Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-11-26

lgrandmother's garden. The legitimate
excuse Of the man with the oscular
tory propensity has flown, and in this
instance it is not traceable to the one
scapegoat OF modern pocketbooks. the
high cost Of living. The substance OF
the world matter Is that the maiden OF
the present day has either subtler
vile to ply than the hanging sprig un.
der which she once coduettishly pouted
her lips or the man OF her choice needs
no artful invitation like the simple
mistletoe.
One accompaniment Of the Yuletide
the Christmas tree, will be found In
abundance for the children who love
to see 1t decorated with tinsel and can
dies when Santa Claus makes his
yearly rounds on his mission Of good
cheer. The swanps and woods OF
northern Minnesota and Wisconsin are
now filled with woodsmen cutting down
the supply to be used for chfldren's
fdelectation later on, and the report
comes that the crop will be ample. The
fires which ragged over much of the
forests Of northern states inflicted but
little damage upon the variety of ever
green. the blue spruce, which is used
for this purpose. The reason for this
lis that the tree grows best In the
lswAmps and sloughs OF the northern
pine forests and on that account es.
capes the fires which ravage the terri
! tory at times.
Several Carloads Shipped Here.
About 1000 trees are used annually
In Ottumwa, which means that one car
load will be shipped in from the states
to the north where they are grown
This will be In addition to several car
loads used for wholesale purposes and
distributed through the surrounding
territory. Blue spruce is used almost
altogether for Christmas tree purposes
although for the churches and Sunday
schools balsam Is better adapted on &C
count Of It's size The prices that will
prevail range from rs cents to 81 for
| the ordinary sizes, according to the
quality and foliage of each.
The lycopodium, more commonly
known as bouquet green, is variety
OF fern which is easily adapted to dec
lorative purposes during the holiday
season and meets with the popular ap.
prevail. The small twigs Of the fern
are Strung upon WlIcS nuu u5Su AOl
festoons and wreaths in decorating
homes and churches. 1t is found in the
northern woods among the pine trees
The present indications are that the
green will bring a higher price than
usual this year, as the yearly SHOWS in
northern Minnesota and Wisconsin
have stopped the gathering Of the
plant.
Holly, perhaps the most artistic OF
any holiday decorative agent, will be
sold this winter at prices which place
BIT within the reach OF all. With the
bright green pointed leaves and red
berries, holly lends itself to innumer.
able color schemes in decorating rooms
and Christmas parcels. The branches
are gathered in the dismal swamp re-
gion on the Atlantic coast country from
Delaware south to North Carolina. The
prices will range from 30 to As cents
pound according to the quality.
Smilax also will be used to some ex-
tent. but its prohfbitive price will pre-
vent its wide adoption. The variety
meeting with the heaviest local sale
comes from Alabama. Some is also
raised In greenhouses, but is too ex-
pensive for popular use.