Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 15, 1963)
2 B SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15, 13 MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE, MEDFORD, OREGON Christmas Tree Cutting Rewarding Family Event "Christmas tree, Oh, Christ mas tree, how lovely are thy branches" is sung from coast to coast this time of year. And whether the branches visualized are pine, fir, hem lock or cedar depends to a great extent upon the state in which the singer spent his early child hood, Rogue River National For est Service personnel pointed out this week, discussing the cutting of family Christmas trees as it is carried out in this forest. For the choice of tree, like all other traditions associated with Christmas, reverts to the home. In Oregon, family Christmas tree pickers are granted their choice, D. F. Reiser, timber sales officer for the Rogua Riv er National Forest Service, stated, but 90 per cent ort the Rogue River National , Forest choose firs, he noted. , , The ranger from Pennsylva nia wants a Norway pine. The man from Virginia a sugar pine. The Oklahoman will ask for an incense cedar. This season, in California, Christmas tree vend ors are pushing lodge pole pines. Favored on Coast The lodge pole pine is also favored on the Oregon coast, or was a few years ago, accord ing to Kciscr, who was stationed in the Siu.slaw forest when he observed that to many people in the Rccdsport and Florence areas it was the lodge pole pine "that had the smell ot Christ mas." Christmas lice gathering on the Rogue River National For est, where commercial sales were a matter of course a few years ago, is limited this year to families and organizations, such as Boy Scouts, who sell trees to help finance a com munity project. Last year there were 4,190 trees cut on the Rogue River Forest. Of this total approxi mately 2,0(10 were cut as family Christmas trees. By Dec. 12, 10112, Keiscr said, there had been 1,500 trees cut, most of them from the Union Creek Ranger district which always leads in sales because it Is the land of the firs, particularly the "silver lips." The most favored tree in this area is the silver-tipped fir. Last week end Phil Gilman, forester in charge of Christmas tree cutting on the Union Creek district, reported 350 trees cut. This week end will probably bo the biggest in Christmas tiec sales, (the families pay $1 for each tree) Reiser said, hut there will still he people wanting to go into the woods for. a Christ mas lire the last Sunday before ne noi:dny, ucc. Ti. A Family Project ' This Christmas tree culling is a lamily project and a reward ing one in the opinion of for esters. Reiser said he planned to lake his own family out for a tree today. He expects the highways to be lined with park ed cars and the woods to be filled wilh men, women and children in search of the frag rant evergreens, without which Christmas just isn't Christmas to many people The trees are being sold on four ranger districts. There are rangers on duly to direct the Christmas trco seekers into the most accessible areas on the Butte Falls, Prospect and Ash land as well as the Union Creek Ranger Districts. Few people have been lost in pursuit of Christmas trees in the Rogue River Forest hut it is one of the hnzimts rangers must guard acainsl. One Family l.nM Last year, Reiser said, one Mcriford family was lost while Christmas tree cutting on the Union Creek Ranger District. This section, foresters believe. Is the one in the Rohue River Natioii .. forest cutting region where there is the most likeli hood of persons becoming lost. Therefore, a program has been designed to thwart this possi bility, Reiser explained. I h e cutting region is divided into sections and the man in charge asks each person in search of a tree which section he plans to enter. Each person or family going into the woods is required to register and to report in upon leaving the district. The last Sunday before Christ mas last year dark descended wkh one party still in the woods. Rangers went out on an inspec tion tour and found the car on the highway at the point spe cified but no sign of the owner and his small children. The rangers fanned out into the woods and about 10 p.m. found the man and his small children definitely lost. They helped car ry children and tree back to the car for him and got the family on Its way to Medford and a Merry Christmas. Snow Hampers Cutting Silver-tinned firs are found on the Ashland Ranger District al so, but snow often hampers the cutting there, more than it docs in the Union Creek area, Reiser said. There was snow last week at the 3,000 foot elevation, so a sled may be a useful piece of equipment on the Christmas tree cutting jaunt today. Christmas tree cutting can be damaging where a reforesta tion program is under way or in an area where there are just enough trees to insure the proper number reaching maturity. For this reason the cutting on forests is controlled and some private areas that are understocked have bech posted against cut ling. Trees are still sold commer cially occasionally when there is an area that has to be cleared for some reason such as estab lishment of an access road, Reiser explained. Then t h e Roguo River National Forest calls for bids. This process also is used on some timber sales where it is known that logging will damage the young trees. They are sold as Christmas trees to commercial buyers if the timing can be worked out satisfactorily. Accepted Number From CO to loo trees per acre is accepted as the best number In he brnughl into maturity so this usually leaves leeway for considerable Christmas tree cut ting, Reiser said. When he was on the Zigzag Ranger District nt the Ml. Hood National Forest, Christmas trees were sold by the lens of thousands to Port- landers. Back in 1041 when the Rogue River National Forest Service was encouraging the commer cial movement of trees, par- licularly the Shasta firs (silver- tipped Lnristmas trees) sales brought in $4,550 for 13.000 trees. The previous year the forest had sold 3,000 silver tipped firs for $1,730. To illustrate the value of this particular tree on the Christmas market a comparison was made with sales on other forests. That same year the Olympic National Forest sold ll.iillO trees for $597. The one silver-tipped fir which brought Ihc most money during five years of soiling was pur chased by movie stars ( o r a Christmas party on shipboard. They paid $200 for Ihc tree. Individuals drmv Trees Now, many individuals are growing firs f o r Christinas trees. One of the smallest acreages is in the I able Rock district where Robert W. (Rob) Sage principal of Mcdford's Roose velt School, is growing Christ mas trees on two acres as a hobby. His planting was under the Soil Conservation program, which specifies that the trees be Wr-v : u troop Z wl 1 1 SCOUTS SELL TREES -For those people who can't go into the Rogue River National Forest to choose their Christmas trees, Boy Scouts of Troop 2, under di rection of Dick Swan, Scoutmas ter, and H. A. Mauck, assistant, are selling the forest service trees this season. They are of fering the trees to the public in two locations. Some are at the Swan home, 2501 Lyman Ave., in Medford, and others at the Trav elodge Motel, 22 N. Riverside Ave. Photographed with their trees at the latter lot, close to the swimming pool, are (left to right) Victor Hass, Ted Mauck, Paul Bowers, Bob Waugh, hold ing up a choice fir; and Don Nelson. allowed 10 years to grow. He has four years to go before any will be cut for the Christmas trade. Some have had to be pruned back to keep them from grow ing beyond tne proportions de sired for indoor trees. For, he explained, fir trees, like any others, grow better on good land. The trees on the far end of his property are in richer soil and Ihc problem is to keep them from becoming giants while encouraging the others in less -fertile ground to reach 'apartment size." One of the largest plantings was made in 1957 in the Apple gate area, where Glen Best, Glenn Hunter and Billy Joe Hunter planted 400.000 trees on a 450-acre farm. They are now harvesting some of them for the Christmas trade. Some are 10 feet tall and others arc just apartment size. Many others never grow and Mrs. Glenn Hunter explains It with this bit of poetry "Only God can make a tree." Canada Bothered By Lumber Bill WASHINGTON (UPD Can ada Thursday expressed "deep concern" over a bill ncaring the final stages of congressional ac tion to require Canadian lum ber Imported into the United States to be marked as to coun try of origin. Canadian Ambassador Charles S. A. Ritchie indicated in a meeting wilh Deputy Undersec retary of State U. Alexis John son that Canada-would consider the action a violation of Cana- dian-U.S. trade agreements un der the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). The lumber marking provision was agreed on by a lluuso-Sen- ate Conference Committee as an amendment to a hill passed in different forms by Congress. Approval by both houses of the compromise bill Is all that is needed to send the measure to President Johnson (or signature. Tile marking requirement was a keystone of U.S. lumber in dustry efforts In cut back Can ada s $2H0 million a year soft wood lumber sales to Ihc Unit ed States. It would enable en forcement of "Buy-American" practices by government agen cies and would serve as the foundation for a drive to extend "Buy- American" requirements. ORDER NOW FOR THE HOLIDAYS! Our Candies Are Made Fresh Daily In Our Own Kitchen everson s Packed as you Like it! Special Imported Novelties V FREE Gift Wrapping and Mailing Service SPECIAL DISCOUNTS ON BOXES Purchased in Quantities For Christmas HOME OF PEAR-FECTION Two Convenient Locations 132 West Main-16 South Central SISKIYOU PAVED PARKING . Covered Family Parking for Six Autos The Only Person Qualified To Answer Your Questions About A Pre-Need Funeral Arrangement Is Your FUNERAL DIRECTOR WHY PAY MORE AND RECEIVE LESS? JOE R. H05ICK Mortuary Mar, 772 J48I "Chapel in the Trees' MORTUARY 2100 Siikiyou Blvd. Purple Shield Funeral Insurance LIW G. MlltS Cimttiry Mgr. 772-2144 Siskiyou Memorial Park CEMETERY 60S Highland Drive Columbarium Cromatory Recreation Area Open Hours Slated The II ward Prairie Uecrea tion area will bo open to (he public starling at 111 a.m., Dec. according lo I!. T. Johnston, concessionaire. Hoail anil weather condilions could change the opening date, Johnston stressed. Current plans are lo have the area open from III a m. to 5 p.m. daily through Jan. I, and open .Saturdays and Sundays in January if the weather is cold enough so ice condilions are favorable for skating. ! The restaurant will he open! i during the hours the public Is 1 allowed in (he area. JoIuimiiii said, lie skate rentals will not be available at tile lake, but ! will be available at Ihc Medford' Johus'.on Store, he explained. ' Since there is no telephone ' communication at the lake, resi-' dcnls will have lo depend on reports o.' ice and road conditions. Hatfield Envisions Satellite Industries PORTLAND ll'PD-Gov. Mark Hatfield Thursday niithl envisioned a Si- nullum plant with satellite industries as a re sult of development of black sand iron deposits near Astoria. The Hunker Hill Co. of Kel l"CR. Idaho, has been prospect ins the sands at the mouth of the Columbia River. NO MONEY DOWN ON CREDIT AT WARDS - JUST SAY "CHARGE IT' PUZZLED OVER SIZES, COLORS? WARDS GIFT CERTIFICATES SOLVE THE PROBLEM I id 773-7301 -3$ SHOPPING DAYS ., UNTIL CHRISTMAS j ...OS IS ... . at c il AGLOW JAM, ft w'vh SPECIAL BUY MINK, FOX OR SQUIRREL TRIM AT WARDS LOW 39.98 mink trimmed as sketched Special pie-Christmas value brings you this remarkable buy! A collection of luxury coats masterfully tailored, elegantly furred. Sketched; 'Silver-blue mink on brown wool, 'autumn haze mink on taupe. 8 to 16. imetj Mini lJtfi' Atiaoor.c, fvr preaVtli fobtlW lo tf'ow tountry ef ongm of ,pfffftrf fun. MISSES' 2.98 COTTON SHIRTS Wide Selection g j For Christmas Diving 2 .$5 SUBTLE PLAIDS v-y lilt iff! MEN'S BRUSHED FABRIC SPORT SHIRTS 3 98 Your chance to save on a classic favorite Wards brushed cotlon shirts are quality styled with custom tailored fronts carefully matched collars and pockets, smoked buttons and 2-bullon cuffs. Convertible col lar, subtle plaids, S, M, L, XL. ii of no extra charge J If & fll I I including parts and labor M 'jjj ? a . Ef f&r Model 3ou la H If 1 U IB 1 AIRLINE 23" TV LO-BOY STYLING, LOW BUDGET PRICE Big, clear 23" picture with controls on front for fully visi ble tuning. Automatic gain control for steady reception. Modern tapered legs, rich mahogany finish. 'Measured diagonally 149" NO MONEY DOWN WARDS' SKY KING 27-IN. PULLMAN 25 95' Plus F.E.T. Molded of "Miracle Material" super light end strong. Lined. Train case, now .. 16 95 2-suiter, now 14.95 GIFT SETS WITH KITCHEN TOWELS 199 I Each Unusual novelty sets include two colorful printed fowels, gift wrappedorboxedwith kitchen accessories. I . V" " v iji PEIGNOIRS CAROL BRENT NYLON TRICOT SO LOVELY. .. SO REASONABLE 99 AND UP Nylon Iricol peignoir set with tucked lace trim and embroidery. Matching grecian gown in blue, pink or white. Sizes 34 to 40. SLIGHTLY ORIENTAL all-over lace set with lace top gown, satin tricot skirt 14.99 J TINY THUMBELINA SQUIRMING DOLL 499 Wind her, she wriggles about just like a real baby. Cuddly cloth body, sweet vinyl face, arms, legs. 14" long. ELECTRIC FRY PAN OF DURANEL' 0195 Charge It Aluminum on the out side for even cooking, stainless steel on the inside for easy clean ing! Anodized cover. 1.29 PRINTED CORDUROY Vibrant Shades Machine Wash 78 yd- REGULARLY 2.98 WOOLENS 100. Wool Assorted Weaves 1.99 yd. "DOROTHY CLARE" FRUIT CAKES (-lb. Heme Style Rich Egg Batter 1.99 I"!,
