Show A CHRISTMAS SYMBOL down from the mists of pagan legend and early ritual from the norse tree drasil of belief from the fir tree of saint emfred comes the material symbol of christmas cherished in the hearts of american childhood the christmas tree stripped of its baleful pagan aspects lighted with the glad thoughts of on earth peace good will to men it has come to stand for the joy and happiness of the yuletide season must we then ban the christmas tree custom in the interests of forest conservation decidedly no conservation is wise use to meet the needs of our people not withholding from use who shall say that the christmas tree is not so important a wood use as furniture or matches or rayon silk hose A crop of young trees may be grown in from five to ten years in the east they have christmas tree farms now one careless match may destroy ten thousand young trees it better to use them at christmas rather than to burn them up in the summer time let the young people have their yuletide joy let us grow and harvest our christmas tree crop scientifically with due regard for the welfare of the forest let us take as our motto growing trees for growing children U S forest service |