Christmas trees are often shipped long distances before they reach their destination. Usually they are cut several weeks before Christmas. Some of these trees travel more than 2,000 miles before they adorn the home of the purchaser. Montana trees may travel as far as Oklahoma. Texas or California. In fact, in 1955, Montana shipped trees to 27 states and Cuba.

I saw spruce from Maine in a market stand in New Orleans. Montana is producing over three million trees annually for the Christmas trade. It is estimated that over 25 million Christmas trees were produced in 1955 in the United States. Douglas fir and Balsam fir far outnumber other species in the numbers of Christmas trees marketed at the present time.

Naturally, persons who can go out and harvest their own can be assured of securing a fresh tree. Many have to purchase their trees from a sales yard. When bringing your tree home, place it in a cool shaded place as soon as possible and plunge the butt or bottom end into a container of water.

Water absorption is improved if an inch or so of the bottom of the end of the tree is removed. In making the cut, the diagonal cut is preferred. One will soon realize that a considerable quantity of water will be taken up by the tree, so one will have to see that the water is replenished daily.

Most species of evergreen contain quantities of pitch and resin in the leaves, branches, and trunks. If the tree used for decoration is very dry it can be an extremely dangerous fire hazard. Everything should be done to keep the tree as fresh and green as possible. Avoid placing trees where there might be an open flame. Use electrical equipment. that is free of wear and fraying and don’t overload electrical circuits. Do not use any kind of flammable decorations on the tree. Many of the chemical fire retardants so far tried have not been too satisfactory. Placing the butt end of the tree in a pail of water still seems to be the best bet.

Kent Higgins shares his vast knowledge at www.plant-care.com. It is time to remove the clouds of doubt on the topic of care of tropical house plants.