GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2005

H                                                                                                                                                    1

HOUSE BILL 1316

Short Title:     Fraser Fir Official Christmas Tree.		(Public)
Sponsors:	Representative Frye.
Referred to:	State Government.

April 20, 2005

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT adopting the fraser fir as the official christmas tree of the state of north carolina.

Whereas, North Carolina has 1,500 Christmas tree growers and produces more trees than any other state except Oregon; and

Whereas, North Carolina tree growers produce over 50 million Fraser firs each year; and

Whereas, the Fraser fir constitutes more than 90% of all the Christmas trees grown in North Carolina; and

Whereas, the Fraser fir is named for John Fraser, a Scottish botanist who explored the Southern Appalachian mountains of North Carolina in the late 1700s; and

Whereas, the Fraser fir is a pyramid‑shaped tree that reaches a maximum height of 80 feet and a trunk diameter of 1 to 1 and 1/2 feet; and

Whereas, the Fraser fir grows naturally only in the Southern Appalachians; and

Whereas, Fraser fir trees grown in North Carolina have won the National Christmas Tree Association's annual tree competition more than any other species; and

Whereas, the Fraser fir deserves recognition as the official Christmas tree of the State of North Carolina; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Chapter 145 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

"§ 145‑22. Official Christmas tree.

The Fraser fir (Abies fraseri) is adopted as the official Christmas tree of the State of North Carolina."

SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.