—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 15,1979
12
MEDIA During the next
week thousands of Delaware
County families will be going
through the annual ritual rf
trying to select the Christ
mas tree, one that will come
somewhere near meeting the
approval of each member of
the family. In many
households there are great
differences of opinion on
what special of Christmas
tree is most attractive, says
James J. McKeehen,
Delaware County Extension
Agricultural Agent Some
like pine, some spruce, and
other fir. For families who
wish to choose their tree on
the basis of species and other
information, the following
facts will be helpful:
Pines have needles
grouped in clusters, each
cluster of needles being
wrapped in a sheath.
Scotch pine has two
needles to the cluster,
ranging from Vk to Vh in.
long.
American red pine and
Austrian pine have two
needles per cluster, but the
needles range from three to
five inches long.
White pine is easy to
identify because it always
has five needles in a group
and it is the only pine that
falls in this category.
All pines bold their needles
well.
Balsam fir and douglas fir
are found in local markets.
Canadian or New England
balsam is most common.
Douglas is usually grown
Tips for Christmas
tree shopping
locally. Firs have flat
needles ranging from one
half to an inch and V* long.
Needles can’t be rolled
between the thumb and
finger. Fir trees hold their
needles well when fresh and
set in water.
Spruce trees have four
sided needles. They can be
rolled between thumb and
finger. All species of spruce
are attractive. Spruces do
not bold their needles as long
as pine or firs.
No matter what the
species of tree that you
select you should care for it
for a good appearance and
safety’s sake. Here are some
tips on how to maintain good
tree color, reduce needle
drop, and keep the tree moist
and more resistant to fire.
When you bring your tree
home from the market,
place it in a bucket of water
outdoors or in a cool place
until you are ready to
decorate it. Exposure to
snow or rain won’t hurt it but
heat will dry it out and cause
the needles to drop early.
When you’re ready to
bring it indoors, make a
fresh cut across the trunk
about an inch above the
original (Hie. The tree will
absorb more water.
Place the tree in a con
tainer or tree holder filled
with water. Never place the
tree near a fireplace.
Keep the cut surface
covered with water at all
times. A tree in a warm
room may use a pint of water
a day. The larger the con
tainer the fewer tunes you
have to fill it.
The United States Forest
Products Laboratory in
vestigated the benefits of
fire-retardant chemicals on
Christmas trees and con
cluded that keeping the tree
standing in water is about
the most practical,
satisfactory, and convenient
method for reducing fire
hazards and preventing the
needles from discoloring and
falling. However, if you want
to go one step further and it
gives you peace of mind to
know you’re exercising
every precaution against
fire hazards, here’s a simple
formula to spray on your
tree and Christmas greens.
Mix nine parts by volume
of sodium silicate (water
glass), which you can buy at
most drugstores, with one
part of water containing a
laundry detergent. Use
about one teaspoon of the
detergent for each quart of
water. You can apply the
solution by using a garden
sprayer, vacuum cleaner or
paint sprayer, or you can dip
whatever you want
protected in the solution.
A heavy coating is
necessary to reduce the fire
hazard. One coat will help
keep the flames from
spreading. Two coats are
even better. If you use a
sprayer, thin the mixture by
adding more water but be
sure to apply more of the
solution.
Dair
Garner P. Mitchell. Potter County Extension Director, told farmers at the Host
Farm, Lancaster, that the key to dairy profits was increasing return over feed
cost. He was part of a program celebrating the 30th anniversary of Harvestore,
Inc. and the 15th anniversary of the Penn Jersey store.
Christmas gifts from Penn State
UNIVERSITY PARK -
Christmas gift ideas are
among the maps and
guidebooks available from
the College of Agriculture, at
Penn State. Among the most
popular are Birds of Penn
sylvania, Winemaking as a
Hobby, and the Stream Map
of the Commonwealth.
Mail orders should be sent
no later than December 12 to
assure delivery before
Christmas. To pick up copies
on campus, stop at room 234
of the Agricultural Ad
ministration Building at
University Park.
The Stream Map of
Pennsylvania shows over
3000 each of streams, towns,
and elevations above sea
level. Names of major
mountains and valleys are
men attend seminar
included as are locations of
forest fire control towers
operated by the Com
monwealth. Locations of
swamps, lakes, dams, and
reservoirs are shown.
The Stream Map is about
three feet high and five feet
long. It is available either
flat or folded. The flat map
appeals to persons wishing
to mount them neatly on
walls of homes and cabins.
The Stream Map costs
$1.06, tax included, from
Stream Map, Box 6000
University Park, Pa. 16802.
Requests should state
whether a flat or folded map
is desired.
Checks or money orders
should be made payable to
The Pennsylvania State
University.
Birds of Pennsylvania,
revised this year, describes
the 381 species reported
normally in the Com
monwealth. A paperback
volume, it includes 186 pen
and-ink drawings of the most
common species in the State.
A calendar of birdlife tells
what may be expected in
each month. The guidebook
lists abundance, seasonal
occurrence, habits and
status changes, and general
breeding and wintering
ranges.
Birds of Pennsylvania is
available for $2.12, tax in
cluded, by writing to Birds,
Box 6000, University Park,
Pa. 16802. Make checks or
money orders payable to The
Pennsylvania State
University.