"THE BANEFUL MISTLETOE"

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 150, 22 December 1922, Page 14

"THE BANEFUL MISTLETOE"

In summertime in Snqland one may go by the old orchard daily, and jidVof'seo tho mistletoe hiding in the leafoanopy ■ pVbthe&d. But ill -winWl'i when the trees are bit!*, tho mistlstoo makes an arresting obicct. Viewed iti briffht sunshine, ita thick (iiazy olunlps of p&la Rfeert •folias'S stDtid v out against th,p• sky, raltiilidinfr'ano of tlie rooljs' ucets in tho olnis of the lano; fci-oorJl." tbat these arc blit masses of ilead dark twips, and the mistletoe- bd.Ußhfe are of a living fr«Eii!;ess of liuo. The fact iliat aoaio oi. theeo bi'imchcs of irriisiletoo bfernsitic3 on thd old aliple trees arc filll.o* wjiile satin berries with/ civtry -yeaf, -\vhilo othei-s never boar any fi'uit ut nil. is corhmotily uiT:;:'ilaili.ib'.c by thoir cottage owner; thouffli*tlie truth _ is, of coufs-e, thai 111 ft m'islloloe ii dk'eeious—beftdhvir ils etiniions ■on ono plant ami Its pistils on uiiothcr. T'uis it is only Uio licti-y-baatin? female • plant v/iUoh oauies into the ChrisUaas dceorft' tion scheme.