Making a Green Christmas 3

In winter, with its branches weighted down with snow, it is far more lovely than any man-made decorations of the season. And to walk in a grove of old hemlocks at any time of the year is a moving spiritual experience. The needles are a beautiful dark green, desirable and suitable for Christmas, but they drop so soon indoors that decorations in which they are used often grow shabby before they have been fully enjoyed.

Pines (Pinus) are not very popular for Christmas trees, though they are used in some parts of the country. The white pine and the Austrian are probably the most satis­factory. Red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) and arborvitae (Thuja) are seldom used, except in sections where they grow wild.

Many people like to trim living trees, which are cer­tainly most attractive. Some gardeners can point with pride to trees that have celebrated a Merry Christmas and lived for many years more to add beauty to a home's surroundings. The spruces (Picea) are preferable for this purpose. The Norway spruce is least desirable, but also the least expensive in most localities. Indoors it is im­portant to give living trees plenty of water so that they will not die soon after they are planted in the open.

So much for the choice and care of the tree. For wreaths and cut branches there is also a good selection of ever­greens. Yew (Taxus) is a rich dark green, similar to hem­lock, but more rigid. It does not shed its needles. Of the pines, the white, Scotch and yellow are the most popular. They are valuable for sprays and to work in among other evergreens of heavier texture and darker shades.

They keep their needles well. The colors vary; one of the most useful is the white pine, a blue green which adds a light and airy look to other greens in wreaths and displays.

Arborvitae (Thuja), the junipers (Juniperus) and false-cypress (Chamaecyparis) may be had in many varieties. Chamaecyparis pisifera squarrosa is desirable for its color and feathery effect. There are other hues available in. these greens—dark green, blue-green, yellowish or golden. The false cypress has the advantage of being easier to handle than the prickly spruces and junipers.

Making a Green Christmas part4

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