The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1915-12-23
HUNTING M|S1LETOE
Christmas Greens Harvested
With Aid OF Guns.
But II 10 Better TO Climb for II as
Seekers Have Learned-open
Season Begins Early In
December.

AOk aim and fred into the high.
MaE1E or branches Of swamp elm.
N3@NN Only bunch OF foliage. cut
from It's supporting bough
by the charge OF bird shot. fell yard
or so away.
Missed him7' 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 reioin.
der.
"Shootin' green's" he added by way
OF explanation. He picked up the
clump OF leaves hecked with waxen
berries and threw into a gunny sack
three or four pounds o. mistletos. the
reward OF his Workmanship.
The open season for mistletoe DO.
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 II 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 20 the havoc.
Mistletoe Iobbers are growing more
discriminating and pay top prices for
well-preserved greens 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 bafiie 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
utcluuOus 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 a conspicuous
part in mythology. II is symbolical Of
the spear with which Hotherus took
the life Of Balder, the white aungod
Of SUMMER. who shall be resuirected
at Raganarok. twilight OF tho gods
and doomsday OF the world. so runs
the old Morse legend.
Among the Drulds and the Celts.the
mistletoe found growing upon an oak
was believed to possess powers Of
healing for many Ills as we'll as being
potent for the working OF magic
charms. Small bits Of berries were
brewed into love philters for prelude.
Ing the passions.
To the esteem in which the mistle.
toe was held Is directly traceable a
certain old English custom which sur.
wives today. AT the Christmas tide
every ardent swain who meath lts
shadow levies tribute OF a kiss and
each half.resisting maid who pays,
may know their hearts only bow to
rites centuries old and born when
Yule logs flckered 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.