New-York tribune., 1889-12-22
ORIGIN AND GROWTH OF SEASONABLE
MINISTRY

Kingston Dec 81 Speciall.-FOr some days past
Christmas trees and other evergreen decorations lot
the HOLIDAYS have been going down the Ulster ana
Delaware Railway by the carload on the way 70 tle
New-York market. The various up-river boats aro
daily adding to the great annual supply OF holiday
green's which is being piled up on the Nortn River
piers This business of cutting Christmas trees LOT
market had its origin in the Catskill region Mark
Carr Jolly and brawny woodsman, living among
the foothills in Greene County, which was then lar
wilder and more remote region than 1t Is nov" hIs'
conceived the idea. lie was mountain farmer' WIN
little to do at this early winter season. lie had
heard much and read little OF the great Christmas
festivities in the far distant city, how the houses anu
churches were decorated with rtrees and evergreehs'
and one morning as he looked out among the shapely
young spruce trees that grew so thckly ABOUT MS
forest home, the thought of their prospective 'alue
delivered in the great city to him with peculiar
force All l have to do" said he to mmseu' " S
to cut the trees and take them down 10 'lorh'
THEY'RE no good to me here, and I've little else to DO
lust now. III try load But his good wne was
inclined to object to the proposition. she may nave
been Influenced partly by her intimate knowledge o
Mark and the effect such city trip with It's financial
gains would be likely to have upon him. ohe De
nounced 1t as a wild project and tried 10 olSSuaue
him. But the two liked the plan Ihe tHee
went to work In earnest early in December 1901
They drew two sleghloads OF fine spruce Christmas
and the father took his novel product TO the big
city market arriving about two days before CHRIST
mas The trees were not neatly and compacty ued
but they been carefully chosen and seemed wonder
fully fresh and pretty the city people Mark paid
An old-fashioned silver dollar for the privilege o
spreading his mountain greens on the strip OF side
walk at the corner Of Greenwich and NeSey sts. hC
had a rush of trade at once, ant
DISPOSED of the entire stock in few
hours at prices which seemed to hin
very exorbitant and the people clamored for more.
How Isuch money he took home Is not known nor Is
the character of his reception by his wife included In
the record But the next Christmas found Mark down
OF his old Vcseyst. corner with far larger STOCK ot
greens and at still higher prices -.
since then the business mas grown 10 surprising
extent. trees are sold by the hundred thousand,
aid Marks old corner brings rental OF over TlOo
for week or previous to Christmas. The Catshllls
no longer mOnopollZe the trade OF course A large
supply now comes nom Maine. The trees are MOI
so plentiful before they must now be collected IN
more remote regions and oarted many mile over rude
mountain roads This involves greater cost and re-
duces profits They furnished TO wholesale dealers
at from S6 TO $40 per huharea cut, uea IN Dnmccs mes
most desirable aud extra specimens bring $40 each.
Rome stuff and other feStoonng greens are not
supplied from this region TO any extent IL is another
NcwJersey localities contribute largely. For these
purposes nature furnishes admirable material In two
pine and morning cedar. They are much like trail
Ing moss which seems 10 De specially designed Tor
wreathlng and festoonlng nhis material !; now Sv
becoming scarce. however, so great has been the de
mand i'm recent wears. New England and the West
are being called upon TO III out the supply The
kalmia. holly and rhOdodendron supply the oroad
berries seed pods etc. used TO add variety and
contrast in the decoration. Mistletoe is obtained
IMPORTED along with goodly share of the holly that
| is used here