Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-22

| the several smaller retail markets scat
tered in various sections OF the city
| these days was suggestive Of the APP
| preaching Christmas holiday season.
Probably the chief interest OF consumers
was directed toward the Center Market,
several times larger than the other
buildings and where vastly heavier
quantities OF foodStuffs are disposed Of
| in the course of days trading.
Christmas buying has not yet
! started in earnest" was the observation
of q merchant last night. ut is
showing q gradual increase, however,
and trading should be heavy from now
until the close OF business Just before
the dawn Of Christmas"
While inside the big building which
is doomed to soon cease to be q land
mark, Congress already having decreed
that 1t must 60, dealers had decorated
mas green's. it was admitted by consurn-
erS that the attractive array Of food.
stuffs Of every variety could not be i'm
proved by the added green's.
Tree Supply Large.
Outside the market last night were
trees enough to give the place the ap-
pearance of miniature forest, and In
addition to the trees were immense
quantities of wreaths, strings Of greens
sold by the yard, punches Of various
greens and mistletoe. The large guam
ttty Of trees was suggestive to casual
observers OF the depletion Of woods and
forests.
But what does the depletion Of the
forests mean, when the greens are to
bring happiness to many perSonS7"
Queried O customer.
Deed" observed an elderly colored
woman from the country who was offer
ing q bunch Of bitter-Sweet to q lady
patron, you don't know what 1t means
to gather all this stuff.
MY old man had to climb 10 feet up
q tree to get this bunch OF mistletoe,"
she added, land now people think they
are being robbed when ] ask only o
few cents for It,"
1t was explained by q man from the
country who was Offering o truckload
Of holly to the trade that much dim
Guilty is experienced in efforts to get
OF land upon which It Il found also
demanding pay for it.
Much Of the holly this season, he
added, has red berries and faded leaves,
while some Of It Is Just the reverse,
having green leaves and berries not
red enough to claim attention Of
buyers.
"And the most attractive trees" said
the hauler, usually stand out alone
in fields. presenting such an attractive
appearance that owners will not per-
NIT them to be cut"
One of the haulers related . story
Of an elderly colored man who had
nursed big holly tree, growing directly
in front Of his house, over q period OF
more than q quarter Of q century.
Once q year, the hauler related, the
elderly man cut holly enough to pay
for what was needed in connection
with his Christmas celebrations.
Trees from New England, many cut
In the mountain section in the vicinity
Of Woodstock, VT, were In exceptionally
heavy receipt today, having reached
here as early IS last week, some shipped
In open cars arriving here covered with
snow. It probably was due to the snow
that they were received in such good
condition. Prices Of the trees ranged
from so cents to $40.
Wreaths in Supply.
Wreaths of various sizes and Diff
ferently made, some suggestive Of the
work Of artists and others having no
attractive feature, were offered from
10 cents to so cents, the general run
of them selling around is cents and
IS cents. Bunches Of holly sold at
various prices, from q few cents to q
dollar or more, while holly trees sold
as high as $40.
Moss, used years ago for Christmas
tree gardens, was not much in evidence
very few persons any longer using it,
1t was suggested by both dealers and
consumers this morning that there
trees and other evergreens left on
hand at the close Of the holiday mar
ket. The discarded trees probably will
provide fuel for bonfire.
Everything from a bunch Of onions
to a 25-pound turkey was to be found
on the market benches, dealers being
able to meet demands Of consumers
for anything in the line Of food.
Poultry dealers had plentiful supplies
keats, squads, rabbits and . few i'm
ported pheasants.
Turkeys were not much in demand,
however. Prices Of poultry covered q
wide range, size and quality Of the sup
plies governing the price. CaponS, Of
fered around so cents pound, were
in fair demand, the demand for keats,
usually heavy at this season, being
! light. although pricNo we're lower than
| usual.
Fruit and vegetable supplies were
more attractive than ever. Dealers had
immense quantities Of all varieties Of
both fruits and vegetables to be had
| at this season and supplies were ar
ranged to the best possible advantage.
Celery and cranberries, both In demand
to be served with the Christmas dinner,
proved good sellers.
| mo Christmas dinner Is complete
| without cranberries and celery" OBJ
served q dealer, land consumers VIII be
able to get all the supplies needed.
| Cranberries are not so plentiful. put
there will be enough to supply demand
at 20 and IS cents quart, slightly
higher thon usual.
| Celery" he added, "is plentiful ana
cheap. being received chiefly from Cali
fornia and New York. There Is plenty
heart celery to be had at ana 10
cents, stalks of the heavy celery sell.
ing at 10 and IS cents
! Fruit Receipts.
tra large navel oranges, product
3California, was one Of the attractions
IN the fruit market, some large Florida
STOCK also attracting attention. The
large fruit sold anywhere from so cents
70 81 . dozen, smaller fruit selling
mucn cheaper. Tangerines were SELL