Clinton News-Record, 1985-12-04, Page 59NeieDimensions in Home Entertainment..;
Page 16 --Christmas Gift Gude
Natural Christmas trees are much safer in the home
Natural Christmas trees are fat safer
than plastic ones in Canadian homes, the
president of the Christmas Tree Growers'
Association of Ontario says.
"We've put it to the test," says. Harold
Worley of Fournier, Ontario. "We put a
match to a fresh natural tree and another
match to a plastic tree.
"blithe the artificial tree, fireballs of
melting plastic started dropping on the rug
while the natural tree was laden with
moisture and refused to catch fire."
He disputed statements from the Ontario
Fire Marshal's office that artificial trees
were safer than natural ones.
"I'd like to see them perform the same
test, then they'd know what they're talking
about," says Worley. "It's about time this
myth was laid to rest."
"When a natural tree is placed with the
butt end in water, it has a 100 per cent
moisture content. It's impossible to ignite."
The only time natural trees could be
dangerous is if they're allowed to dry out
over a considerable length of time, turning
the moist needles into dry tinder. Pine and
fir are better than spruce for retaining
moisture.
"In most cases, even a tree which has
been cut and- stored for a considerable
length of time can be regenerated. When set
in water, it will recover and maintain a safe
moisture content."
I9he secret is to saw an inch or so off the
old base. When a natural tree dries out, a
film forms over the old cut which prevents
moisture from being drawn up the trunk into
the branches. Of course, the tree needs a
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constant supply of water at its base as well.
The Christmas Tree Growers' Association
of Ontario represents 175 growers and tree
farm operators across the Province.
Across Canada, some 40 per cent of Cana-
dian families still prefer natural trees,
Worley says. Trees are grown as a field crop
with thousands of acres planted and
thousands of full-time employees and sum-
mer students engaged in trirruning and
shaping the trees during their life span of
five to 16 years.
All trees
are not alike
All Christmas trees are not alike. Not only
does each one assume a unique personality
all its own after it is decorated, each one has
certain characteristics before the or-
naments are added.
The sturdy Scotch pine is by far the na-
tional favorite. It maintains its deep green
color and its medium length needles much
longer than any other type. Shedding is
definitely not a problem with this favorite.
The white pine has needles which are
slightly longer than the Scotch pine. It is
medium green and a popular choice for
"flocking' 'because the needles are not as
dense as the Scotch pine.
The white spruce sports very short
needles which are blue-green in color. This
type tends to be densely needled and quite
symmetrical.
The Colorado blue spruce is fast becoming
the country's prestige Christmas tree. The
needles are longer than any other spruce
variety and range from a beautiful deep
green to a silver blue.
Although types of available trues may
vary from 'location to location, the basic
truths are the same about virtually all
Christmas trees.
• First and by far most important, be sure
your tree. stays flame resistant. To do this
cut off about two inches of the stem and
mount it in a stand to which you can add
water daily.
. A tree is fresh if the needles bend instead
of breaking.
It takes between 6 and 12 years for a tree to
reach the size most suitable for a Christmas
tree.
• Natural trees are the true symbol of a
"real" Christmas and are used. everywhere,
because of their great variety in size,
.species and shape.
Whether you select and decorate your tree
weeks in advance or have a custom of trim-
ming it on Christmas Eve, select it with care
and thought, treat it to- generous drinks of
water and it will add much joy to. your
Christmas.
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