Nova Scotia Christmas Tree Grading Definitions

Density is the amount of foliage on a tree and for grading purposes is classified as follows:

Heavy Density applies to trees with the following characteristics:

• Whorls or branches are relatively close together and the spaces between the whorls or branches are so filled with twigs that eighty to one hundred percent of the main stem is generally invisible, and

• The needle population and growth are adequate to cover the branches;

Medium Density applies to trees with the following characteristics

• The whorls or branches are reasonably close together and the spaces between the whorls or branches are so filled with twigs that sixty to eighty percent of the main stem is generally invisible, and

• The needle population and growth are adequate to cover the branches

Light Density applies to trees with the following characteristics:

• the whorls or branches are reasonably spaced and the spaces between the whorls or branches are only partially filled so that forty to sixty percent of the main stem is generally invisible, and

• The needle population and growth are adequate to reasonably cover the branches

Taper is the relationship of the width of the tree at its lowest branches to the height of the tree

The balance of a tree is determined as follows:

• By considering a tree to have four faces, each face encompassing one quarter section of the tree and including the visible area of a tree as viewed from a distance of 8 to 10 feet from the tree, and by inspecting each face for completeness and defects in the process of grading;

• By assessing the tree to be "well-shaped" meaning the tree as having branches of sufficient number and length to form a conical outline tapering from the lowest whorl of branches to the top, with the main stem at the center

Foliage is assessed under the following terms

Fresh when the needles are green, crisp and firmly attached;

Clean where the tree is almost free of foreign material;

Healthy when the needles have a fresh natural appearance characteristic of the species.

For official grade purposes

Defects includes the lack of some part of the tree or the presence of extraneous parts or of foreign material which detracts from its appearance; and

Minor defects means slight imperfections in the development of the tree or as a result of handling which do not seriously affect the appearance of the tree and are identified as:

• Slight uneven density

• Slight visible crook in the main stem

• Partially visible multiple main stem

• Small open hole

• Slight physical damage

• Slight insect or disease damage

• Multiple leader

• Weak lower whorl or lower branches

• Broken branch

• Extra long branch

Quebec Standards
Must be purchased
BNQ, Bureau de la normalisation du Quebec