The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-12-26
GROWING
BALSAM TREES
THEIR POPULARITY BRINGS JOY
TO FARMERS OF MAINE.
An Army of Men Find n Means Never
Before Enjoyed of Earning Christ
mas Moncy-Increased Land VAL
ucs--Strippcd Coast of Maine.

ucs--Strippcd Coast of Maine.
The Christmas tree Is a compare
lively new addition to the ancient
yuletide festivities. 1t will surprise
most people to learn that the fash
ion of trimming tree with toys and
tinsel for the children or for the cat
or dog If there are no olive branches
has attained its popularity in this
country only within thirty years or
so. Holly and mistletoe may be rel
les of antiquity, but the Christmas
tree is an innovation of the present
day and generation.
The happy idea of utilizing the
balsam fir as tree for trimming at
Christmas time came to someone who
visited the shores of Maine and no.
ticed the millions of picturesque
young balsam frs that grew there,
langdishing for attention and of so
little Importance in the estimation
of the farmers that the lana upon
which they grew was not considered
OF sufficient value to be subject to
taxation. When the tax appraiser
passes land as valuelCss it must be
admitted that It stands very poor
chance of interesting the community.
But the pretty little trees attract
ed attention from those who had not
seen them growing before, and some
genius decided to try the balsam fir
as tree for the children's corner Of
hrf.
who owned the land up there were
slow to see their opportunity At
first they thought the offer of money
for their frs was made as a Joke,
and they actually refused at first to
sell, thinking they We're being made
the victims Of some silly hoax. When
1t ut last dawned upon them that
the bidders were really In earnest
the farmers speedily placed a valua-
ton on the LITTLE fir trees and u mar
ket for them was established forth
with. AT this time the wood of the
balsam fir had not become famous
as the lurking place Of the Canada
balsam, now so much in demand, so
that the discovery of a use for the
fir trees proved a double blessing to
the Maine farmers.
Ten years after the balsam fir be-
came the popular tree for Christ
mas the entire coast of Maine had
been stripped of its frs and so pro-
fitable had the Industry become that
the farmers We're planting new ones
and the growth of the trees had be-
come regular part of the industries
of Maine.
1t takes about five years for the
seed of the balsam fir to attain to
the size of a salable tree. so that the
farmers of Maine have a plant next
year for the crop OF five years later.
So marvelously has the trade
grown that to-day over q million
trees are shipped to New York and
New England. The farmers make
from to 40 cents from the sale of
a tree, the retail price being from
20 cents to IS, according to size ana
general appearance. A practical far
mer, who desires to make the most
of his opportunity will thin out the
trees from the plantation, to make
the remaining trees grow straighter,
taller, and with more spread to the
branches.
Before the discovery of the useful
ness of the balsam fir as q means of
bringing Joy to the home at Christ
mas 1t was possible to buy a whole
township in the fir region for 500;
that is to say, for this outlay a pur-
chaser could get $4,000 acres of the
land on which the little trees grow.
Now this formerly despised land is
worth from $40 to SIS an acre.
An acre will yield about 5000
trees. and allowing $40 an acre for
stumpage, $50 for labor and cartage
and $50 for freight the trees do not
cost 2 cents delivered In New York
or Boston.
The cutting of the trees begins in
November, and thousands who
would otherwise be idle are given
employment at this time. The trees
are shipped to commission men and
by them sold to the hawkers, who
take advantage of the freedom Of
the Christmas season to set up shop
in any public highway or corner
where they are free from interfer-
ence. In many cities it is recogniz-
ed that the Christmas tree vendor is
a privileged person for the time be-
ing, and he is usually permitted to
turn the sidewalk outside the pub
lie buildings into a temporary store
for the sale of Christmas trees.-
Pittsburg Dispatch.