The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-07-21
HOLLY AND MIsTLEToE FARMS.

| Yes, luluk we nave ABOUT Tie
first and only holly mistletoe farm in
the country, or in the world, for that
matter. /" The speaker was Miss
Lucy Carteledge, the elder of the two
young women who, three years ago,
began to raise holly and mistletoe for
market.
''You ask how it began-the farm,
you mean? Why, it all started from
my going to New York to study art.
My mother, who is my only living
parent, by many sacrifices, finally
saved enough money for ME to make
the venture. 1 did not achieve much
in the way of art, but 1 learned what
big world of smart people this is
and how much had to improve be-
it afre with my brilliancy. Once
convinced that had little or no artis-
tic ability, l set about to find some
way to earn living. The high
price paid for holly and mistletoe in
New York City was one of many
revelations, and on inquiry I found
that the prettiest pieces were brought
over from England. This gave me
an idea and 1 wrote home about it to
my sister, who is a very practical
person.
"She began at once to go over our
500 acres and cleared away the under
brush around every holly tree and
holly bush. In some instances, with
those around the house, she had gone
so far as to trim away all the dead
limbs and have the earth about the
roots enriched and spaded up.
"For the preservation of the mis-
tletoe she cut off the muscadine and
jasamine vines climbing over every
tree where there was sprig of it
growing. She also declared her in
tention of trying to plant the seeds in
the hollows and forks of old oaks,
where she saw a chance of its taking
root and growing.
During the next summer we had
little to do besides sit and wait for
what the autumn would bring forth,
but this energetic sister of mine was
careful to see that no harm came to
the numerous little holly trees which
she discovered about the roots of the
large trees. She stated that she in
tended transplanting them in winter,
and for the first time we realized it
might not be such an easy matter to
get holly farm as we anticipated.
Negroes are so superstitious that
it is almost impossible for white per
son to keep up with the numerous
queer things they believe. When
our old cook heard us talking about
transplanting young hollys she was
Mortified, and told us it was the worst
kind of luck, and that whoever did
it, the minute the bush grew and cast
| SiAvS- aeASy ~Os.A~A AZ. --g's-e;s
the superstition quite general among
the negroes, so, of course, we rea1iz-
ed at once that none of them could be
depended on to plant our holly grove.
According to their advice the only
way to obtain such trees was by plac-
ing lot of berries on a stump near
where we wished the tree and allow
the wind to blow them. Only fancy
what a stupid idea. Still, it was
most serious to us, as we were entire
| ly dependent on them as laborers.
However, Our first harvest came
before transplanting time. As soon as
the berries were sufficiently grown tc
! Judge of we sent specimens on to sew
eral firms in Washington and New
York. Almost by return mail we re-
ceived surprisingly large orders, but
at different prices. The best came
from the Washington firm which sup
plies the White House.
cat Christmas we found there
were two distinct grades of holly.
Branches gathered from trees around
the house, which had been trimmed
and fertilized, were more beautiful
than the others. The foliage was
richer and the berries larger, more
numerous and very mitch more bril-.
liant. My sister fancies the same i'm.
provement was to be observed in the
mistletoe, but we finally decided that
the most beautiful specimens of this
were taken from postoak trees. And
now, after three years experience, we
still consider it fact.
"Our profits for the first year was
gratifying, and as soon as there was
sufficient cold to send the sap dowr
into the roots of the trees we began
our transplanting. But, do you know
my sister and 1 were compelled to dc
it with our own hands. The negroes
would dig the holes and put in the
fertilizer, but when it came to actual
ly planting the little trees we had tc
do that ourselves. We worked early
and late all during the months of Jan
uary and February and managed tc
set out ten acres of holly.
"This past season we cut every
other one of these young trees anC
sold them as Christmas trees. They
were we'll shaped, had fine foliage
with large, rich berries, so, of course
they brought the very best price.
"For our mistletoe we select OLE
oak trees, preferably postoaks, anc
insert we'll ripened berries under th'
bark in the fork or hollow, wher,
they will have chance to germinat'
and catch hold. Just how old th'
plant has to be before it bears berrie
we have not been able to decide a
yet.
"This last season we added to on
farm products by shipping quantitie
of bamboo and Christmas berry vines
In the North the bamboo is known a
the Southern smilax, and makes
charming decoration.
"We have no trouble i'll getting
orders for our goods, and as our farn
is on trunk line railroad, shipmen
is easy. We first began by Grating
now we simply pack the trees AM
branches in the railroad cars and the,