12 INTRODUCTION. 
comparatively neglected, if not entirely lost, 
jostled and thrust aside by the increasing 
horde of newer aspirants. 
How many acountry home owes its out- 
ward charm not only to its coronal of lilacs, 
honeysuckles, and snow-balls, its pomp of 
Pzeonias, roses of Sharon and trumpet-vine, 
but to its climbing roses most of all—the 
blush-colored Baltimore Belle and rose-red 
Queen of the Prairies which festoon its pillars 
and entwine its arbors. Can any new variety 
exhale a sweeter perfume than the roses of 
our childhood—the old white Damask, pink 
Cabbage, and common Moss whose scented 
petals perchance remain fragrant still in the 
haunting essence of the rose-jar? Even the 
pink clusters of the rambling Michigan rose, 
and the spicy foliage of the Sweetbriar bring 
up an old garden with its pageant of daffo- 
dils, sweet Williams, snow-pinks, and Ma- 
donna lilies; its troops of columbines, lark- 
spurs, bearded Irids, and bachelor-buttons; 
its blaze of hollyhocks, tiger-lilies, dahlias, 
and sunflowers. The first June rose! emblem 
of summer, symbol of sweetness, hue of 
beauty—with each succeeding year it blos- 
soms fresh and beautiful as when Sappho 
crowned it with praise, and the nightingale 
wooed it in the gardens of Naishaptr. 
