Christmas Tree Selection For many families, selection and purchase of a fresh tree is an annual tradition. Ever since the first tree lot was set up in New York City in 1851, many different species of Christmas trees are grown and sold in Pennsylvania. Select a fresh, fragrant, and affordable Christmas tree this season, the two most popular ways to purchase a Christmas tree is at a retail lot or choose and-cut-farm. 54' x 14' x 90' Deluxe Medline Storage Facility Raised Chord Itch Sysla 7'B" 08-Caler • 1-24’ x 15’6" AlumaSlcet" Sliding Double End Door • l-22'6' \ 14 AlumaSlcel' Sliding Double Sidedoor •13 x 6‘8'91009-Lilc KYNAR 500' Insulated Walkdoor •2-4 \ A 9 Lite Insulated Sliding Windows with Screens and Shutters • 8 Skylights • 2 V6' x V 6" Cupolas (no lans) • I Vented Sidewall Oserhangs • 2' Gable Overhangs • Continuous Ridge Ventilation System • Exterior Hi-Rib Steel Wainscot wi'h Interior Protective Liner • Revolutionary FLUOROFLEX 2000' Roof Paint System • Premium KYNAR 500'/HYLAR 5000' Sidewall Pami Sysiem • 50-Year Snowload Warranty. No Weigh! Limn • 50-Year Warraniy on Laminated Columns and Treated Lumber • 20-Year Paml Warranty Including Red Rusl • 10-Year Wind Warranty' on Doors. No Velocity Limit • 5-Year Wind Warranty on Building. No Velocity Limit • 5-Year Warranty Against Roof Leakage • Heavy-Gauge Aluminum Cullers and Downspouts • Free Morion Weather Vane * (VAt k»' Prfpan Mr i* inUtl o*CTrtr Wit Jliwan II IWawlrmiu aS«t»*« n«)> (ttnK AlUwmtHniitakßßlfnah anlMu mitn Mfnrtnl hlk ’ nl (* ,ir um.f Cuyitncr mu-4protuk aMk pvpantltnM>«m BuitJtnp< I* S«r Spurniii* hvm H*a(n ik»J «k »nhi«u(iikrrmt»J.Mfuii.«)«dfwiHirih n \k«*« fVtmry I («Rlftvl A.nnfcin rlrvarii« WNwWffnpmlJmriMVl im hfiMnm after IVitfflfvr t after llkmKt M m aid (mh>Mn MIW Sih mit r f lTi r l -da«lapr»...xJhv».«hum»(««Bu'U">r h January Miw mn ntnan k> SAR vir Tnkrwiof Mf Ah dun. '•A in LAR VUII* Tmk-nurt t* Aiwnwi I'S A UIOROUKX SW j*lAtum»Sk\r TrakiiurU.* tain BoiMim' lih Retail lots are temporary lots set up in shopping centers, dis count stores, service stations, fire halls and fairgrounds. On retail lots, check for tree fresh ness. Freshness greatly influ ences how well trees hold their needles and the fragrance they produce in your home. Choose-and-Cut Farms, called tree plantations, provide Christmas trees right at the farm. Most farmers have areas of rows of trees marked for har vest. As a consumer, look at all /MwOmTheImjzw W/pf 800-447-7436 ** rr, 7 f ; MORTON WWW.mortonbuildin2S.Coim |®vP^ O O 1991 Morton Buildmif. Inc the trees before selecting one to cut. The trees are cut and hauled out of the field for you. At many farms, it is possible to pre tag a tree earlier in the season and then go out at Christmastime and harvest it. Purchase a live, balled-and burlapped Christmas tree for use in the landscape. Purchase living Christmas trees at retail lots, choose-and-cut farms, and may nurseries and garden cen ters. Different spices of Christmas trees are normally sold in Pennsylvania. Popular tree species include Eastern White pine, Fraser Fir, Concolor Fir, Scotch Pine, Norway Spruce, White Spruce, Douglas Fir, Blue Spruce, Balsam Fir, Canaan Fir, Southwestern White Fir and others. These trees can be divid ed into two groups: short-nee dled, spruces and firs and the long-needled pines. Each Christmas tree species has different growth character istics. These include needle color, needle length, growth rate '.M 48' x 13' x 75' Macbine Storage Facill Raised Cbord Trass System IT On-Cente • 124 x I4’6’ Wood Sliding Double End Door • l-t x fi'8"9100 KYNAR “SOO' Insulated Walkdoor (no glass) • 4 Skylights • Protective Polyester Root and Sidewall Paint System • Premium KYNAR SOO7IIYLAR 5000' Trim Paint System • SO Year Snow livid Warranty No Weight limn • SO Year Warranty on laminated Columns and Treated I tiniher • S Year Wind Warranty No Velocity Limit • S Year Warranty Against Rool I cakagc • Heavy Gauge Aluminum Gutters and Downspouts • Free Morton Weather Vane Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, December 12, 1998-B5 and shape. The ideal Christmas tree would have good needle holding ability, an attractive color, a full bushy appearance, a conical symmetrical shape, a pleasing fragrance and branches sturdy enough to hold orna ments. Choose the right variety and size depending on where in the house the tree will be kept. Most standard rooms will easily accommodate a 7-foot tree; how ever, some rooms with cathedral ceilings can accommodate a much larger tree. On may lots and farms, trees are priced according to height. Some sellers also offer table-top trees, which are relatively inex pensive and many be a good alternative for a small apart ment, dorm room etc. No matter what type of tree you select, purchase a tree that was recently cut. A fresh tree has a healthy, green appearance without a large number of dead or browning needles. Needles should appear fresh and flexible and should not come off in your J Equestrian International i jA 11 6 Kings Court Industrial Park A. fl P.O. Box 422, New Holland, PA 17557 { 1 717-354-4822 • 1-800-347-0033 [ j ED WV Contndort Ucemt hand if you gently stroke a branch. A useful trick is to lift a cut tree a couple of inches off the ground and let it drop on the cut butt. Green needles should not drop off the tree. A few dried, inner needles may fall, but cer tainly the outer, green needles should not be affected. Popular Christmas Tree Type Fraser Fir: Very soft needles, 1/2" to 1" long, shiny bright dark green above and silvery white below, very fragrant and popu lar, high priced. White Spruce; Stiff needles, light blue-green in color, 1/3" to 3/4" long surrounding the twig, grows dense. White Fir or Concolor fir: needles 1 1/2" to 2" long, soft needles vary from silvery-blue to silvery-green, citrus aroma. Douglas-Fir: Not a true fir, needles 3/4" to 1 1/4" long, green to blue green, occur in two rows along the twig, very fragrant and popular, medium to high priced. Scotch Pine: A two-needled pine with the twisted, stiff 2" to 2 1/2" needles, holds color well, ' 0 ' dark green to blue-green nee dles, lower priced Eastern White Pine: Needles are green to blue-green, 2" to 4" long in groups of 5, medium priced. Any questions can be directed to Thomas S. Becker, Horticultural Agent, Penn State Cooperative Extension, York County (717) 840-7408 or Email at Yorkmg@psu.edu.