Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1915-12-24
HUNTING n|STLET0E
Christmas Greens Harvested
With Aid OF Guns.
But II Ia Better to Climb for II as
Seekers Have Learned-open
Season Begins Early In
December.

LGrgssI He hunter took deliberate
AGA Al aim and fired into the high
MMJsS er branches Of swamp elm
N8@W Only bunch OF foliage, cut
from its supporting bough
by the charge OF bird shot. fell yard
or SO away.
Missed him." was the half queried
comment of "tenderfoot" who had
strained his eyes in vain to see the
object OF the shot.
Missed nothing" came the rejoin-
der.
"Shootin' green's" he added by way
OF explanation He picked up the
clump OF leaves fecked with waxen
berries and threw into gunny sack
three or four pounds o. mistletoe, the
reward OF his Workmanship.
The open season for mistletoe be-
gins early in December, according to
the Kansas City Star. and continues
until only a day or so before Christ
mas, or, in the lean years, until the
crop Is exhausted. The old method Of
shooting" mistletoe has been in large
part displaced, however, by agile boys
who earn mems wages by climbing for
the crop and carrying 1t to the ground
In sacks slung from their shoulders.
That preserves the foliage beauty by
leaving the berries intact When the
boughs are harvested" by the shot
gun method the charge Jars many Of
the globules from their tiny stems and
the fall to earth but adds to the havoc.
Mstletoe jobbers are growing more
discriminating and pay top prices for
wellpreserved green's only, the market
varying day by day according to the
quantity offered.
The true mistletoe is European
evergreen, but its American cousin
resembles It 80 closely as to battle all
but botanlsts. The leaves are OF the
same yellowish green and the bios
SONS. alike in color. give way in turn
to the wax.like berries. Both are
parasites, growing on the boughs OF
deciduous trees.
Apple trees, poplars. naples and
elms seem to best support the vege
table barnacle. But 1t sometimes is
found growing in the oaks and other
forest varieties. Along the Pacific
coast 1t frequently is taken from oak
trees, although the yield in that re-
gion is not prolific,
The mistletoe played conspicuous
part in mythology. 1t Is symbolical OF
the spear with which Hotherus took
the life Of Balder, the white sungol
Of summer, who shall be resurrected
at Rasanarok. twilight Of the gods
and doomsday Of the world, so runs
the old Morse legend
Among the Drulds and the Gets thu
mistletoe found growing upon an oal
was believed to possess powers o
healing for many Ills as we'll as beinl
potent for the working of magi
charms. Small bits Of berries wer,
brewed into love philters for prelude
ing the passions.
To the esteem IN which the mistle
toe was held is directly traceable |
certain old English custom which sur
Wives today. At the Christmas It'd,
every ardent swain who meath III
shadow levies tribute Of kiss anG
each half.resisting maid who pays
may know their hearts only bow tc
rites centuries old and born when
Yule logs fickered through candle
lighted halls on wintry nights. when
fairies ruled; when imagery held
sway; when mountain gods gave curse
or blessing and tribute to the mistle
toe was o sacram emit.