Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-11-26
CHRISTMAS TREE TRADE.
Annual Shipments Being Made to the
Big Cities from Maine.

The annual shipment of Christmas
trees from Maine to points west will
soon begin. Very few have as yet
been sent out, but the men who
make a business Of cutting the trees
for market are TOW bury hnulihg them
to the stations, and the rea! work will
soon begin.
Some few trees are sent out from
Augusta, but not many. A large bus
mess is done i'll this line in Pittsfield,
but the majority of the trees which
are sent through Augusta over the
Maine Central, come from stations
east of Bangor The Bath Times.
speaking of the inception and growth
of the business, says:
"A few years ago the fir tree was
looked upon as 4 nuisance in this
State. Now it is 4 source of consider
able income to hundreds and to the
transportation companies as well.
The beginning OF its popularity
was in 1892 when q party of hunters
VINO had been in n steam yacht to
Newfoundland to shoot caribou called
at Sarsentville in Pcnobscot Bay to
visit some abandoned copper mine a
short distance inland. The leaves had
fallen from the deciduous trees, cauS-
ing the dark evergreens to stand out
in bold relief against the neutral
background of browns and greys. Tha
owner of the yacht WAS struck by the
beauty of the scene and also with q
practical idea. He hired men and
horses and had cut about six hundred
of the frs which he carried on the
deck of his yacht to Boston where
they We're offered for sale.
The demand exceeded the yachts
mans greatest expectations, for the
whole lot was snapped up in short Or
der. SO profitable was the first ven-
ture that in the next Christmas sea-
son fully $4,000 frs We're sent from
this State to Boston, where they We're
all sold AT good prices. ana in the fol-
lowing year the trade was extended
to New York where the frs were as
eagerly taken. In 1896 the shipments
of trees from Maine to the large cities
had increased TO about 10000 and in
1899 over 100000 were sold
"In some sections where the fir is
especially plenty, the cutting and
preparing Christmas trees is made the
occasion of festive gatherings. cor
responding to huskings in the fall,
whole families going into the woods
ana taking their dinners along. 4
man cuts the trees close to the roots
and Il boy or strong girl cuts with a
sharp Ratchet the few dead limbs
from the base.
Women and boys tie the trees into
bundles of Il dozen and then the har-
vest is piled into hay racks and car
ried to the nearest railroad station.
ing crecperS of the ground pine. pluck
branches of glossy wintergreen and
gather the fruit Of the wild raisin
shrub, all of which are packed into
boxes and sent TO the cities. for the
making of wreathes and garlands for
the decoration Of church and home.
The evergreen harv"sts are Sener-
business to supply the Christmas
markets of the. cities. though many
farmers and Others send their crops
direct to the market. For trees five
to six feet in height the buyers in
Maine pay five cents each. and for
trees from six to ten feet in height
the price paid is from ten to fifteen
cents each. The five cent trees sell in
the city markets for twenty-five cents
while the fifteen cent trees often
bring one dollar or more. The total
revenue to Maine people this year
will probably be $4,000.