The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1926-12-03
CHRISTMAS TREES ? WHY,
OF COURSE

Before many days, In hundreds or
thousands of homes, small frs,
spruces, cedars, pines or hemlocks
will stand bedecked. Clad in their
gay trappings of tinsel and vari-
colored lights, bells and cones and
what-not, they will grow jauntily
from a ground strewn with interest
ing boxes and packages, wrapped in
white and decorated with ribbons
and stickers. Yes, probably some
five million trees will come to serve
thus. Cut from here and there.
they will play their brief role, die
and be tossed away. What Of it !?
The Christmas tree is the Maypole
of lifes winter holiday dance.
Without it the day of days would
not be complete. 1t is the shining
star of the youngsters day. Pressed
no few oldsters would admit that
Christmas without the Christmas
tree is like turkey without dressing.
Each year, however, a cry is
raised that to have Christmas trees
is to endanger our waning forest
resources. Last year, when this
annual cry was heard, Mr.. Charles
Lathrop Pack, president of the Amer
lean Tree Association, answered:
Conservation is wise use." A con-
servationist whose sincerity and
balance cannot be questioned, he
declared that the children should
have their Christmas trees. For
estry, as profession, is of like view,
holding the Christmas trees to be
proper by-products OF the forests.
This is the point. A stand of
timber, to grow and wax strong,
must be thinned out, weeded, as
garden is weeded, to give the plants
a chance. 1t is these trimmings that
can, should and in no inconsiderable
measure do provide our Christmas
trees. Let the energy used in con-
demning the practice OF using
Christmas trees be directed to
urging this procedure.
There is another phase OF Christ
mas tree use of high economic in
terest. Trees at retail are com.
paratively expensive. The seasonal
demand is sure and good. When
such conditions prevail in any bust
ness line, there is incentive to pro-
duce. Christmas trees can be farm
ed as a crop and produced. at a nea
profit. Such a proposition provides
profitable adjunct to the farm, a
useful way OF putting otherwise
loafing acres to work
For example the Department of
Forests and Waters OF the State of
Pennsylvania has recently issued a
significant bulletin along this line
1t is pointed out that more than soc
carloads of trees are imported into
the State each year around Christ
mas when they should be grown IL
| the State. The bulletin points ou'
that trees from six to nine feet high
are in great demand, and can be
grown on moist and fairly fertile
lands, 1900 trees to the acre. With
comparatively little care after the
young trees are well under way, it
| is pointed out, yearly cutting car
be made netting the owner from
$50 to $3.50 an acre year aftel
year, and still there will be enough
left to form the mature crop. II
would he ideal if good proportion
of our Christmas tress were Sc
raised.
There are certain phases of
Christmas tree gathering that SHOULD
not only be condemned but should
be vigorously prosecuted by law
The outstanding is the petty thiever'
of other peoples property in young
coniferous- trees. 1t is the same
sort of thing that prevails ir
summer with the filching of plant"
and shrubs, apples and pears and
other wayside products growing or
private property.
Against the man who steals tree
from someone else's lawn or a wood
lot and carries it of in his auto
mobile. there should be prompt and
effective action. He is nothing more
than common thief, regardless OF
the horsepower of his car. Against
the larceny of the man with a truck
who clandestinely steals the best
young trees from a farmers wood
lot, or other property, the law should
take its course, quickly and surely.
In the larger commercial gathering
of Christmas trees, legally done by
lease or purchase, education is neces-
sary. The scientific cutting for thin
ming purposes should be encouraged.
specified in the lease OF land for this
use and demanded by common sense
The practice OF topping large trees
to obtain the pretty crown should
/ no 0utiaWed