It's time for our annual advice about Christmas trees. To purchase the freshest tree possible, test the tree by standing it upright and giving it the scratch, thump, and bend test. First, reach in and scrape the trunk hard. The bark should be green and moist underneath. Then lift the tree and thump it hard; if there is a shower of needles, it is too dry. Then bend a branch way over; if it snaps, it is too dry and won't last long. Many trees were cut six to eight weeks before you see them and thus have become a fire hazard. When you put your tree up, place the trunk through the center of a plastic drop cloth that you can lift up and wrap around the tree later. This will ensure an easy (needle-free) removal. And that's the On The House tip for today.