Botanical History Of Mistletoe Is Notet By JEAN WINSLOW It is the season for mistletoe and that's why I suddenly no tice its silhouette against the winter sky. As I walk under leafless branches of oak and nut trees, the bright green clumps remind me of how this intriguing parasite has be come part of our Christmas myths and legends. Actually, mistletoe calls over 62 different types of trees home - others being apple, persimmon and the like. While capable of its own pho tosyntheses, it relies on its host for water and minerals. Watery-white berries are borne by the female plant, surrounded by yellow-green leatherish leaves. Each berry has one seed inside which is surrounded bv a viscuous, sticky substance. When a bird feeds on the berry, the seed sticks to his beak and the bird gets rid of it by scraping his beak against the tree trunk. It then sticks to the bark and eventually germi nates. Within seven to nine years, the plant has sunk its vascular system deep into the tree and can attain a diameter of two to three feet. As for its reputation as poisonous plant material — it’s true — be care ful of ingesting leaves or stem, if you are into ingesting leaves and stems. I don't rec ommend eating the berries either. Besides, they taste aw ful. The actual toxin is a lectin called Phorotoxin. Symptoms of poisoning include abdomi nal cramping, emesis (vomiting), and diarrhea, re sulting in a stoppage of pro tein syntheses in the intesti nal wall. Also, excessive handling causes dermatitis, which may be avoided by wearing gloves when han dling mistletoe. So much for that. I prefer to dwell on its beauty and history. It is a strange quirk in botanical history that mistle toe is so closely associated with Christmas, since for centuries the Church con demned it as evil and pagan. The use of mistletoe proba bly began with those pioneers of serious revelry, the Ro mans. Starting with the festi val of Saturn on December 17, free-swinging party-goers hung up the mistletoe and hung out their morals. Druids of pre-Christian Britain used mistletoe in sac THE PLACE TO BE!!! Wards Shopping Center for CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE Saturday, Dec. 12th, 9:30 a.m-6p.m (Ace Hardware and Dixie Tire until 5 p.m.) SANTA CLAUS THERE ALL DAY CJ CHRISTMAS CRAFTS ONE STOP SHOPPING FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY US. 17. BY-PASS HERTFORD - > ' GREAT DOOR PRIZES! -Participating Merchant*— ACE HARDWARE. ALBEMARLE FURNITURE. D&B DISCOUNT SHOES. EURE RESTAURANT. SHE BOUTIQUE. QUALITY CLOTHING t.. j “Betty SHoppe i • • : Outfit <1he ‘Woman : • In your Life • tt • : for ‘The ULoticCays... I * • a • • • ; Choose‘From Our Large Selection J • • » • * • * ‘Use Our (.lift Certificates And what is your name little girl? NANCY Have you been good this year? Oh, YES, Santa! What do you want to be when you grow SANTA LITTLE GIRL: SANTA LITTLE GIRL SANTA: LITTLE GIRL I’m going to be the TOP REAL ESTATE AGENT and sell lots Of property in Edenton. VERY GOOD! Now, what can I bring you this Christmas? Please bring me a bing calendar - to keep appointments on, a silver pen to sign sales contracts and 20 red SOLD signs! Very well, I’ll be glad to help a successful little girl like you. Thank you, Santa ... And ... May the good will of the holiday season be with you and your family now and throughout the new year. s' SANTA SANTA LITTLE GIRL flees. It was believed to re ire fertility, give magical jower and protect its bearei Dm physical harm. When Rome conquered Britain, warriors met undei the sacred mistletoe, laid down their arms, and kissed. Scandinavians hang mistletoe above their front doorways to ward off evil spirits. Somewhere down the line, though, mistletoe was incor porated into a Christmas rit ual. The priest kissed a branch in the name of peace and passed it through the con gregation. To this day, mistletoe is placed on the high altar of York Cathederal at Christmas to proclaim universal free dom. One of those liberties is the right to kiss any lady found standing under good of Phorandendron serotinum. "Kissing balls,” or Kussenbaum, are more an cient than Christmas trees. Still gracing German and English homes during holi days, the mistletoe-filled spheres have vague origins. The indications are, however, that they were believed to be protection from witchcraft and sorcery. If you need an excuse in this modern day to kiss whomever it may concern, make a Kissing Ball. Excel lent directions can be found in Ortho's Christmas Book, newly introduced into book stores everywhere. This latest hardback is chockful of in formation on plant material, Christmas landscaping, making centerpieces, history and legends, even hints on wrapping that one important present. Lots of people like to gather their own mistletoe. Foolish, to my way of thinking. You either have to climb the tree and literally go out on a limb to get the stuff, or you can shoot it off. Which could J mfean a broken bone of some-sort when you grab the mistletoe and forget to hang on to the branch. Or, run the risk of ricocheting bullets — silly time of the year to painfully pick off a neighbor, don't you think? Why not just purchase a few bunches? Save all that aggressive behavior for hunt ing your own turkey or tree. No body cast, no arrest war rant, just lots of thankful kisses when finally "home to the hunter". INSURANCE Stay informed... | read the Herein jyo u.Vuuilrtlll WSPM out ■tkere Mora than avar batora, you naad caraful financial planning to moat llfa'a responsibilities. Nationwide haa a sensible solution to the problem of " protecting your financial future. Nationwide Permanent Life Insurance Plan can help you Rrotect your family's income, elp make sure your mortgage is paid off and help enable your children to receive their education. And you can use the increasing cash accumulation provided by the plan for emergencies, collateral or for additional retirement income. Netionwide's Permanent Life Plan...a sensible solution In an uncertain world. JIM ELLIOTT 104 E. King SI Edenton, N.C. 4*2-2121 Hie Key Club of John A. Holmes High School recently contributed a check to Mrs. Martha Guttu, director of the Edenton-Chowan Food Pantry. Officers of the Key Club are Peter Mitchener, Secretary; Shannon Santana, Treasurer; Chad Johnson, Vice-President; and Harris Vaughan, President. Christmas Songfest Set Center Hill Baptist Church will present a Christmas message in song Sunday, De cember 13 at 5 p.m. featuring Children's, Youth and Adult Choir members. The musical will bring words of encourage to believers or introduce the Savior to those who do not know Him. Jane Bunch will direct the production, with Jake Boyce serving as pianist. Pastor Jim Sanders invites all in the community to come and celebrate the birthday of the Savior of mankind. Call the classifieds... 1financial planningi SOME EXPERTS ARE FREE It is not always necessary to spend a lot of money to get practical informa tion that can make your business more profitable. You have very valuable business information to trade with other business people. If you don't think so, maybe you haven't though about it enough. Con sider arranging a trip to visit other businesses similar to yours, but far enough away to be noncompeting. Whether you are selling products or services, there are other businesses somewhere that are similar to yours in gross sales, product mix, size of community, etc. Call several of these businesses and ask to visit them. Perhaps you can arrange to visit three or four within a period of one or two weeks and all on the same travel schedule. Gather the same information about your business that you are interested in learning from the businesses you'll visit. Take pictures of your premises, a copy of your floor plan, and two or three years of financial statements. Let the other businesses know in advance what type of information you intend to bring. As sure them of the confidentiality of any information they share and of your de sire to trade information; they'll be learning as much as you will. The fact that you are not a competitor of theirs should keep them from being concerned about giving away Trade secrets.* They stand to gain a great deal in the ex change, too. Take your camera and photograph everything of interest to you that your host will permit. When you return, you will have financial information, pictures, floor plans and lots of other information to share with your staff. You may find that an objective look at how someone else runs a business similar to yours provides you with new insight into some of your toughest business problems. I doubt that any business counselor would be able to provide you with any more current or practical information than you will be able to gather on such a trip. SYKES & COMPANY, P.A Certified Public Accountant 101 West King Street, Second Floor Edenton, North Caroline 27932 1 (919) 482-7644 Providing Complete Financial Management Services CHKYSLER Plymouth SC©TT Chrysler, Plymouth, Dodge Jnc. US Hwy. 64W - Plymouth NC ^962 No Salesmans Sale No Bargaining Necessary All Cars & Trucks Clearly Marked At $100 Over Invoice All Chrysler, Plymouth, Dodge Programs Honored TRADES WANTED Brand New Service & Parts Department To Serve You. Sale Ends 12/15/87 (I O (I s The Scott Promise You Will Not Have To Deal Elsewhere Because... If We Don't Have It In Stock - We Will Locate It If No One Has It - We Will Order It BUT - No One Will Get It Faster Or Give A Better Deal Than Us. Winfield F. Scott, Jr.