The standards contained in this subpart are applicable to sheared or unsheared trees of the coniferous species which are normally marketed as Christmas trees.
The majority of the Christmas trees marketed are of the following species:
Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga Menziesii); Balsam Fir (Abies Balsamea); Red Fir (Abies Magnifica); White Fir (Abies Concolor); Fraser Fir (Abies Fraseri); Grand Fir (Abies Grandis); Noble Fir (Abies Procera); White Spruce (Picea Glauca); Blue Spruce (Picea Pungens); Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus Virginiana); Red Pine (Pinus Resinosa); White Pine (Pinus Strobus); Virginia Pine (Pinus Virginiana); Scotch Pine (Pinus Sylvestris).
Grades of Christmas Trees
- U.S. Premium consists of trees which meet the following requirements:
a. Characteristics typical of the species;
b. Butt trimmed; except for trees graded "on the stump'';
c. Normal taper;
d. Fresh;
e. Clean;
f. Healthy;
g. Well shaped;
h. Not less than heavy density;
i. Handle length, unless otherwise specified, shall be not less than 6 inches, or more than 1-1/2 inches for each foot of tree height. For trees graded "on the stump'', handle length will not be a requirement of the grade;
j. Three faces with not more than 1 minor defect. Remaining face may not have more than 1 minor defect;
k. For size see §51.3090;
l. For tolerances see §51.3091.
- U.S. No. 1 consists of trees which meet the following requirements:
a. Characteristics typical of the species;
b. Butt trimmed; except for trees graded "on the stump";
c. Normal taper;
d. Fresh;
e. Fairly clean;
f. Healthy;
g. Well shaped;
h. Not less than medium density;
i. Handle length, unless otherwise specified, shall be not less than 6 inches, or more than 1-1/2 inches for each foot of tree length. For trees graded "on the stump'', handle length will not be a requirement of the grade;
j. Three faces with not more than 2 minor defects. Remaining face may not have more than 1 noticeable defect;
k. For size see §51.3090;
l. For tolerances see §51.3091.
- U.S. No. 2 consists of trees which meet the following requirements:
a. Characteristics typical of the species;
b. Butt trimmed; except for trees graded "on the stump'';
c. Normal taper;
d. Fresh;
e. Fairly clean;
f. Healthy;
g. Well shaped;
h. Not less than light density;
i. Handle length, unless otherwise specified, shall be not less than 6 inches, or more than 1-1/2 inches for each foot of tree length. For trees graded "on the stump'', handle length will not be a requirement of the grade;
j. Two adjacent faces with not more than 3 minor defects. Remaining faces may not have more than 2 noticeable defects;
k. For size see §51.3090;
l. For tolerances see §51.3091..