Sudden t Ghrtstenson

Lsnbor end thlpplng

7th Floor. Alaska-Commercial Bldg.' AGBNTS

Amicrn Mill C.o.

Hoquirnr Lunbcc A Shind. Co.

Hdb.ft Mill Co.

!9ilhpr Hubo. f,rrrnb.. Millt

LOS ANGETBS

610 Bo.sd of Tradc Blfu

310 Sanromc Strcct, San Franciro silSAMBns

Abordlo' VrS. Ry&r Henify Hoquilq Vrrh, Docothy C.rhill Abrodrro, Vrrb. Jrnc Chrirtroroo tryrnood, WrrL Chrrtc. Chriaoroo Biltch OEsr

SEATTLE

Nationd Baak of Cornnaa Bldg.

Annic Cbrilrora

Bdril Chrioon e,lthcrin G. Sudd.o Elcrnor Chrfutcom

PORTI.AND

200 Heory Bldg.

Christmas Tree Demand in U. S. About Ten Million Per Year

The cutting, transportation and sale of Christmas trees in the United States has become a substantial business worth several million dollars yearly, with imports of trees from Canada constituting an annual part of our trade with that country, the Forest Pnoducts Division of the Commerce Department rePorted todaY.

Writing in the current issue of Domestic Oommerce Weekly, Joseph Muller of the Division, points out while some householders still prefer to cut their own trees for the holiday season, the marketing and purchase of Christmas trees has grown perceptibly in recent years. The demand for trees in the United States is estimated at about 10 million per year. Canada, with its vast resources of suitable stock, has been supplying an incre'asing number of trees in past years, and at present supplies approximately half of our annual commercial requirement.

Farmers are now realizing that marginal parts of their land can be depended upon for a cash crop of trees each year, and fbresters recognize the Yuletide season as a boon to the economic practice of forestry-provided trees are cut without excessive waste and in such manner as to keep the land continuously productive.

In eastern cities the balsam fir is easily the most popular tree. This species accounts for 60 per cent of the total Christmas demand. Spruce is the choice of around 25 per cent of purchasers, and Douglas fir follows with 10 per cent of the demand. The latter tree (produced primarily in the states of Washington and Oregon) almost invariably well formed and characterized by close, densd foliage, is especially popular on the Pacific slope' Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and New York State, ship their trees by rail and by truck to New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington and other important eastern markets' From Michigan, Wis- consin and Minnesota come trees destined for markets in Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis and other large cities of the Middle West. Trees from Oregon, Washington and California find markets on the Pacific Coast and are shipped as far south as Tuscon, Arizona, and Austin, Texas.

Canadiatr trees are sold exclusively in the large eastern and mid-eastern cities. New York City is the outstanding market for Canadian trees, requiring about 250 carloads annually. Canadian shippers have been supplying this market with about two-thirds of its requirements. Boston, Philadelphia, Detroit and Chicago are other major market centers for Canadian trees. British Columbia exports to the larger cities on the Pacific Coast as far south as Los Angeles.

Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador supply the American market with 4 to 5 million Christmas trees annually. Few Canadian trees are shipped to other countries.

Surveys indicate little or no foreign demand for American trees. In central and northern European countries, where Christmas trees are commonly used, the demand is met largely from domestic supplies.

In Australia the weather at Christmas time is comparable with our hottest summer months, and for this reason, many people are normally vacationing. There is no elaborate celebration as is the custom in the United States, and the small demand for trees is readily taken care of by local nurserymen who can supply native 'pine and fir. Artificial trees imported from Germany were formerly used.

The custom of decorating the evergreen tree at the Yuleti'de season is limited in many foreign countries to families with American and central and northern European traditions.

Quarantine regulations in effect in many countries further discourage international trade in Christmas trees.

The !(/a nderer

I hear the joy bells ringing Under the winter sky, And sounds of lilting laughter As the gay crowds hurry by; And, "Merry Christmas !" they're calling Wherever I chance to roam, But Christmas isn't so merry To a man who has no home.

I see the bright lights shining From rvindows I'm peering through, And Christmas trees all gleaming With toys that are fine and new; And my ears are listening, listening, To many a happy plan; But Christmas isn't so happy To a weary and hungry man.

I see the red, red holly, I hear .the church bells ring, And I think of the star and the angels, And the little new born king; Perhaps He knows I am lonely And homeless on this His night, I wish He would come and show me The way, the truth and the light.

Perhaps He will bear my burden Of sorrow, and sin and dread, For He, too, was a wanderer With no place to lay His head. But this is a dream I'm thinking, A tale that has once been told, And it wasn't meant for an outcast Who is hungry, and lonely and cold.

-A. Merriam Conner.

APPOINTED LONG BEACH DISTRIBUTOR FOR FIR.TEX

Fir-Tex Co. of Southern California announces the appoint_ ment of J. W. Black Co, 750 W. Anaheim Blvd., Long Beach, as their new distributor in the Long Beach area. They will carry a complete line of Fir-Tex insulating mate_ rials for wholesale and retail distribution.

R. F. Kreisler, factory representative, will be working in the Long Beach territory in conjunction with J. W. Black Co.