[2] The magazine initially sought to publish poetry, book reviews, essays, prose, fiction, jokes, art news, anecdotes, household hints, recipes, and music scores that would appeal to a wide range of readers.
Over time, it switched to essays on linguistics, dramatic sketches with Biblical themes, Victorian gift-book style poetry, and formulaic romantic-styled historical fiction, following a genteel, traditional, and moralistic bent which appealed to a smaller number of readers.
[1] It has been described as providing for its readers "a polite, effeminate world where blushing maidens, sentimentality, class snobbery, and religious propriety ruled supreme.
[1] His role as editor for Literary Garland was filled by Eliza Lanesford Cushing, who was an important contributor in poetry and prose fiction, as well as dramatic plays and sketches that were integral to the beginning of play-writing as an art in English Canada.
[8] Harriet Vaughan Cheney, founder of Canada's first children's magazine and Eliza Lanesford Cushing's sister, was a staple contributor to Literary Garland.