Evening star., 1923-12-23

that among the Greeks Christmas
was known and celebrated as the
feast OF lights.
In America the Christmas tree
varies in species and family name
with the climate, topography and soil
of the locality in which it grows.
To one man the Christmas tree
always means a fir, while to his
friend in q distant state 1t means
magnolia tree. In the latitude of
, Chicago a short needle pine tree. ma
tive in the uplands Of Michigan and
Wisconsin. is popular. On the Pa
cific coast the white fir meets with
favor. while throughout the state of
Ohio specimens of Norway spruce arc
largely used. In the neighborhood
OF Washington and in adjoining Sec
tions of Maryland and Virginia the
scrub pine finds it's way into many
homes as = pedestal for gifts and
decorations. Down in the heart of
Dixieland the cedar and holly trees
are extensively used.
In regions where the balsam fir
trees are available this species pro-
vides the Heau Brummels of the
Christmas tree world. 1t possesses
the ideal characteristics for holiday
purposes-beautiful and symmetrical
conformation with long horizontal
branches and deep-green foliage.
with each tiny leaf and bud giving
off q breath of aromatic fragrance.
Happy are the children and highly
decorated the home which includes
one OF the balsam fir trees among the
Yuletide adornments.
\ Il x
THERE has been needless talk at
ono time and another about our
great national extravagance In vast
ing timber ana destroying young tree
growth by sacrificing these materials
for Christmas tree utilization. Con-
servationists annually overflow the
mail OF the United States forest serv-
ice with protests against what they
term ''the needless slaughter Of
young trees" For the most part
these letters influence the potential
policies OF the United States forester
in about the same degree. that a
leaden pellet from an air rife would
beast came crashing through the
timber.
Annually the United States con-
sumes approximately 100000 Christ
mas trees. There is no technical or
scientific system which can even re-
motely compute or estimate the Joy
and gladness which these ceremonial
trees bring to millions OF American
homes. Each family tree Is probably
q source OF pleasure to at least i've
persons. Church trees. community
trees and other town and oity Christ
mas tree celebrations entertain mil
lions Of people every year. The
chances are that at least rs, ,o0o, 900
people In the United States are glad
dened and clothed In the proper Yule-
tide spirit as Z result OF the 5,000,-
900 Christmas trees that annually
are displayed In American homes,
schools. churches. hospitals and prts-
ons.
New York city and New England
use about 500 carloads Of 1900. 900
trees. Each year, Just before the nav
igation OF the great lakes, Is a rule,
Is closed by ice. Christmas tree
deet" makes its way down Lake
Michigan with an evergreen tree at
tached to the masthead OF each ves-
sci as a symbol OF the cargo that the
ship carries.
Five million tfees such ~ the Yule-
tide season annually consumes could
be grown on 5000 acres OF idle,
waste land The American lumber
industry cuts moro than 1000 times
this acreage each year and wastes
much valuable timber ~ . conse-
auence OF ineficisnt methods. II on
December 26 all the nations timber
cutters should begin work two hours
iate the resulting decrease In acre.
age annually cut would BE- equal to
the area exploited by the Christmas
tree industry for the entire year.
Tho annual cutting Of 100000
trees IL indgnincant as compared
with the loss through forest fires,
which annually sweep over $4,000. 900
acres OF timber and result In q vast
age OF $2o.ooo,oeo worth OF building
material.
The lands from which MANY Of the
Christmas trees are removed, partic-
ulAx3Y fhoao In 1rnx23And and Viz