rel in the past they now cost $40.
EVERGREEN TRADE.
The season of princes feather and holiday green
is fairly open. The delightful weather has been pro-
ductive Of the best evergreen supply from Maine and
the Caskills that has been witnessed for years. In
tho vicinity OF Barclay. Vesey and Greenwich streets
the air is aromatic with freshly cut cedar and spruce
fl.of r.1<xu,.
the finest cuts to be had In 1852 it IL esti.
mated that the average number of holiday
about 10000 yards Of wreathing rope; in
1862 ten years increase OF 80 QUO aud 10000
10000 all told From the number Of orders already
received and tho outlook in festive preparations il
is believed 100000 trees will bo sold and half that
number of yards in wreathing. The supply in hem
lock. spruce and cedar is mostly from tho Hudson
highlands and the Catskills. Mountaineers cut the
trees from wild land and ship them down the river
at trihing expense. they can AFFORD
to supply the market at very reasonable
rates particularly in fair % weather The present ses-
for obtaining fine trees and getting them the trade
depots in the very best order. Pine. tamarack and
ests in large quantities. They arrive here in sloops
and steamers during the month of December. and
holly rtie box and princes feather are mainly
from the hills and plains OF New Jersey. so much
renowned for
Buckwheat cakes 44
And Jersey sassage
The nisletoe or the so-called American species n
obtained from any elm and hickory growing locali-
ties, where it has fixed its parasitical roots and
hangs deftly by its delicate eyelashes. The
wresths and rope are mostly made BY young women
dant. This industry is SO systematized that COM
panies formed in the fall. who gather the stock
paying them by the yard These wreaths are in va.
rious designs and of all sizes. from the delicate
ornamental festoon radiant with crimson berries
and glossy leaved box. and the aristocrstic laurel
with Its princes feather These ropes OF green are
brought to market in festoons of hundreds Of
yards in length Vines, stars. crosses and other
novelties add to the fragrance that breathes peace
on earth and good will to man."
KISSING UNDER THE MIsrLEroE.
Christmas festivities always revive the memory OF
the quaint old English custom and cong Of kissing
under the mistletoe bough." The reverence for
this plant dates back to the days OF the Druid who
gathered 1t in large quantities at the winter sostcs
for religious purposes. From its prominence in
these ancient ceremonies it became holiday orna-
ment among the Germans and English. who know.
ing the efficacy Of its medicinal qualities, established
pretty belief that to kiss under leaves promised
happiness and long life. The early custom In the
Netherlands suspended bough over the door. ana
the host and hostess with kiss.
Princes feather is improperly SO called Not un-
til within forty years was 1t found among the
Christmas decorations. Belonging to the botanical
species known dmaranthus candatus its downy
growth is anything but beautiful. The wild species
that abounds in the Atlantic States is perfect
in its feathery fulness and can be dyed In many
brilliant coiors and has become one OF the leading
The festoons Of holly. hemlock buds and fragrant
spruce largely sold for church ornamentation.
Trees OF all Sizes from the capdelabra sprig to the
chancel tree disposed Of for the purpose In
great quantities. For Trinity parish churches alone
there is an annual expenditure Of about $780,
st. Thomas Church. on Fifth avenue, in
vests o yearly of $500. more loss.
OF flowers. ferns and tropical plants. which aug
ment the expenditure very greatly. About this
time thore lively scenes in aud about the Epis-
copal churches; is noticeable that the pretticst
young ladies and most eligible young men util-
lied on the decorative committees. and the vestry
and class rooms centres Of high merriment and
fragrant cedar 1t is worthy OF note how courageous
these young men become as they ascend crazy
ladders twenty yards OF festooning their
judging from the anxiety Of those below.
From the fivecent mite of tree to the hftydollar
beauty all grades and kinds of trees sold before
the Christmas morning. The finest trees equipped
with real birds nests and eggs, and the bird itself
perched limb above, tapers and dsgs.
mounted marble bases. sell from $40 to $GO-they
go to the parlors the avenues and homes Of
wealth. The fvefoot cedar and tamarack. with
medium three and four-foot trees found In pro.
fusion in shop windows, small families and homo
circles, where well filled stockings, homo
made dinners and good hearty cheer make
merry the festive holiday. The specimens OF this
evergreen display flourish greenly grand and
grandly green from horses brides, peanut ovens.
roast pigs mouths and the universal buttonhole.
Festoons will be largely used in halls. churches.
supper rooms. asylus and restaurants this season.
lie purposes. suburban homes and palaces Of etau