European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 18, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Perfect tree comes in Many forms Sas fils after making his selection a boy takes the family Christmas tree Home for the holidays. By Jerry Wolffe United press International one of the most difficult choices it seems is picking that Quot perfect Quot Christmas tree for the Holiday season but without one it just in t Christmas americans love their Christmas Trees whether real or artificial and let there be no doubt its a big business. The season starts months before the Holiday. Real Trees growers admit often Are Cut Down in Early october. And this year s Christmas tree probably was planted in 1985 a maybe earlier. Growers say it takes about seven years for a Christmas tree to grow to 6 feet. And each must be shaped continually during the growing time for that perfect Pyramid shape. Unlike Charlie Brown and his sidekick Linus from the comic strip peanuts real people won t buy a crooked tree and count on love to make it Beautiful. And the Competition Isnit just Between Trees. There is a constant Battle Between tree Farmers and tree makers Over whose product will Grace your living room or family room for the holidays. Real Trees currently Are on the Rise. Last year 35.7 million real Trees were sold a steady climb from 30.3 million in 1981. Some 36.2 million artificial Trees Are in use. There Are about 15,000 Christmas tree growers in the United states and some 100,000 people Are employed full or part time in the Christmas tree Industry says Joan Geiger communications director of the Milwaukee based National Christmas tree association. The retail Cost of a real tree in most places ranges from $3 to $5,65 per foot depending on the Type of tree. But a Good 6-foot tree can easily go for $100 in some places most notably new York City. And there is often a big Premium on an extra Large real tree a 10 feet or taller a especially if it is Well shaped and full figured. Asked where a person can get the Best Price on a real tree Geiger replies Quot if you live next to a tree  prices vary widely for artificial Trees depending on size and Quality. But As a Rule of thumb a table top artificial tree Sells for $8 or $10, while an average 6-foot artificial tree costs $87,50, and a 7-footer goes for $110 to $255. Although the trend in artificial Trees is Back to Green Schneider says Trees Are available in a Rainbow of colors a Pink peach Black yellow and White. There Are people come in Here and ask when do you water All these. And they re shocked when we Tell them we done to have a real tree in the  Nancy Schneider Bronnert Christmas wonderland even scented artificial Trees to mimic that smell we remember from the christmases of our childhoods said Nancy Schneider of Bronnert Christmas wonderland in Frankenmuth Mich. Some artificial Trees Are actually Quot half Trees a Flat on one Side so they can be placed against a Wall. Others Are engineered like umbrellas a they pop open. Bronner s has the biggest inventory of Christmas decorations Trees and ornaments in the world and Sells Many of the huge Christmas Trees and elaborate displays you see in department stores Banks and offices Schneider said. Some 2 million visitors pass through the giant Frankenmuth store a nearly 1v6 football Fields a every year to View its Christmas wares. The store has 250 Trees on display and 6,000 different styles available. Quot people come in Here and ask when do you water All these Quot Schneider  they re shocked when we Tell them we Don t have a real tree in the  the real Trees come from Michigan Wisconsin Washington Pennsylvania North Carolina the Northern Atlantic states and Canada. The More exotic like the Douglas fir Are native to Northern California and Oregon. Geiger and the National Christmas tree association offered some advice on picking a Good tree. First test for freshness. Quot you should hold a Branch of the tree about 6 inches from the tip then pull your hand toward the tip to allow the Branch to slip through your fingers Quot she said. Quot when you do this most of the Needles should stay on the tree. Quot or pick the tree up and slam it on its stump end on the ground and the outside Needles should not fall off in substantial numbers Quot she also said buyers should take a Good whiff of their Christmas tree to be to ensure that it has a Quot Good  it should also have a a Nice Green color. That indicates  and there Are a few precautions to take to ensure your tree once Home stays healthy and Spry for the holidays. Make a fresh Cut along the base right after you take it Home Geiger said. A this cuts the Seal of sap at the stump and allows the tree to drink when you put it in the stand Quot she explained. She said the tree should be placed in water right after the Cut is made. In addition she said Quot you should give the tree plenty of water during the first 24 hours its up. Quot make sure there s always water in the stand Quot she  Christmas parties making quiet comeback the associated press office Holiday parties Are making a comeback after years when the Economy forced Many businesses to Roll up the floors. But they Arentt the lavish feasts that marked much of the 1980s Many companies Are turning to More abstemious spreads and some even ask employees to contribute to potluck menus. Quot companies Are More optimistic about the Economy Quot said Dale Winston president of the Battalia Winston International executive search firm. Quot most seem to believe that the downturn can t get worse they eel a bit More positive about spending Lor Christmas parties.1 Winston views the office party As Quot a fun economic  catered Champagne and caviar followed by prime rib Means the Economy is healthy. Requests for potluck casseroles a or no party at All a signal that times Are still Rocky Battalia Winston s Survey of 100 companies shows that Many after several years of playing Scrooge Are putting on slightly More lavish affairs this year. Of the companies it surveyed 87 said they Are giving parties this year compared with 82 last year. Forty eight of the parties will be held in the evening compared with 16 in 1991. Only 26 companies Are planning less expensive luncheons Down from 66 last year. Still ostentatious bashes Are rare. Nighttime dinner dances have Given Way to luncheons or cocktails. Companies that used to rent out an entire restaurant for an evening Are having sandwiches or hours d oeuvres brought in. Spouses Are no longer invited at some companies. Quot no business now especially in the last few years wants to appear to be wasting Money Quot said Steven Hart who Heads the catering department at Zabar s Delicatessen in Manhattan the Days Are gone he said when companies can get Quot big fancy catering concerns to come in and do outlandish  added Randi West a catering manager at Burke amp Burke Delicatessen in Manhattan Quot people used to Call up and say a i want to do a party for 100 people a and i would give them the Price. Now what i hear is a it s really quite a lot More than what i expected to pay Quot so West tries to talk her clients into serving less expensive food and cutting Back on portions. Some companies Are planning a series of departmental parties instead of a Large company wide Bash. Burson Marsteller inc., a new York Public relations firm is planning six parties each with a different theme. Food will be prepared by company employees in the firm s Kitchen and employees May be asked to bring in their household specialities. A it in t appropriate to be lavishing Money on a party at this particular time Quot said Andrew Cooper president and chief executive officer of the firm s new York office but it is appropriate. To celebrate Good work in a difficult  Page 16 a the stars and stripes c. A a _ a a a Friday december 18, 1992 a