company in Canada that will supply almost half the festive firs sold this season Few adults look forward to December 25 more than Quebec Balsams boss Gerald Couture -- because he can finally rest after shipping more than 125,000 Christmas trees in around eight weeks.

Between mid October and the first week of December he will ship 110 containers, including around 34 to Bermuda, as well as dispatch 60-70 trucks throughout North America. His orders to the Island have gone through the roof after importer BGA dropped out this year, claiming its trees were trashed when government inspectors had to spray them twice to kill Pine Needle Scale which is a threat to our cedars.

Quebec Balsams Export Inc. will provide around 50 percent of the Island's 15,000 trees this year.

But after 14 years in the business Mr. Couture is well able to cope with shipping to 15 countries and 15 different states.

He said: "I don't want to flood the market. I like my trees to be in the better establishments. And it's good to have competition -- it forces you to do a better job.'' He began running the family business Quebec Balsams at the age of 23 after his father Norman died. Annual sales have leapt from $150,000 to more than $1,500,000.

But it hasn't been easy. He says: "It took me five years to make $1,000 dollars profit.

"This isn't the business to make a quick buck. It's a very labour and capital intensive process.'' Now business is booming. Indeed when asked how many farms he has Mr. Couture has to think for a moment. "We own 15 sites and we rent and manage 10 others. We also buy from 10 other farms. We have around a million trees and we are always looking for more sites.'' Mr. Couture, who was a trader in the import and export commodities market before taking on Quebec Balsam, opted to concentrate on the export market because profits were greater. But unfortunately so are the headaches.

He says: "There are so many things you don't have control over -- the weather, the truckers. Containers bound for St. Martin can end up in St.

Lucia. One time there was a coup in Venezuela and we couldn't ship there.

"We were told once that we couldn't ship to Puerto Rico because all the cranes were damaged. Storms can stop the boats.

"We once had a shipping company cancel 28 containers -- all I do is solve problems.

But despite the hassle it is still a rewarding business.

Mr. Couture says: "We have grown with our customers -- today some of our oldest customers have become some of the biggest retailers on their islands.

"If customers at Christmas say they are happy with what I have sent them then I don't have to worry about next year's orders -- I know I will have them next time around.

"We still have customers from when my father started the business in 1955.

When I started we took on exporting to one island at a time and our aim was always to deliver more than we had promised.'' And he has other more subtle techniques for keeping retailers happy. He says: "I always let Great Things general manager Andrew Gracie win in our annual golf game in Bermuda.'' Mr. Gracie says: "When we play golf we don't discuss trees. We don't need to -- I know he provides the best.'' Outlets for Quebec Balsams Export Inc. trees include: Great Things, Market Place, Lindos, Whites, Aberfeldy Nurseries, Esso City Automarket, Soares, Sousa's Landscape Management, Bermuda Plant Nursery and Harrington Hundreds.

Peter Bromby and Lee White also sell the trees to raise cash for the Olympic sailing team.

Business is growing: Gerald Couture, head of Quebec Balsams Export Inc. stands in one of his farms in Canada, which will supply around 50 percent of the 15,000 Christmas trees shipped to the island this season.