Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1899-12-14

tous undertakings, which involve transac-
tons that in geographical area and ex-
tent reach from across the seas to the
Maine woods. Mistletoe, which is so
priced by the romantic young people, who
value its significance far more than its
beauty, is at its best in England, though
great deal Of il comes from Virginia.
The English mistletoe has a fiat, very
green leaf. with large single berries oval
in shape and peculiarly waxen in APP
pearance while the American branch Of
the family boasts smaller leaves and
berries in clusters OF three. Ii is pack
ed, when gathered in Europe, in eight
foot long open crates and shipped across
the ocean with as much care given TO its
preservation as though il were far more
precious than il really is. save in the
opinion Of the romantically inclined The
common mstletoe has been associated
with many superstitions from the most
ancient times and has been highly ex-
tolled for its medicinal virtues. 1t is,
however excluded from the pharmaco-
pocas now The origin OF the modern
custom connected with mistletoe is not
very clear Like many other customs. its
original significance is only guessed at
If known, perhaps the innocent merri-
ment now associated with the plant
would be exchanged for a feeling OF stern
disapproval. and the mistetoe would be
banished from our homes
Mstlctor may he made To grow on the
apple and other trees by cutting notch
in the bark on the under surface of a
branch and carefully inserting the seed
therein. Two precautions are specially
necessary One is 10 place the seed in
such n 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
mstlctoc grows most abundantly. The
orchards in Herefordshire England. are
greatly infested with this parasite. which,
however. has Il value OF its own, for il
appears that upward OF n hundred tons
Of mistlrtOe are annually forwarded to
London and other large towns from that
county alone for Christmas decorations.
The holly. with its bright berries and
glossy leaves, is one of the most dccora-
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 il may seem. hundreds of holly
WrputnS arc sent out To the cemeteries,
their green and red brightness Signifying
the loving remembrance for dear ones
passed away. yet somehow little incon-
gruous even from "A sentimental stand
point. One Is so apt TO associate holly
with cracking wood fires rollcking jolli-
", good eating and drinking and other
material enjoyment that in memoriam il
seems trihe out OF place. yet in the
poem OF that name which Tcnnyson has
10 In, tl l,l
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 folaceae. chiefly natives OF
temperate climates. with evergreen,
leathery, shining and generally spinous
leaves. The common holly. the only Eu-
ropean species and native Of some parts
Of Asia also is well known ornament
Of woods, parks and strawberries in Great
Britain. the stiffness OF its habit being so
compensated by the abundance OF its
branchlets aud leaves as to make il one
OF the most beautiful evergreens Ii is
found as a native plant in Scotland, al
though Britain is nearly its northern linn
1t. 1t attains greater size and displays
greater luXuriance in the northern than
IN the southern parts OF its geographic
range, often appearing in the former as
tree Of considerable size, 20 TO 80 feet
high, while in the latter it is generally
mere bush.
In table decorations holly AT the Christ
mas season il used most effectively Ii
is on the authority of a leading florist
that we state that the correct arrange
ment of n Christmas dinner table, so far
as its evergreen appointments are con-
cerned. is a large wreath of holly in the
center. surrounding dainty vase con-
tanning mistletoe. Over this and sus-
pended from the gas fixtures is another
spray of mistletoe. tied by brilliant scar
let ribbon 10 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 Strayng over the green leaves
on To the white cloth. Tiny boutonnieres
OF holy or mstlctoe 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 10 the for
lists weeks before Christmas. and il 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 checrincss can he utilized to artistic
and pleasing advantage IL seems an ex-
travagant fad when one considers how
soon the beauty fades. yet the good cheer
that speaks from the disks Of green and
red In the mansion of the millionaire or
the hovel Of the paupcr more than com
pensates for what our Puritan ancestors
would deem willful extravagance.-Phil-
adclphia Times.