The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1915-12-17
HUNTING M|STLETOE
Christmas Greens Harvested
With Aid OF Guns.
But II Is Eetter to Climb for u as
Seekers Have Learned-Open
Season Begins Early In
December.

NG~1 HE hunter took deliberate
ANAl aim and fired into the high.
NSKz2D er branches OF a swamp elm.
NGNN Only bunch of foliage, cut
from it's supporting bough
by the charge OF bird shot, fell yard
or so away.
Missed him?" was the half queried
comment OF a "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 flecked with waxen
berries and threw into a gunny sack
three or four pounds os mistletoe. the
reward OF his craftsmanship.
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 it 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.
Mistletoe jobbers are growing more
discriminating and pay top prices for
well-preserved green's only. the market
varying day by day according to the
quantity offered.
The true mistletoe IS a European
evergreen, but its American cousin
resembles II so closely as to battle all
but botanists. 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 It sometimes is
found growing in the oaks and other
forest varieties. Along the Pacific
coast II 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 sungod
of summer. who shall be resusrected
at Raganarok. twilight OF the gods
and doomsday OF the world. so runs
the old Morse legend.
Among the Druids and the Celts the
mistletoe found growing upon an oak
was believed to possess powers OF
healing for many Ills as well as being
potent for the working OF magic
charms. Small bits OF berries were
brewed into love philters for prejudic
ing the passions.
To the esteem I'm which the mistle
toe was held Is directly traceable o
certain old English custom which sur
wives today. At the Christmas tide
every ardent swain who meath It's
shadow levies tribute OF a kiss and
each half-resisting maid who pays,
may know their hearts only bow tc
rites centuries old and born when
Yule logs fiickered 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 a sacrament.