B2—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, Decambar 17,19»3
BY ROBIN PHILLIPS
Staff Correspondent
Christmas trees are big business
in Schuylkill County and the
growers there are determined to
let everyone know of the top
quality of their live trees. Although
there are many part-time growers
in the county with a few acres of
trees, there are several growers
who have turned their businesses
into full-time occupations for
them, and for over 10 employees
during the Christmas season.
“They’re quality growers,”
George Perry, Schuylkill County
Extension Agent, stated. “They’re
proud of their product. It’s a
pleasure to work with these people,
and they’re willing to work with
you,” Perry explained that the
Burt Bachert stands in front of his trees. He boai - con
tinual customers for 30 years and said he always runs short of
Bill Omler shows the seeds for the Christmas trees.
"Here’s where they start,” he said. At Omlers, seedlings are
also graded for size and quality and only the best are planted.
Christmas Trees Year-Round Business for Schuylkill Farmers
growers of the 2500 plus acres of
Christmas trees are continually
striving for healthy, growthy trees.
Last year, Pennsylvania was
second only to New York in the
number of trees planted. There
were over eight million trees
planted in Pennsylvania alone and
only one million harvested. Tree
growers are very conscientious
about replanting, and predictions
are that it is this replanting that
will give the best crop in history
this season.
“The thing that makes the
Christmas tree unique is that it is
purchased once a year,” stated
Roger Tobias, Rl, Pine Grove. A
past president of the Pennsylvania
Christmas tree Growers
Association, Tobias is in-
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Workmen were busy "baling trees” at
tree in twine to prevent any breakage to
cut, the branches flare out just as if taken
strumental in publicising his in
dustry statewide and nationally.
He has been featured in Newsweek
as well as the major publications of
his industry. A delegate to the
Pennsylvania Farm Bureau on the
Agricultural Nursery and
Greenhouse Crops Committee, and
currently serving on the Board of
Directors of the Pa. Christmas
Tree Growers Association, Tobias
constantly tries to educate
homeowners on the proper
selection and care of their tree.
In referring to the fire hazard
publicity, a live tree often
generates in the news, Tobias
stated. “The record shows that
there have been more fires caused
by the artificial trees (shorting
out) than by any other. The quality
tree grower wUI not cut his trees
until there has been sufficient
rain.” Tobias explained that this
keeps the trees fresh for the
homeowner.
This year the growers admitted
they are running late for the
Christinas season since the rains
came late. “It’s (the weather)
hurting us badly and I don’t think
the trend is going to change,”
Tobias said.
Bill Fetherolf, manager of
Pioneer Evergreen Farms, Rl,
Orwigsburg, echoed the same
complaints.
“We’re having everything
against us,” he stated, explaining
that with the drought many
seedlings were lost and now at the
harvesting season the weather is
too warm. “There’s too much
temperature contrast,” he con
tinued. “We try to monitor our
quality and watch the freshness of
the tree,” he stated.
Pioneer Evergreen Farm is
owned by Fetherolf s mother and
his uncle, Glenn Kimmel. They
retail and wholesale their trees,
selling between six and nine
thousand trees a year. Started in
1943 by his father, Fetherolf stated
that he was bom and raised around
Christmas trees. He stated,
“People are more quality con
scious. “They never realized they
(the trees) were of such high
quality.”
Fetherolf and Tobias gave the
following recommendations for
caring for live trees:
1. In selecting the tree, bend the
needles. If they bend instead of
break, you have a fresh tree.
2. Keep your tree outside and
cold until ready to decorate.
3. “Treat your live Christmas
tree as you would cut flowers,”
Tobias stated. Make a fresh cut in
the trunk and place in fresh water.
They may drink two quarts or
more a day. Keep the base of the
tree immersed in water. “Once the
water has gone below the butt on
: Omler's farm. A machine is
the limbs when it is shipped,
i from the field.
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Several of the growers advocated the “Stand-Straight"
system for setting up the trees. Bill Omler demonstrates how
it works. The tree is aligned and a hole is drilled in the trunk.
The tree is placed on a peg in the stand and automatically
stands straight.
the tree, it’s too late,” Tobias
states. “The tree has sealed it
self.” But he adds that if properly
watered, as long as the tree keeps
drawing water, it will be fire
resistant.
4. Check your lights and wiring
for worn spots and cracks. Take
care not to overload the electric
circuits. Use common sense and
keep wax candles and open flames
away from your tree. Lights should
Vfcmesiead
tMcies
used to wrap the
After the twine is
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not be left on when you are not at
home.
5. Do not decorate your tree with
cotton, paper, or other materials
that burn readily.
Bill Omler, Christmas tree
grower, Rl, Schuylkill Haven,
said, “I’m not worried about the
competition from Pennsylvania,
I’m worried about- it in other
states.”
(Turn to Page B 4)