The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-23
TWO CENTS AND UP.
Dealers in Christmas Trees Ad.
vance Prices.
Reiwoods Scarce, But White Pine Is Abundant.
Ranchers Glad to Get Rid Of Them.
Ten Thousand Sold Yesterday.

"A botanist who can give a long and ugly
Latin name to the prettiest plant the fertile
earth produces, stood upon the Clay-street
Wharf yesterday morning as q boat heavily
laden with Christmas trees neared the land
ing. He sadly sighed as the fragrant cargo
was discharged and mathematical the Gus
tom which causes the forest to be despoiled
OF Its fairest treasures. But the wrapgling,
1ostling crowd of dealers in Christmas trees
and scarlet berries paid little attention to his
ma!edictions.
The first load was soon disposed Of and
quickly followed by others, until the wharf
was miniature forest. hiding the busy
dealers from the eyes of the passenger on
board the vessels in the bay.
The season" opened last Wednesday,
when several carloads of evergreens from
Sonoma County were brought TO this city.
The prices charged on the first and second
days OF the sale were no higher than those
tnat were asked one year agO-thirty-hve
cents Tor bunch of from three to six small
trees and from fifty to seventy-fve cents
Tor large trees. The demand was very active.
Churches and Sunday-schools, hall prOprie-
tors, merchants and saloon-keepers wanted
trees, and bought them. paying two or three
times the amount charged the peddlerS on
the wharf.
PRICES ADVANCE.
Then someone spread report that trees
were going to be scarce this year and prices
ON tue wharf and throughout the city took
an upward leap. Sixty-five cents a bunch
and from 70 cents TO 50 80 for trees was
charged and paid without.a complaint.
Several carloads, each containing 1900
trees and valued at $40 load, arrived and
We're disposed of yesterday, the total sales
Tor the day amounting TO about 10000 trees.
BESIDES these, innumeIable sacks of scarlet
berries at 25 cents sack were sold One Of
these sacks in the hands of an industrious
small boy was divided into forty punches,
which he sold at 10 cents a bunch, realizing
proht on his stock that would make the
pr0ht-loving druggist weep with envy.
The profits of the wholesale and retail
dealers i'll trees are almost as large as those
made by the boys. A great gulf yawns be-
tween the price which the rancher is paid
for the trees and that paid by the retailers
customer. But the rancher is glad to get
fld OF Them and Goes so at very handsome
profit.
THE FIRST COST.
The proprietors Of ranch in Sonoma
County from which many Of the trees that
are now being sold in this city were
brought stated that he obtained cents for
every tree cut off his place. He was glad to
get rid OF them at that price; but realizing
that timber may yet become very scarce in
California, he will spare the ak next year.
The trees are cut close TO the earth. The
stump quickly decays, and in a few years
has disappeared. leaving the ground in
readiness for cultivation. The expense of
cutting and hauling is borne by the pur-
chaser, who also pays S24 per carload for
having the trees brought to this city. He
sells the load which has cost him about $50
for $140 to the local dealers. who advance
the price until the last purchaser pays at
the rate of about $1,000 per load.
Young redwoods are rather scarce in this
city, but the dealers charge no more for
item than for the coarser pines and spruces.