New Hampshire-Vermont Christmas Association September 2007 Fall Meeting Preview:Asack & Son Tree Farm Special points The fall meeting of the ent seed sources that they had of interest: NHVTCTA will take place brought in from all over the coun- Saturday, September 22, at Asack try and Canada. He explained it Winter Meeting: & Son Tree Farm in Barton, Vt. all to me, but that first day I The winter meeting of the NHVTCTA Bill Asack runs the farm— didn’t really understand the will be held in Barre,Vt., on January which is now primarily a nursery ‘improvement’ work they were 29, in conjunction with the Vermont operation offering seedlings and doing.” Farm Show. More details to come in tranplants, along with a choose- On the drive back, Hudson the next issue of Tree Line. and-cut component—with his son, brought Asack to John Young’s Andrew. tree farm. “John was an early Trees for Troops: He’s been at the Christmas member of the Association and he The NHVTCTA will once again be tree improvement game for more collaborated a lot with Max participating in the NCTA’s Trees for than 25 years now, but Asack still McCormack with different tree Troops programs.To pledge trees and recalls the day when he was first experiments, and he had a seed for further details, contact Nigel introduced to the business. “When orchard there–mountain trees, Manley, (603) 444-6228 or e-mail I first started farming in Cook strain, some hybrid trees,” [email protected]. Plainfield, Vermont, I bumped Asack recalls. “He was probably into a forester named Norm what today would be called an Hudson,” he recalls. “I told him I ‘exotic’ grower.” Canaan Fir Group Buying: was interested in the Christmas Asack became friends with The NHVTCTA is arranging a group tree business. So he took me over Young and, taken by the idea of buy of Canaan Fir from Reliable to the Wolcott experimental sta- continued on page 9 Source, Morgantown,W.Va.Trees must tion and he showed me the differ- be ordered in units of 200.Absolute deadline for orders is September 25. For details, contact Jim Horst at (802) 447-1900. Update: National Association The National Christmas Tree manufactured trees are made par- Association used the occasion of tially from oil and PVC, and earli- its annual meeting in Bangor, er research uncovered potentially Inside this issue: Maine, Aug. 15-18, to emphasize harmful levels of lead dust coming the value of real Christmas trees. off some of the older artificial Summer meeting preview 1 Christmas tree growers from trees. We don’t know that artifi- Canada and the U.S. cial trees will be recalled NCTA Update 1 attending the event along with numerous considered ways to other products found to President’s Message 2 fill potential higher be unsafe recently, but demand for farm- those of us growing natu- Association contact information 2 raised Christmas ral Christmas Trees need trees should the cur- to be prepared to provide Research:Trunk splitting 4 rent recall of hazardous Chinese fresh, farm-raised trees to fami- products spill over to include the lies looking for a safe Christmas Christmas tree invention 6 millions of factory-made tree this holiday season.” Christmas trees imported from According to Harris Trading Post 9 China. Interactive, U.S. consumers “The U.S. imports more than reported purchasing about 9 mil- Research: Canaan fir improvement 10 9 million plastic Christmas trees lion new artificial trees annually from China annually,” said NCTA for the past three years. About 85 Editor’s Desk 14 President Beth Walterscheidt, a percent of them are manufactured grower from Elgin, Texas. “These in China. PAGE 2 SEPTEMBER 2007 President’s Message Hello again everyone. sure everyone knew about it. exam in two states with ease, is Shearing at our farm is pret- Despite not taking their advice on one of only 5 scientists nation ty much over and although, I am every movie they want me to see wide qualified by the army Corp very happy to give my arm a rest, they can sometimes be very of Engineers for special projects part of me already misses it. One insightful. His example reminded relating to soils and geology as reason I enjoy shearing so much me of a quote I read not too long well as many more accomplish- is the interaction I get with the ago and made me go back to read ments. young people I employ from our again. “A person’s true character I filled in the part about local community. is revealed by what he does when being ahead of his time dealing Our conversation usually no one is watching.” with issues pertaining to the centers around movies, mostly Another young person who State College in our community movies and actors as well as what worked for me two years back in the legislature a few years we can do to make improvements was the son of an equipment back. Had the son not worked for during our retail selling season operator who I have used from me I would never have known the (Star Wars theme day anyone...) time to time over the last 12 full story about this incredible ...and on occasion what our asso- years. modest man. ciation is up to. Our association This father owns his own Word of mouth made his does a great job helping others dump truck and designs and accomplishments that more from time to time. This is not too installs septic systems. The dump impressive. A model for most of much unlike when farmers truck he drives looks like its seen us to live up to and a peer to a pitched in for a good cause back better decades and the parts he few in our membership. in the day. used to leave in my yard from the So what can we as an associ- One of my high school work- tattered trailer he pulled was a ation take from this; enjoy the ers, while we were shearing, told lawnmower’s worst nightmare. shearing time and don’t concede me a story he learned in school His humble and honest demeanor that Christian Bale is a better about an industry that spent con- and yet laid back approach was actor than Nicolas Cage. siderable money helping a good just the top layer to this multifac- cause then turned around and eted person revealed by a proud Mike Ahern, president spent more resources making son. The father passed the bar

New Hampshire-Vermont Christmas Tree Association

2007 Officers Contact Information President Mike Ahern (603) 536-2334 Jim Horst, Executive Secretary Vice President Rich Rockwood (802) 685-4343 569 Pleasant Valley Road Recording Secretary Carolyn Page (603) 664-2934 Bennington,VT 05201-9637 Executive Secretary/Treasurer Jim Horst (802) 447-1900 Phone: (802) 447-1900 Past President Russell Reay (802) 492-3323 Marketing Committee Chair Walt Rockwood (802) 685-2282 E-mail: [email protected] Group Buying Chair Bill Nichols (603) 353-4832 Association Website: www.nh-vtchristmastree.org (Term Ends) 2007 Directors For matters related to Tree Line only: (2009) Dan Beloin (603) 237-8633 Patrick White, Editor (2007) Mike Godzyk (603) 237-5702 NHVTCTA Tree Line (2007) Ben Hoyt (603) 838-6403 (2008)* Phil Kivlin (802) 897-8031 18 Merritt Road (2009) Tom Lang (802) 223-7028 Middlesex,VT 05602 (2008) Nigel Manley (603) 444-6228 Phone: (802) 223-3880 (2008) Bill Nichols (603) 353-4832 E-mail: [email protected] (2009) Gordon Page (603) 664-2954 (2009) Rich Rockwood (802) 685-4343 (2007) Mary Lou Schmidt (802) 257-0233 2007 Tree Line Publication Schedule (2008)* Bob White (802) 899-4924 (2007) Patrick White (802) 223-3880 Issue Ad/Submission Deadline Mailing Date Alternate Directors January December 22, 2006 January 15 (2007) Russell Reay (VT) (802) 492-3323 June May 18 June 15 (2007) Jay Weir (NH) (603) 237-8617 September August 24 September 17

PAGE 4 SEPTEMBER 2007 Research Report:Trunk Splitting Explained Article by Jeffrey H. Owen, Is it a Problem? screwed cracks closed quite effec- Area Extension Specialist, N.C. A crack in the trunk of a tively. Since wood and not the State University Christmas tree may raise con- bark of the tree take up water, cerns regarding product quality such techniques should not The Symptom or perhaps even fire safety. Most reduce a tree’s ability to absorb Under certain climatic condi- concerns related to trunk split- water. While trunk splitting can tions, a small percentage of ting can be put to rest. This is a clearly be a customer relations Fraser fir Christmas trees will problem of fresh trees that lose concern, it seldom is a functional develop cracks vertically along part of their moisture too rapid- problem for effected trees. their trunks. These cracks usual- ly. Given a fresh cut off the base ly begin at the cut base and of the trunk and placed in water, The Mechanism extend up one side of the trunk. trees with cracks will take up Split trunks occur in fresh In rare cases, the split extends water normally for the entire trees that lose moisture rapidly through the base of the trunk, holiday season. In many cases, over a relatively short period of dissecting it in two pieces. Splits the cracks will close up as trees time. While the development of have also been reported higher are re-hydrated. Cracks are not cracks is related to the shrinkage up on one side of the trunk with- directly related to foliage fresh- of drying wood, the concept of out extending down to the base. ness, a tree’s ability to take up shrinkage fails to capture the All of these cracks develop in the water, or fire safety. occurrence of cracks in fresh wood. The bark may remain A crack can be a tree stand trees with high moisture content. intact with small cracks, but will problem, however. In some cases The primary force involved split with larger cracks. Split the pre-drilled pin tree stand in split trunks is the capillary trunks can develop in the field may not work and a different tension of the water in the cell after the trees are cut, in storage style be needed. Where the rare walls of the wood. Capillary ten- on the farm, during transporta- tree is split across the base, no sion is the force that holds liquid tion, in the retail lot, or in a con- stand may hold it firmly. Some in small tubes such as a glass sumer’s home. retailers have clamped or continued on page 8

Containerized Evergreen Planting Stock

Plug Seedlings – The Future of Christmas Trees

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PAGE 6 SEPTEMBER 2007 Christmas tree extinguisher wins on ABC ‘Inventor’ show Excerpted from an Aug. 31 lives. It’s the least he can do, he article in The Beacon News. says, as a firefighter who has Greg Chavez, the season two seen one too many young lives winner of ABC’s reality show lost to house fires. American Inventor (and a $1 mil- First Alert CEO and County Star Ventura lion prize) is working with First President Tom Russo said Alert to launch a product that Thursday he has not yet seen a can extinguish Christmas tree product like it on the market. fires and save lives. “We’re constantly being for- The 45-year-old firefighter warded ideas, and very seldom do from Ventura County, Calif., met those make it into product,” with engineers and designers Russo said. from the home-safety product The partnership between manufacturer this week to fine- First Alert and the firefighter- George Chavez with his invention. tune his invention, the Guardian turned-inventor started in March Chavez the opportunity to work Angel. when the company was contacted with First Alert. The show No deal has been finalized by producers of American reached about 10 million viewers yet, but the inventor’s goal is to Inventor to hear his pitch. Russo a week. put Guardian Angel on retail then appeared on the show’s sea- First Alert is one of the shelves everywhere so it can save son finale in which he offered nation’s leading manufacturers of residential smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers. “I was hoping for First Alert,” Chavez said in the final episode that aired in July. “Imagine that. I was in my garage for a lot of years and now this. It’s just great.” The Chavez product involves a tank of water that is disguised as a present and sits underneath a Christmas tree. A hidden hose then runs from the tank to an angel tree topper, hence the name Guardian Angel. A plug attached to the angel can then unleash two gallons of water over the tree, Chavez said. According to statistics from the National Fire Protection Association, about 14 deaths, 21 injuries and $16.8 million in property damage a year are caused by Christmas tree fires from both real and artificial trees. The Guardian Angel falls in line with other consumer-friendly products created by First Alert. The company has introduced the Tundra Fire Extinguishing Spray, a hand-held spray can that covers three times the sur- face area of a typical actuator. Chavez has spent about 15 years working on the invention from idea to implementation. And yet, it’s all just beginning for him.

PAGE 8 SEPTEMBER 2007 Research:Trunk splitting explained continued from page 4 the foliage as it respires or for the winter. Their stomates, breathes. The rate at which tree the openings on the undersides of thermometer. As moisture is lost foliage respires is closely linked needles, do not open as much. from foliage of a cut tree, the to climatic conditions and tree Respiration slows. Less air is remaining water in the wood is dormancy. exchanged and less moisture is still stretched from foliage to Full sun, high temperature, lost than if the trees were actively trunk by capillary tension. This and dry winds can pull moisture growing. increases the inward pull of the from the foliage of cut trees. Dormant trees can be water in the tree trunk – much While drought may be a con- exposed to drying conditions and like a vacuum in a soaked con- tributing factor to the stresses not lose much water. Dormant tainer – and increases the force that initiate cracks, the primary trees are less likely to develop on each vessel in the wood. factor is exposure to conditions cracks in their trunks. When the force of capillary that dry the tree out rapidly. If fall temperatures remain tension exceeds the internal Cracks can develop the day after warm with few nights below strength of the wood a crack a rain if newly cut trees are sub- freezing trees will fail to achieve develops. The tensile strength of jected to drying conditions. dormancy. Trees will still be Fraser fir wood is only about 180 Cracks have occurred in cold tem- actively respiring and have mini- psi. The forces involved in capil- peratures accompanied by dry mal defense against drying condi- lary tension have been measured winds, but exposure to bright sun tions. as high as 515 psi—much greater and temperatures above 70 This influences all aspects of than the strength of the wood. degrees are the conditions most tree freshness, not just formation When the cell wall of one vessel likely to result in split trunks. of cracks in the trunk. collapses, integrity is lost, more Cracks will develop during a peri- Needleshed and stringburn are cells collapse, and the crack splits od of severe exposure whether it also more likely in trees that have open. occurs in the field, in storage, not undergone the physical during transportation, or on the changes of dormancy. In short, if Contributing Factors retail lot. autumn is unusually warm, extra Trunk splitting is a function In a normal fall season, measures will be needed to main- of rapid moisture loss from cut Christmas trees experience tain tree freshness. trees. Cut trees can lose some enough cold temperatures to go moisture from the cut end of dormant before tree harvest Recommendations their trunks, but lose most from begins. Dormant trees shut down Since trunks can split during any period of exposure during harvest or the retail season, all handlers must share in the Reliable Source responsibility for tree care. A Jim Rockis Co Growers should: • Delay harvest as late as Spring 2007 Price List possible to allow trees to achieve maximum dormancy. • Limit cutting in the middle Canaan Fir P+1 1/2 12"+ up .76e of very hot days to minimize expo- sure of unbaled trees. • Transport trees from fields Fraser Fir p+1+1 Ayers Roan Mt. 12" + up .97e to storage areas as quickly as pos- Fraser Fir p+2 Ayers Roan Mt. 12" + up .91e sible to avoid excessive exposure Colorado Blue Spruce p+1½ Misty Blue 10" + up .76e to sun, heat, and wind. This is Norway Spruce p+1½ 12" + up .76e very important when trees are cut Canadian Hemlock p+1+1 12" + up .97e Concolor Fir p+1½ 12" + up .76e during sunny, warm weather. Douglas Fir p+1½ Lincoln 12" + up .76e • Store trees upright with White Pine p+ 1 12" + up .76e trunks in contact with the ground Serbian Spruce p + 1 ½ 12" + up .76e in a cool, dark, and moist loca- tion. Use a natural pine stand or Prices fob Morgantown WV a shade cloth structure with wet mulch on the ground. If the Phone: 304-599-3467 office / 304-282-3470 cell ground is wet, the trunks can E-mail: [email protected] take up water. • Irrigate storage areas with SEPTEMBER 2007 PAGE 9 fine mists to increase relative Retailers should: • Consider putting up a tent humidity and reduce tempera- • Build a storage area prior or other shade structure to pro- tures through evaporation (a fine to trees delivery that is cool, tect displayed trees or relocate to mist will evaporate and cool more dark, and provides some means of a naturally shaded by mature rapidly than heavy irrigation). watering the trees. Delivered trees. • Ship trees in refrigerated trees should be stored immediate- • Consider clamping or trucks or at night, particularly to ly to minimize exposure time screwing closed any trunk splits Southern destinations. Trees in frames. that occur un-refrigerated or tarped trailers • Display trees with some • Cut a ½ to 1 inch disk off can be scalded by high tempera- means of irrigation such as a wet the trunk to improve water tures. mulch or watered sod, or prefer- uptake prior to display in water • Consider using tempera- ably use tree stands with water or sale to a consumer ture and humidity monitors in reservoirs. Misting displayed • Educate consumers regard- trucks to document shipping con- trees with water can cool them ing care and safety of fresh cut ditions. down and slow drying. Christmas trees.

Fall meeting preview:Asack and Son Trading Post continued from page 1 well. In between there’s shearing FOR SALE: Still avail- in the summer and harvesting in improving trees, began his own able, 50/100 Wreath Boxes the early winter. seed orchard with seeds he picked With everything he does, #BXW24G6 from a Kelco at Young’s farm. Ever since, Asack tries to take notes and pallet. $2.10 each, plus Asack has been working to devel- record observations. “I used to share of shipping. ALSO: op succesful strategies for germi- grow trees the way people bake Tree Shaker #250, PTO. If nating seeds. “And I think that bread—a pinch of this and a you retail or mail order, you finally, after 25 years, I’m getting pinch of that,” he says. “But now pretty good at it!” he jokes. need this. Will deliver boxes I need consistent results, and In 1987, Asack moved to his & Shaker to September people want good information.” current farm in Barton. While meeting. Elysian Hills Tree The hard work is paying off, as Asack now works with Fraser fir Farm. Call 802-257-0233 or Asack’s nursery business is grow- from North Carolina, Canaan fir email [email protected] ing and demand is strong, he from Ohio, Cooks strain balsam, says. And, as with his trees, he’s some hybrids and many more, he always looking to improve. seems most attached to his bal- sam fir mountain trees. “I’ve always been taken by the foliage of mountain trees,” Asack HOWEY TREE BALER CORP. explains. “I remember John MANUFACTURERS OF CHRISTMAS TREE HARVESTING EQUIPMENT Young saying that if going to get BALERS ELEVATORS SHAKERS TWINE a perfect tree, it’s going to come Christmas Tree Dealer: Mr. Lucien J. Pilote from the mountain trees. That 2006 VT Rte. 102 caught my attention. I didn’t Canaan, VT 05903-9740 know much about Christmas Tel. (802) 277-5223 trees at the time, but my father worked in thoroughbred breeding, so I knew the value of good blood- lines. I’ve been looking for the perfect tree out of these mountain trees ever since.” Asack recently purchased a neighboring farm and has his 4 acre nursery established there. “As soon as the frost goes out of the ground, we’re lifting,” he says of the hectic spring season. Asack recently purchased a new Fobro 2000 bed lifter to mechanize that grueling task. Planting is done in the fall, so that time is busy, as PAGE 10 SEPTEMBER 2007 Research Report: Canaan Fir Improvement Research conducted by Ricky Canaan fir with superior posthar- M. Bates, Dept. of Horticulture, vest characteristics. Penn State University. Funding Canaan fir with excellent provided by the Pennsylvania Christmas tree characteristics Christmas Tree Growers Assn. can be found on farms throughout Pennsylvania and the eastern Surveys indicate that needle U.S. Many of these individual loss or “messiness” is a major rea- trees have been periodically set son why consumers chooseartifi- aside and planted into seed cial over real Christmas trees. orchards. Needle retention testing Renewed marketing efforts might of fifty-five trees in one such help the industry sell more trees, Adams County Canaan fir seed but certain problems still exist orchard began in 2003 and con- After the cleft grafts have healed, the with the product itself. We need tinued through 2005. trees are transferred to larger con- to continue and strengthen our During October 2003, 2004 tainers and moved to the P.S.U. Pot- efforts to improve several and 2005, branches with the cur- in-Pot nursery for a season of accel- Christmas tree traits, including rent and previous season’s nee- erated growth. needle retention. The Christmas dles were removed from the trees tree industry must provide con- and transported to the P.S.U. gently rubbing two fingers over sumers with a product that will post harvest display room at the the needles. The extent of needle perform well while on display in Russell E. Larsen Research loss was evaluated on a 0 to 7 their homes. Maintaining hydra- Center, Rock Springs, PA. scale where 0 = none and 7 = 91- tion is critical for acceptable nee- Testing was also performed at 100 % loss. Needle loss data was dle retention in the postharvest Washington State University compared and correlated each environment, however genetics Puyallup Research and Extension year of the 3-yr. test period to also play a crucial role. Needle Center, Puyallup, WA. Branches verify individual tree perform- retention performance varies were displayed dry for the dura- ance. widely between species, between tion of the display period and Of the fifty-five trees tested, seed sources within a species and maintained under continuous eight received an excellent needle even within a single seed source standard fluorescent lighting, at retention rating of less than 1% of the same species. The objective 48% ± 5% relative humidity, and needle loss for first and second of this research project is to 68°F ± 4. Needle loss data was locate and develop sources of obtained at day 0, 7, and 10 by continued on page 12

PAGE 12 SEPTEMBER 2007 Canaan Fir Improvement continued from page 10 In 2005 a six-acre site was secured at the P.S.U. year needles over the test period, Horticulture Farm at Rock during the 3 test years. These Springs, Pennsylvania, for the eight trees were selected for establishment of the Canaan fir grafting and terminal leaders and Douglas-fir seed orchard. were harvested during spring of The site was cleared and pre- 2005 and 2006. Cleft grafts were pared for planting during 2005- made using containerized 5-year 2006. The first grafted Canaan fir old Canaan fir as rootstocks in trees were planted in October, April of each year. 2006. Approximately 75 clones Future plans for the seed were derived from the original orchard include the construction eight mother trees. After the of a deer fence and expansion of grafts successfully healed, the the Canaan fir needle retention trees were transplanted into larg- testing. er containers and moved into the The Canaan fir seed orchard P.S.U. Pot-in-Pot nursery. This established near State College, production system optimizes the PA, by Dr. Henry Gerhold root growth environment result- entered the needle retention tri- ing in a large plant in a relatively als in 2005, with 50 of the 165 short period of time. trees being tested. The seed orchard of improved After the 2006 season in the Plans are also underway to Canaan fir at P.SU. will eventually Pot-in-Pot nursery the first group test the progeny of the eight contain clones of at least 20 parents of grafted trees were large Canaan fir selected from the with excellent Christmas tree char- enough to move to the seed Adams County, Pennsylvania, acteristics and proven needle reten- orchard. seed orchard. tion performance.

PAGE 14 SEPTEMBER 2007 Editor’s Desk A number of newsworthy Web Site Remodel ings (for example, farm hours items have crossed my desk since The NHVTCTA has and tree availablility) as the the last issue of Tree Line. redesigned its Web site to sales season unfolds. To gain improve its looks and functionali- access to your listing in order to National Trees Needed ty. Notchnet, based in Littleton, make changes you simply need a The State of Vermont has N.H., assisted in this process. PIN password, which you can the honor of giving a gift of the Some minor fine-tuning remains, obtain by contacting Executive National Christmas Tree this but the result is a dramatically Director Jim Horst at 802-447- year (for details see www.capi- enhanced site. Please visit 1900. tolchristmastree2007.org). Along www.nh-vtchristmastree.org to with this large tree there are see the results. many trees of varying heights Improvements include a Change at Campbell that are needed. These “compan- “Find a Farm” feature that The Campbell Co. has ion trees” will be going to many allows buyers to locate farms by ceased operation of its grower government buildings, legisla- county using maps of Vermont supply business, the family ture offices, and VA hospitals. and New Hampshire, which will recently announced. But Cathy And funds are available to com- be especially useful for those on Favelle, who has run the busi- pensate growers for the compan- vacation looking for a choose- ness since her father, Ron ion trees they provide. and-cut farm near their destina- Cambell, passed away in 1988, Any Vermont growers who tion. has formed a new grower’s sup- would like to have a Christmas This year, the Wholesale ply catalog venture with her tree in Washington—affixed with Buyer’s Guide can be found husband, David. a special name tag, which we are exclusively on the Web site. This 4everReal (see advertise- also working on—should e-mail approach offers several advan- ment below) will operate from Greg DeCell ([email protected]) tages, including reduced printing the same location, retain the with their contact information and mailing costs. Members list- Campbell’s Supply Co. phone and the number/size of trees they ing wholesale trees will also have number and offer many of the can provide. the ability to update their list- same products.

$ave $erious $ Take advantage of the NH-VT Christmas Tree Association’s Group Buying programs. Contact Jim Horst at (802) 447-1900