BOISE, IDAHO 1 
EVERGREENS FOR ALL PURPOSES 
In the not too distant past the word evergreen meant 
only tall growing pine, spruce and fir. Many people today 
only think of these types when the word evergreen is 
mentioned. However, we now have many forms that stay 
relatively small; we need more of them to be sure, with 
the modern ranch type house, but even so we have many 
that will not grow too terribly big. Evergreens have become 
the most popular type of shrub. 
Evergreens are usually considered to be hard to handle 
from the viewpoint of the ultimate consumer. This too is 
incorrect. If they have been properly handled in the nursery 
before the final purchaser gets them they are no harder to 
grow than any other plant. In our experience the losses in 
transplanting are less than those with deciduous stock that 
is handled bare root. To grow successfully when moved an 
evergreen must be properly trained. This takes much time 
and painstaking labor. At first glance there is no difference 
between an individual plant that has been well grown and 
one that has been grown poorly. However, the well grown 
one has been frequently transplanted and sheared season- 
ally before it is ready for market. As a result of this care 
most evergreens are from six to ten years of age when 
they are of commercial size. When carefully dug, a plant 
of this sort has a solid ball of earth loaded with fibrous 
roots. It is wrapped securely with burlap so that there 
is no cracking or breaking of the ball, Such plants moved 
to your garden without breakage and well soaked in are 
almost 100% sure to grow. 
As outlined above growing evergreens is a slow process. 
These years of feeding, shearing, spraying and transplanting 
result in plants that are lovely to look at and that are full 
of vitality. It also explains why some evergreens cost more 
than others. The ultimate cost to the consumer is not the 
original cost of the plants purchased but that one baser 
on the percentage of plants that grow. It may be that the 
original cost is the final one. It sometimes is many times 
the original cost as the result of the death of most of the 
stock. Well grown stock is always the least expensive in 
the end. 
We list over 100 varieties that are quite distinct and of 
value in our locality. They are listed under their botanical 
names and their common one as given in Standardized 
Plant Names. Usually the ultimate height is given tho 
this will vary with soils and climatic conditions. 
ABIES — THE FIRS 
We have grown and discarded a good many species in 
thepast thirty odd years. The following seem best adapted 
to our conditions. 
ABIES BALSAMEA—Balsam fir attains a height eventually 
of about seventy feet. It is a rapid grower or slender 
form with dark green foliage, silvery beneath. The cones 
are violet or purple. 
18-24 in. $4.00; 2-3 ft. $5.50; 3-4 ft. $7.50 
