Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-12-17

V q festive items of
~ the season have
- become momen-
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
n great deal of il comes from Virginia.
The English mistlctoe 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 and
berries in clusters of three. 1t 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 it were far more
precious than it really is, save in the
opinion of the romantically inclined. The
common mistletoe 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-
poeias 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.
II known, perhaps the innocent merri-
ment now associated with the plant
would be exchanged for a feeling of stern
disapproval, and the mistletoe would be
banished from our homes.
Mistletoe may be made to grow on the
apple and other trees by cutting Il notch
i'll the bark the under surface of n
branch and carefully inserting the seed
therein. Two precautions are specially
necessary. One is to place the seed in
such 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 abundantly. The
orchards in HerefOrdshire. England. are
greatly infested with this parasite. which,
however. has value of its own, for it
appears that upward of hundred tons
of mistletoe 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 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 az it may seem, hundreds of holly
wreathS are sent ont TO the cemeteries,
their green and red brightness signjfyinG
the loving remembrance for dear ones
passed away, yet somehow 4 little incon-
gruous even from sentimental stand
point One is so apt to associate holly
with cracking wood fires, rollicking jolli-
ty, good eating and drinking and other
material enjoyment that in memoriam il
seems trifie out OF place. yet in the
poem OF that name which Tennyson 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 III 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 foliaceac. chiefly natives Of
temperate climates, with evergreen,
leathery, shining and generally spinous
leaves. The common holly, the only Eu-
rOpcan species and a native of some parts
of Asia, also is n 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 and leaves rs to make it one
of the most beautiful evergrcens- 1t is
found as Il native plant in Scotland, al
though Britain is nearly its northern linn
it. 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 so feet
high, while in the latter it is generally a
mere bush.
In table decorations holly at the Christ
mas season is used most effectively. 1t
is on the authority OF n leading florist
that we state that the correct arrange
ment of Christmas dinner table. SO far
as its evergreen appointments are con-
cerned, is n large wreath of holly in the
center. surrounding n dainty vase con-
tanning mistlctoe. 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.
loops of scarlet satin ribbon. their trail
ing ends straying over the green leaves
on to the white cloth. Tiny boutonnieres
of holy or mistletoe 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 for
lists weeks before Christmas. and il is not
unusual 10 send two dozen wreaths to one
house, all the windows being decked in
his apropos carb. any left overs doing du-
" suspended wherever their green and
red cheeriness can be utilized TO artistic
and pleasing advantage. 1t 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 pauper moro than COM
pensates for what our Puritan ancestors
would deem willful extrayaEance.-Phil-