For Release: November 6, 1998

Contact: Stephen M. Volpe 222-2781

PROVIDENCE - If you're one of the many Rhode Islanders who likes to choose and tag your Christmas tree for later cutting, it's not too early to begin the search for that perfect tree. The Department of Environmental Management's 1998 guide, Rhode Island Grown Christmas Tree Farms, is now available and will start you on your way.

Produced by DEM's Division of Agriculture and Resource Marketing, the guide lists 51 tree farms in Rhode Island, including 47 where living Christmas trees can be chosen, tagged and cut. The guide also provides information on buying and preserving a tree, and fire safety tips.

Christmas tree farming operations have grown during recent years to fill the public demand for fresh Rhode Island-grown trees. Generally, species of trees grown in Rhode Island are fir, spruce, and pine. Native-grown Christmas trees are plantation-planted, fertilized, and sheared. It may take eight to 12 years to raise a tree of six to eight feet.

Visiting a "choose and tag/cut" operation has become a yearly tradition for many Christmas tree buyers, who also take advantage of the hayrides, hot cider, and many other offerings made by many of the Rhode Island Christmas tree farmers.

The guide lists the location of each Christmas tree farm, as well as the hours and days of operation and telephone numbers. It can be obtained by calling the DEM Division of Agriculture and Resource Marketing's 24-hour request line at 222-2781. (After dialing, listen for instructions, then dial 1-4754.)

**Local Interest: Rhode Island Grown Christmas tree farms are located in Charlestown, Chepachet, Coventry, Cranston, Cumberland, Exeter, Foster, Greene, Greenville, Harrisville, Hope, Hope Valley, Johnston, Lincoln, Little Compton, Middletown, Portsmouth, Scituate, Shannock, Smithfield, Tiverton, Wakefield, Warren, West Greenwich, and West Kingston.