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Expert Opinions: Briar

The old-fashioned Sweetbriar, with its heaven-born perfume, often winter-kills here, but I grow it in among some tall-growing barberries through whose branches the Briar thrusts its long canes. The barberry shades the Briar canes in winter and but little loss occurs.

I tried Lord Penzance hybrids and, much to my regret, could not carry them over winter, so the charming Lady Penzance was banished from "Egandale.” The Persian Yellow and Harison's Yellow, as well as all the Mosses, are hardy here.

All of the Baby Ramblers do well here, slightly protected, and are well fitted for borders of large rose-beds. Ænnchen Müller is splendid; as a cut-flower, each well-grown truss is a bouquet in itself; and, the flowers being loosely arranged, give an airy elegance to the decoration. The color is good in daylight or electric, -a desirable quality in any flower. Hybrid Perpetuals and those grown as such require winterprotection. Some stand this covered-up condition better than others. Here is a list I gave in Bailey's "Cyclopedia of American Horticulture" some years ago, and I would not change it now. Undoubtedly, there are many more that will do as well if tried, but there are enough listed to create a garden for anyone.

The winter of 1898-1899 was the most severe in this section I ever experienced, and many trees and shrubs, considered "iron-clad," were killed. The following is a list of roses which wintered here under protection and which came out in good condition: