A practical knowledge of marketing on the part of the housewife affects to a marked degree both the comfort and expense-book of the family. Intelligence and skill in buying are only secured by careful practice. The purchaser must not fear to ask questions. Most men with whom she will have to deal will be found to be patient, helpful, painstaking and reliable, yet she must make sure by sufficient trials that the cuts of meat, etc., recommended are, all things considered, those that are best adapted to meet the needs of her family.

It is usually greatly to one's advantage to select a regular place for marketing. Greater consideration is shown such customers and better satisfaction results. Time is saved, and usually it proves to be quite as economical, often more so. Disappointments are less liable to occur than in buying more generally.

The fact of buying regularly at the same place should not, however, lead to the erroneous idea that a telephone may be substituted for frequent visits to the market. This is a mistake which is increasing rapidly in America. Orders given in this way, by note, or to the driver at the door are liable to be less satisfactory than those which are given at the store where selection can be made by the purchaser. The telephone may be resorted to occasionally in emergencies, but should not take the place of regular visits. The greater satisfaction to be secured through personal selection, the greater variety secured by seeing otherwise unthought-of articles and the closer economy possible more than offset the additional time consumed.

More than a single day's order may be given at a time. All orders needing prompt filling, as meats and vegetables, should be given in ample season, usually the day before, so that there may be sufficient time to fill the order without discomfort to those who serve. This is only reasonable consideration for others, besides securing for one's self the avoidance of disappointments which are very apt to occur when too limited time is allowed in filling the order. It is evidence of an inexcusable lack of foresight when a housewife plans so little beyond the immediate need as to leave the ordering of roast beef for a twelve-o'clock dinner until 10 o'clock of the morning it is desired.

Meats are, perhaps, the most difficult to understand and to buy to advantage. A few years ago the supply of meats was practically all local, but at the present time only veal and lamb are supplied locally in places of any considerable size. The supply of beef and pork for the United States is almost wholly from the West, Chicago being the chief center, especially for the wholesale beef trade. Some of the objections raised by those who oppose the consumption of meat because of supposed unwholesome and unsanitary conditions of killing, storing and transporting, are practically without foundation at the present time. Conditions have been greatly improved within the last few years and great sanitary precautions are exercised. The large houses of Chicago are rendered thoroughly sanitary and are carefully inspected by United States officers who also inspect every animal killed, and tag the meat for shipping. Each quarter is numbered, the car in which it is shipped is also numbered and a record made of the meat sent. In this way any complaints can be readily traced. The transportation is now done by the use of refrigerator cars.