Will it be Live or 'Memorex' Trees?

Interesting Christmas Tree Facts:

• The first decorated Christmas tree was in Riga, Latvia, in 1510.
• The first printed reference to Christmas trees appeared in Germany in 1531.
• Christmas trees have been sold commercially in the United States since about 1850, with the first tree retail lot started in 1851 in New York by Mark Carr.
• The best selling holiday trees are Scotch pine, Douglas fir, Noble fir, Fraser fir, Virginia pine, balsam fir and white pine. Other types of trees, such as cherry and hawthorns, were used as Christmas trees in the past.
• More than 2,000 trees are usually planted per acre. On an average, 1,000 to 1,500 of these trees will survive. In the North, maybe 750 trees will remain. Almost all trees require shearing to attain the Christmas tree shape. At 6 to 7 feet, trees are ready for harvest. It takes six to 10 years of fighting heavy rain, wind, hail and drought to get a mature tree.
• In the United States, there are more than 21,000 Christmas tree growers and around a half billion real Christmas trees growing on U.S. farms.
• In the United States, there are more than 12,000 cut-your-own farms.
• In 1979, the National Christmas Tree was not lighted except for the top ornament in honor of the American hostages in Iran.
• Since 1966, the National Christmas Tree Association has given a Christmas tree to the president and first family.
• Growing Christmas trees provides a habitat for wildlife.
• Recycled trees have been used to make sand and soil erosion barriers and been placed in ponds for fish shelter.
• At least 100,000 people are employed in the Christmas tree industry.
• A total of 98 percent of all Christmas trees are grown on farms.
• In 1856, Franklin Pierce, the 14th President of the United States, was the first president to place a Christmas tree in the White House.
• Do not burn Christmas trees in fireplaces; they can contribute to creosote buildup.
• Did you know the National Christmas Tree Association was located nearby in Chesterfield?

Sources for some of these facts: National Christmas Tree Association, USDA Census of Agriculture

For local sources of real trees, see upcoming Eureka-Wildwood Patch article this morning: