76 THE WAR GARDEN VICTORIOUS 
In response to official request, these were furnished by 
the Commission in sufficient quantities for circulation 
among the schools of America. The Commission’s book 
“War Vegetable Gardening” was made the standard 
book of instructions and it reached every school in the 
land through the machinery of the United States School 
Garden Army. In similar way the Commission’s book 
on canning and drying was distributed and given official 
recognition in the educational world. 
The satisfactory results achieved through the cooper- 
ation of the two organizations was given expression 
by Director Francis in the following letter to the Com- 
mission under date of October 5th, 1918: 
My dear Mr. Ridsdale: 
I do not feel that I should allow the Garden season 
of 1917-1918 to close without acknowledging to you the 
very great service the National War Garden Commis- 
sion has rendered the United States School Garden 
Army organization, and telling you that we deeply 
appreciate the cordial, earnest way in which you have 
cooperated with us in working out our problem. 
For 1919 the work of the United States School Garden 
Army was further expanded and standardized. Per- 
ceiving the value of school cooperation through the 
Bureau of Education, the National War Garden Com- 
mission prepared special printings of the victory editions 
of these books. 
These are for the exclusive use of the United States 
School Garden Army. On the front cover of the school 
edition of each book appears a reproduction in the 
