The Arvada enterprise., 1912-12-12

usage cannot be traced back farther than the six
teenth century. 1t then existed only in the Rhine
valley, to which narrow limits it restricted
for more than 200 years. At the opening Of the
nineteenth century 1t spread to the rest Of Ger
many. and fifty years later had reached Bohemia,
Hungary. Paris and England German immigrants
had already brought the custom to coun-
try and here 1t has become popular that the
supply Of trees In the city markets is equal
to the demand.
Linking the present with the dim past OF un-
numbered centuries. there will this ChGstmas be
displayed in American homes 100000 evergreen
trees There about 10000, 900 families in the
United States and one in four OF these will make
the Christmas tree a part Of the celebration that
is at hand. This does not mean that only these
will participate in the festivities OF the season.
for there is still the stocking method OF dspens-
ing gifts. But In this great number Of homes It
has become the custom to the trees in
cordance with the oldfashioned custom OF sturdy.
rural Germany
New York. the metropolis OF the nation
far more Christmas trees than any other city in
the world. Yet the city is admirably located
from The standpoint OF available forests that the
supply Is always abundant and prices low.
quarter of million Christmas trees each year
brought to New York and all of them are sold
during the week before Christmas Over
Riverside Drive. where the homes OF the
wealthy, expensive trees are sold These are
elaborately prepared often being specially grown
for the purpose and bring prices high $50.
Yet the East Si6s gets its due proportion and
abundant is the supply that good shrubs may be
had for % cents and so cents. The little trees
grow quickly and the farmers often glad to
have them cleared on their land. As result the
people who count the pennies closely find the
Christmas greens 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 are all the
nearby cities guaranteed an abundance All
through New England there is a general use OF
the Christmas tree.
For a 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 to market
20 florists and decorators They are bought from
him by the wagonload and cost little Then they
properly prepared and set upon the sidewalk.
But preparation for the larger markets are dif-
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 go cut In gangs
OF four. They know their business for they have
gathered this selfsame harvest for a generation
They have bought the trees they stand In the
field. paying tho farmer Ave cents each for them
The butt OF tho tree is sawed on smoothly and
painted in order that tie sap may be re