Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1899-12-21

- festive items OF
%c.>Ns,sss the sss..s :s.''a n.n... a:,.
tous undertakings which Involve tvansac-
tions that in geogra phical area and eS-
tent reach from across the seas 70 tAs
Maine woods. Mistletoe, which is 20
prised by the romantic young people. who
value Its Significance far more than Its
beauty. is at Its best In England, though
q great deal OF II comes from Virginia.
The Enakh mistlstos has a fat, very
green leaf. with large single berries. oval
In shape and peculiarly waxen In ap-
pearance, while the American branch Of
the family boasts smaller leaves ssd
berries In clusters Of three. 1t is pack
ed. when gathered Ia Europe. In eight
foot long open crates and shipped across
the ocean. with ~ much care given TO Its
preservation as though It we're far more
precious than It really Ia, save In the
opinion Of the ronanticslly inclined. The
common mistIstos has been associated
With many supesstitions from the most
ancient times and has been highly ex-
tolled for its medicinal virtues. 1t is.
however, excluded from the pharmaco-
poeias now. The origin OF the modern
custom connected with mistletoe is not
very clear. Like many other customs. its
original significance 10 only guessed at.
II known. perhaps the innocent merri-
nent now associated with the plant
would be exchanged cor fseaias Of stera
disapproval, and the mististoe would be
banished from osr homes.
Mistletoe may be made to grow on the
apple and other trees by cutting q notch
Ia the bark ca the under surface Of .
branch and carefully inserting the seed
therein. Two precautions are specially
necessary. One is to place the seed in
such a position that the embryo shall be
directed toward the trunk of the tree.
and the other is to avoid crushing the
seed. The apple Is the tree on which the
mistletoe grows most abundantiy..,phe
orchards in Herefordshire, England. are
greatly infested with this parasite. which.
however, hQs n value Of its own, for it
appears that upward Of a hundred tons
of mistletoe are annually forwarded to
London and other large towns from that
county nlone for Christmas decorations.
The holly. with it's bright berries and
glossy leaves is one OF be"most decora-
tive greens used at the Christmas sea-
son and is adapted especially well TO
wreath form. the color lasting longer and
the general shape being more satisfactory
than when made OF the evergreen.
Strange as it may seem, hundreds Of holly
wreaths are sent out to the cemeteries.
their green and red brightness sgnifying
the loving remembrance for dear ones
passed away. yet somehow a little incon-
gruOus even from sentimental stand
point. One is apt to associate holly
with cracking wood fires, rollicking joui-
ty, good eating and drinking and other
material enjoyment that in memoriam il
seems a trife out OF place. yet in the
poem Of that name which Tenngson has
made immortal we read. with trembling
fingers did we weave the holly round the
Christmas hearth" So that the holly has
before its present vogue in cemeteries
been associated with the memory OF those
no longer with us.
Botanically speaking. the holly is ge-
nus of trees and shrubs Of the natural Or
der Aqui foliaceae, chiefly natives Of
temperate climates, with evergreen.
leathery, shining and generally spinous
leaves. The common holly, the only Eu-
ropenn species and native of some parts
of Asia. also is a we'll known ornament
of woods, parks and strawberries in Great
Britain, the stiffness Of its habit being so
compensated by the abundance OF it's
branchlets and leaves as to make 1t one
of the most beautiful evergreens. 1t is
found as a native plant In Scotland, al
though Britain is nearly its northern linn
It.. 1t attains greater else and displays
greater luIuriance in the northern than
in the southern parts pf..tts geographic
range. often appearing in the former ms
tree OF considerable si.e, 10 to 50 feet
high. while in the latter 1t rs generally Q
mere bush.
In table decorations holly at the Christ
mas season is used most effectively. Ii
is On the authority sf leading florist
that we state that the correct arrange
ment Of II Christmas dinner table. 30 far
as it's evergreen appointments are con-
cernrd. is u large wreath Of holly in the
center. surrounding dainty vase con
tanning mistlctoc. Over this and sus-
pended from the gas fixtures Is another
spray Of mistletoe. tied by brilliant scar
let ribbon to match the berries OF the
holly on the table beneath. Near the ends
of the table are banked masses Of holly.
in the center of which are wired upright
loops OF scarlet satin ribbon. their trail
ing ends straying over the green leaves
on to the white cloth. Tiny boutonnieres
of holy or mstletoe are placed at the
mems places, larger clusters, more on the
order of corsage bouquets. being supplied
for the fair members Of the company. So
great has become the demand for holly
wreaths that orders are given to the flor
lists weeks before Christmas, and it is not
unusual to send two dozen wreaths to one
house, all the windows being decked in
| his apropos garb, any left overs doing du-
ty suspended wherever their green and
red cheeriness can be utilized to artistic
and pleasing advantage. It seems an ex-
travagant fad when one considers how