Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-12-24
CHRISTMAS GREENS.
SHar rHsY ARE AND vakRk rHkr
sRs U8rAINkD
TIE irsnio In Trees, Moss, Crowioo, Laurel,
Holly, and Mist..toe Increasing What Was
Learned T., - Kerotter who Ta,kea
Win the U.aicts In Centre soua,e

tt almost two weeks, aud especially iur a
few days past, Centre square has presented a
beautiful appearance with its large stock of
Christnss trees, evergreens ~ The sup.
r'y has been n large this year "a ever, aud
tho dealers report that the demand il very
great People " ho live In this city aud 60
once year to- Centre square to purchase
trees, ~, have little idea where the goods
come irom or what amount OF trouble the
dealers are put To- In securing them. The
men who deal In Christmas goods of this
Kind are among the most enterprising In the
community, and all OF them deserve to sue.
ceed. This week there have been at least
twenty y'hre dealers busily engaged In the
square, and ss the time to Christmas draws
closer the trade grows brisker. Most of the
men who have goods for sale reside In this
city, while there are q few who como In from
the country TO dispose OF their wares.
rnE SAME OLD VENDORS
Year after year the same men can I've seen
Offering trees, Nc, for sale. These peorle
begin to gather moss, crow foot, &C, "a early
as Thank sgiving, fOr In case OF a heavy fall
OF snow It Is impossible to secure this kind of
goods The persons who go to the country
for their stock are usually well posted ~ to
the location of trees, &c, that they are in
search OF, but they usually have To work very
hard, and often endure ,lapy hard sIti,-s I'd
sssnfaE~ SifSt they want The man who
knows where there Is good bunch of cedsrs,
nue. bed OF moss, or nice clump of laurel
usually keeps that fact u secret to himself,
and goes to procure 1t a. soon as the season
opens Trees, laurel, holly, mistletoe, sc :,
can be gotten at any time The most of the
trees CONS from the lower part of the county,
IN Providence, Martic and prumore town
shlps- Many OF them are cut along the river
hills in the neighbOrhood OF Tucquan.
Some are also brought from the Welsh noun
tains. Crowioot is a vine which grows along
the ground, and Is usually very scarce. 1t
grows in the woods and Is generally TO be
found among black berry and other bushes,
where 1t Is most dlihCult 10 gather. Extsu-
slve dealers here bring Crowfoot from Viz
ginia The moss which - brought to our mar
ket is of the haudsomest kind. A great deal of
II Is also gathered along the river hills, and
at times with the greatest difficulty.
WHERE THE MOSS COMES PROM,
Some of the moss comos IN very small
pieces and Is sold in baskets II Is very dim.
cult to secure 1t In large pieces, so that
which comes here in that state Is very val
uaoie. A reporter of the lNTELLIGENCER,
in looking over the market one day this
week, came across man who had tremen.
dous box OF moss, which was In very large
pieces, and presented beautiful appearance.
The msn pointed with pride to the con tents
OF the box, and seemed as proud of II rs he
would lie of a new house. lie had plenty ol
cause for being in q good humor, as he had
gone tO an immense amount o trouble to Sc.
cure the moss and for 1t he found reed '
sale There are many different kinds OF
moss, and some OF IL can only be gathered
when the sun is shining brightly upon 1t
al other times this kind can scarcely be seen.
Some of the dealers make a spec ialty oi
trees, which are mostly of cedar. One OF
two ullFSpTympn hiring pther kinda "
are more expensive, TO town. The cedars
range in price from 70 cents To g each. The
high-priced ones are usually very large, but
tne trees can be had at from 81 to s.. Crow
foot is sold at fIon 10 to - cents per yard
while laurel brings 10 cents Ter yard or
cents per bunch. Crowioot Is often made
into rlnss crosses, Nc, which are sold al
different prices. Holly and other kinds oi
greens are also sold by the bunch. Besides
the trees there are large quantities of spruce
&c, which are sold in limbs at different
| prices.
An INCREASED BUSINESS.
| The business in greens has increased won
deriuLiy during the past ten years, and it i.
now trade which compares favorably with
| others of the Christmas season. The mum
| ber OF people who put up Christmas trees in
| Creases each year, and there are many iami
lies In this city whose children are grown tC
men and wOmanhOOd that still observe tht
| custom OF erecting trees The churches u
| the city use all kinds Of green's in tremen
dOus quantities TO decorate for the holidays
| and their trade Is worth q great deal. The
| men who sell the goods generally know
| their customers and their wants very well
| and every year sell to the same PARTIES
| Many OF the dealers are very poor men who
are out of work and take advantage of thi,
! business to make some money Their goods
| cost them but little besides the labor attend
| ant upon procuring them. They usual )
sell out their entire stock and realize COusil
erable money, which they well deserve