The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1912-12-13

usage cannot be traced back farther than the six
teenth century. It then existed only In the Rhine
valley. to which narrow limits 1t was restricted
for more than 200 years At the opening OF the
many. and nifty years later had reached Bohemia.
Hungary, Paris and England. German immigrants
had already brought the custom to our own coun-
try and here It has become 30 popular that the
supply Of trees IN the city markets Is never equal
to the demand.
numbered centuries, there will this Christmas be
displayed in American homes 100000 evergreen
trees There are about 20.000.00O families In the.
United States, and one In four Of these will make
the Christmas tree part Of the celebration that
is at hand. This does not mean that only these
viii participate in the festivities Of the season,
for there is still the stocking method Of dispens
ing gifts. But In this great number OF homes Il
has become the custom to use the trees tn ac-.
cordance with the oldfashioned custom Of sturdy.
rural Germany.
New York the metropolis OF the nation uses
far mora Christmas trees than any other city In.
the world. Yet the city Is so admirably located
from the standpoint Of available forests that the
supply is always abundant and prices low. "A
quarter OF million Christmas trees are each year
brought to New York. and ALI them are sold
during the week before Christmas. Over on
Riverside Drive, where are the homes Of the
wealthy, expeneive trees are sold. These are
elaborately prepared often being specially grown
FOR the purpose and bring prices as hlgn as sou
Yet the East Side gets its due proportion and 30
abundant Ii the supply that good shrubs may be
had for Is cents and so cents. The little trees
grow quickly and the farmers are often glad to
have them cleared of their land AS result the
people who count the pennies closely ind the
Christmas green's within their reach.
Father Knickerbocker lives right in the midst
Of the most productive Christmas tree section
The state Of New York yields them abundantly.
Straight down from the Adirondacks they come
In trainload lots. Northern Pennsylvania also
produces them without stint, and 30 are all the
nearby cities guaranteed an abundance. All
the Christmas tree.
For month past there have been hundreds of
men preparing the Christmas tree harvest for
the youngsters who dwell in the towns and cities,
In the smaller communities. provided the region
produces the right sort OF trees. the farmer him
self cuts them down and brings them 10 market.
He sells these trees to market men. TO grocers,
to florists and decorators. They are bought from
him by the wagonload and cost little. Then they
are properly prepared and set upon the sidewalk.
But preparation for the larger markets are diff
ferent. IN the hills around the greater cities
making ready for Christmas Is begun two months
before the arrival OF the day TO be celebrated.
IN Maine. for instance. the men so out in gangs
OF four. They know their business, for they have
gathered this seif-sama harvest for generation.
They have bought the trees as they stand IN the
field paying the farmer I'VE cents each for them.
The butt Of the tree Is sawed on smoothly and
painted over IN order that the sap may be re-