yf /. 17:tf1/3 y P-H n ®MW>MW |S.NOV 1977 S^ LLtfi. ,J;£ u.s. depository ^sr. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE HOME AND PREPARED BY GARDEN BULLETIN FOOD SAFETY NUMBER 189 AND QUALITY SERVICE A CHRISTMAS TREE The tradition of a decorated Christmas tree in the United States may date back to the Revo- lutionary War, when homesick Hessian troops cut and decorated fir trees as was their German custom. Since then, the Christmas tree — with its forest fragrance and freshness — has come to represent the Yule season. It is the mainstay of both indoor and outdoor holiday decorations. Today, selecting the perfect Christmas tree is one of the highlights of many families' pre- holiday preparations. Choosing a tree that is "just right" for you will be easier if you know what species you are looking for, the different features that indicate a good tree, and how to select and maintain freshness. Species Practically all species of evergreens are used for Christmas trees, although some are more popular and are in greater supply than others. No one species can be considered the best all- round Christmas tree, for each has its own indi- vidual characteristics. Although people in some areas of the country have a preference for a cer- tain species, there are five that are most widely grown and sold. Each one is not available to con- sumers in every part of the country. ' A V - ' The Balsam fir has short, flat dark green needles, usually rounded at the tips. The needles are arranged feather-like on grayish, finely hairy twigs. The tiny twigs grow at right angles to each branch, resembling crosses (perhaps a rea- son for their popularity at Christmas), and the rounded bud tips are coated with a waxy pitch. When cones are present on the Balsam fir, they are attached upright to the branch and are 2 to 3 inches long. They are purple and often resinous. The bark of the Balsam fir is gray or brown, thin and quite smooth — often with many resin blisters. Note: Sketches of trees were provided by the Forest Service. Another short needled fir, the Douglas fir has needles that are attached around the twig in- stead of in the feather-like arrangement of the Balsam fir. The needles are short-stalked, soft and pliable and are dark yellow-green or blue-green. While most true fir trees have rounded blunt buds, as you will find in the Balsam fir, the Douglas has reddish-brown buds that narrow at the tip into a sharp point. The cones make identification of the Douglas fir very easy, for they hang downward with long 3-toothed leaf-like bracts sticking out conspicu- ously beyond the tips of the thin, rounded cone scales. These light brown cones are from 2 to 4 inches long. The bark of the tree is dark or reddish brown. • i w8m - ■ * 5 '& It usually is easy to identify an Eastern Red- cedar because its characteristics are so different from the other Christmas tree species. The Red- cedar has extremely short, dark blue-green, scale- like leaves. However, the leading shoots bear needle-like leaves almost half an inch long and the leafy twigs are rounded or four-angled and slender. Like its western cousin, the juniper, the Red- cedar bears berry-like fruit. The small round berries are dark blue and the bark of the tree is reddish-brown and fibrous. ^