87 
and there is no good evidence that the publication of the book 
was delayed after it left the press. 
(Og Se 
BAC O VAR D GARDENING IN TOLEDO] Os ANp 
LEBANON, PA. 
The Toledo Museum of Art “is conducting an active campaign 
that will lead to a more wholesome and attractive city. One branch 
of the work will be the beautifying of the home grounds, and for 
that purpose the museum has engaged an expert gardener who will 
be pleased to furnish anyone with free advice on flower and shrub 
planting.” 
The above quotation is from an article on “ Landscape garden- 
ing—its relation to the back yard,” in the April, 1914, number 
of the Museum News, published by the Toledo Museum of Art. 
Gardening would not, at first thought, be considered as an 
activity in which an art museum would be deeply interested. But 
art museums might very properly be expected to be greatly inter- 
ested in the beauty of the cities where they are located, and it is 
from this point of view, as a means to a “city beautiful,” that the 
Toledo museum has become interested in gardening. 
A letter to the writer from Mr. George W. Stevens, director 
of the Toledo museum, contains the following information about 
this phase of their work: 
“We have the services of an expert landscape gardener, Mr. 
W. H. Steffens, who goes to the schools for daily talks. Some 
of the older children come to the museum for these talks, which 
are illustrated with colored slides. Last month 8,000 children 
came to the museum talks. ie street car companies carried them 
free—running special cars, which was most generous. We give 
250 cash prizes, $1,000 in all, for the best house garden, the best 
back yard, the best vacant lot, best school garden, etc. A certain 
number of prizes are allotted to each school district. There are 
general prizes as well. We help the factories beautify, sending 
our expert to lay out schemes, and concern ourselves in such other 
ways as from day to day are suggested. 
“ Seeds are sold at cost, one cent a package, at the schools, at 
