Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-21

larger cities and the gradual deple-
ton Of the natural supply Of such
trees near the cities has produced
the Christmas tree farm, where yoUmg
evergreenS are grown by the thousands 60
make merry hearts at Christmastime. wash-
ington homes need about $4,000 of these trees
every year. Although many are shipped from
New England by rail or hauled here by truck
from Virginia and North Carolina, cutie an
industry has grown mp around Fairfax, Va,
for the production Il hOme-gr trees for
the local market
In most cases growing Christmas trees b
merely side line 1Of the farmer or nursery
man, but Dr. Augustus Stabler and his son
Henry, vino live near FAIRFAX, have gone into
the business In earnest. six years. ago they
bought . small tract of land On which they
planned 70 establish q nursery. The land Was
covered with . heavy growth Of young pines,
so they decided 10 sen these as Christmas trees
to help pay the expense Of clearing the land
This experience opened their eyes to the pussi-
bfiities u Cawistmas-tEeA farming.
The Stablers found that they could not net
more than about a5o salable trees from an acre
Of the scrub pines growing IN the natural ssasos
The same land planted 10 Norway spruce CT
better tree than the pine could be made to Rrvw
5000 trees.
A 8 soon as their hand YVES ready to plant shsy
bought 19yOOo young seedlings Of NeEway
spruce from the Virginia State forester. xhe
trees we're planted I'm rows four feet wide ana
three feet apart in taae row. After waiting sw
i've years they now have y nne harvsse oe
young Norway spruce trees. On another Mot
they have 3,000 young trees OF Fraser Or, c0a-
lected from the mountains OF western N0rsh
Carolina
Over nc OaktUn. small village near FAIRFAX.
number Of farmers and nurserymen are sxys
ing sman crops OF Christmas trees Tor the local
market. w. r. Cray has been growing ever.
greens for the Christmas trade for the pas&
few years and says that he has sold them an
Washington for enc last two years at sat1sfac-
tory prices.
Mr.. Gray apecia1izss on living Christmas
trees. An Of his trees are dug carefully with
BAN Of earth about the roots. Then they are
placed In tubs, where they can continue grow.
ing until planting time I'm early Spring. Tlaere
is growing demand for living trees for
Christmas. Within recent years the small
sizes from two 30 three feet taI have become
very popular for table trees. Even with the
larger trees many people are willing 10 pay 1cr
the extra Labor involved IN DIGGING and packing
in tubs 80 they can have the tree to plant.
FARMERS and nurSeryTnen who grow trees for
the local market md that their trees always
demand higher price than those shipped IN
from long distances, because they are freSher
and present better appearance. Some Of tho
farmers get orders before they dig or cut their
trees, so that any stock not sold may be left
growing until the following year.
Charles II. Walleigh, superintendent OF
Center Market, estimates that about 70 per
cent Of Washingt0ns supply Of Christmas trees
comes from Virginia and North Carolina, ana
Is made up chiefly Of scrub pines and cedaxs.
The ether 30 Per cent comes from New England
and Canada end N mainly spruce.
ST>HE ideal Christmas tree, says r. H. Eyre oR
- the Forest Service, should be symmetrical.
with dense ConfCai crown: It should be frAe-
rant and retain its foliage in warm room.
And, Of course the limbs should be strong
enough 20 support xae decorations The suruces
and true alrS combine most OF these qualities.
problem which b causing much concsxn
among residents Of nearby Virginia Is how 20
protect their evUrgreens from people who drive
over IN cars and help themselves 30 anything
IN sight. The Virginians feel that most OF this
Is done by Washington residents, and NO Doubt
they are correct IN This belief. n. b. Derr
county farm agent IN Fairfax County, tells q
some very unpleasant experiences Of residents
in the vicinity OE FAIRFAX. few years ago o
holly tree In nSlgRhUF.s yard was FUN ~ ber-
ries and the owner had to put I'D . hardware
enlargement around tine tree 70 save It frum
vandals out looking eUr Christmas 0ecUEu&auns
Perhaps the worst case Of tRais Kind happened
O year or sWo 500 when maxauders eutered o
cemetery m TINS seCstcn and stripped tne
branches fsom holly tree. AGr. Der snSs the