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From VOA Learning English, |
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this is the Agriculture Report. |
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Americans love Christmas trees. |
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The National Christmas Tree Association says |
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more than 35 million of them |
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were bought last year in the United States. |
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In large American cities, |
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many people buy trees that have already been cut. |
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But many people drive to a tree farm |
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and cut them own tree. |
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Some buy one from a catalogue or online, |
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the tree is then delivered to their home. |
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The National Christmas Tree Association |
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represents growers and sellers |
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of most of the farm-grown Christmas tress |
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in the United States. |
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It estimated that 10.9 million artificial trees |
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were sold in 2012, |
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compared to 24.5 million natural trees. |
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The group says the average cost of a natural tree was $40, |
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and about $70 for an artificial one. |
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Most Christmas trees are now grown on farms. |
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The trees take six to ten years to grow. |
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In some states, fewer than half of the planted trees |
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survived the weather conditions to become Christmas trees. |
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To make sure there is always a supply, |
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farmers usually plant one to three new saplings |
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for every tree they cut down. |
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The Christmas Tree Association says |
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40 percent of people who bought natural trees last year |
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chose them at a farm and cut the tree themselves. |
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The Association says real trees are better for the environment, |
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that is because as Christmas trees grow, |
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they collect carbon dioxide and other gases |
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while supplying fresh oxygen. |
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The trees also protect water supplies. |
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Christmas trees are grown on soil |
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that does not support other crops. |
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Some people throw away their natural tree |
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when the holiday season ends. |
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But many People recycle them. |
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There are many ways to do this. |
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Christmas trees can be cut up to be used as fertilizer. |
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They can also be cut |
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and used to provent the wearing down of soil. |
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Christmas trees helped many communities near the ocean |
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following tropical Storm Sandy |
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on the eastern coast of the United States. |
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They were placed near large hills of sand |
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to prevent the sand from blowing away. |
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Artificia trees which come mostly from China |
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can be reused for years. |
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Families use them for an average of six to nine years |
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before throwing them away. |
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These trees can remain in a landfill for hundreds of years. |
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And that's the Agriculture Report from VOA Special English. |
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I'm Christopher Cruise. |
