Balsam
Fir Tip Gathering
Bulletin
#7011
Originally
developed
by Mark Cercone, special project assistant,
and William D. Lilley, forestry specialist
Reviewed and with
new information by David Fuller, agriculture/natural resources
professional
Introduction
In Maine, millions of wreaths are made each
year. These wreaths are usually made from balsam fir brush. Balsam fir is used
because it is plentiful in Maine and also an easy material to make wreaths
with. The demand for balsam fir wreaths has risen throughout the years, which
has resulted in an increased demand for balsam fir brush. In fact, some wreath
producers purchase brush from other locations, including Canada, because of a
shortage of tip gatherers.
The end portion of a balsam fir branch is
called a "tip." Tip lengths range from 12 to 20 inches. This tip
may be broken into two or three pieces. These pieces are placed together to form
a tip bunch and wired onto a ring to make a wreath.
The Tip Gathering
Season
Tips can be gathered only during late fall,
after needles are "set." At this time, the balsam fir tree stops
growing and stays dormant until spring. The needle's pores are sealed by a
waxy coating that covers the needle's surface. Balsam fir tips would lose their
needles in a very short time if gathered before this stage. So, it's very
important for the tip gatherer to know when this change has occurred. Some tip
gatherers have ruined many stacks of tips because they unknowingly gathered tips
before this change.
The exact time of "setting" varies,
depending on the particular area's climate and the growing year. Experienced tip
pickers may know when tips can be gathered in your area. The approximate time to
begin harvesting tips varies across the state. However, the Maine Christmas Tree
Association's standards indicate that balsam fir brush should be collected after
November 1 and a minimum of three consecutive 20-degree-F (or colder) nights. The
tipping season usually lasts until mid-December, but there must be enough time
for making and shipping wreaths before the holiday season.
Tip Gathering
Information
Tips may be gathered from private or
corporate-owned forests. Tip gathers must receive permission to use private
land. Many corporations issue permits for use of their land, and permit fees
range from one to hundreds of dollars.
To avoid possible fines when transporting tips,
make sure that you have written permission to harvest or a bill of sale from the
landowner where you harvested.*
Identifying Balsam Fir
Balsam fir has dark green, blunt-ended
needles that are about one inch long. Spruce looks similar to balsam fir, but
has shorter needles with pointed ends. This makes the needles
"prickly" to the touch. Hemlock may also be mistaken for balsam fir,
but it can be identified by its short, blunt needles and by two white stripes on
the needle's underside.
Figure 1: A fir tip
is 12 to 20 inches long. |
Figure 2: Spruce has
sharp-pointed needles that are 1/3 to 2/3 inches long. |
Figure
3:
Balsam Fir has dark green, blunt-ended needles that are about one inch
long. |
Figure 4:
Eastern Hemlock has flat, blunt needles that are about 1/3 to 2/3 inches
long (two white stripes are on the underside).
|
Figure 5: A high
quality tip has needles on all sides of the stems, no needles missing
and a sufficient amount of stems. |
Figure 6: A poor
quality tip may have a scarce amount of stems, needles on only one side
of the stems, needles missing or long stems. |
Tip Quality
Many wreath producers are very selective when
buying tips, because tip quality largely determines the quality of the finished
wreath. Tips should be "rounded" (needles on all sides of the tips'
stems). The needles should be a dark green color, not yellow or brown. The tips
shouldn't have any signs of disease or insect damage.
Removing Tips From
a Tree
Tips are usually removed from the mid
section of
the tree (which generally has the best quality tips) rather than from the top or
the bottom. The top part of a fir tree
often includes branches with long stems, while the bottom branches usually have
needles on only one side. Both are unsuitable for top-quality wreaths.
To remove tips from a tree, the tip gatherer
grasps the branch firmly between thumb and forefinger and snaps it off with a
quick downward motion. Generally, 12 to 20 inches of the branch is removed. The
last major set of stems of a fir branch should remain on the tree. This allows
the lateral branches to grow back fully in about three years.
Figure 7: Step 1—Grasp the branch firmly between the thumb and forefinger. |
Figure 8: Step 2—Snap the branch with a quick downward motion. |
Figure 9: A four- to six-foot long
stick used for stacking tips.
|
Stacking the Tips
Once the tips are removed from the tree, they
are gathered together. One common tip gathering method is to stack the balsam
fir tips into a "stick." The tip gatherer first cuts down a
small conifer tree (four to six feet tall), then strips the tree of all branches except
for the last set (located at the bottom end of the tree). These remaining
branches are cut four to eight inches in length. The tip gathers use these
sticks to transport their tips.
The tips are gathered and stacked onto a
stick. The tip gatherer slides each tip down the stick until it rests on the
stick's bottom stems. The tips are stacked in alternate directions until the
stick with tips weighs approximately 40 to 75 pounds. Twine may be attached to
both ends of this stack to make it easier to carry.
Another tip stacking method is to collect the
tips into a bundle. Stack tips onto two strings that lie perpendicular
(cross-wise) to one another, then compress the tips by kneeling on them. The
strings are brought up around the tips and tied together. Each bundle generally
weighs 20 to 30 pounds. Some tip gatherers prefer this stacking method because
the bundles are easier to handle.
Figure 10: Slide
tips onto stick in alternating directions. |
Figure 11: A
completed stack of tips weighs 40 to 75 pounds. |
Selling the Tips
Individuals can sell the tips to local buyers
(usually a wreath wholesaler or retailer), who provide tip specifications
(required tip length, quality and stacking method). These tips are sold
according to their weight.
Be sure to locate a buyer before
tipping season begins. Also, stay in communication with your buyer to avoid
getting stuck with excess tips at the end of the season.
*See 12 MRSA §8841–§8847 (Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12,
chapter 805, Subchapter 3, article 2: Transportation or Cutting of Christmas
Trees)
Technical assistance
provided by Walter Thompson and Dugald Kell
Illustrations by Mark
A. McCollough
©1991, 2008
Last
Modified:
12/24/08
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