On the farm we raise much of our own food, but there are some things that we must buy. What ought we to learn about buying food? What can a girl do about selling food products?

It is very easy for people living in the country to buy many articles by mail, for there are large firms that send out catalogues of everything that is needed about the house and farm. Miss Travers from the State College said that we should be careful to send our orders to firms that are known to be good. It is possible that some things are made under conditions that are bad for the workers, and the goods be thus made unsanitary for the buyers.

Miss Travers told the club that her college had studied carefully the question of buying by mail, and had found that, when the women bought in the nearest town, they did quite as well in regard to price, and had the advantage of seeing what they were purchasing. On the other hand, Miss Travers appreciated the fact that, in winter weather and when work at home is heavy, ordering by mail is much more convenient.

In buying food it is an economy, when there is storage room, to order large quantities from a wholesale dealer, - as sugar and flour, by the barrel.

Honest weights and measures. When we buy food in packages, in cans or bottles, we want to be sure that we are given the correct weight or measure. Is it not a good thing that our Government at Washington is helping us in this way? On May 11, 1914, at Washington,

D.C., the regulations were signed which make the manufacturers tell the weight, volume, and contents clearly on their packages of food. This applies to the whole country. The law itself was passed in 1913, but no one was made to pay the penalty for disobedience until September, 1914. Some states and cities have laws of this kind. The Bureau of Commerce has also published a pamphlet telling about household weights and measures. Here is a picture (Fig. 125) of the weights and measures that all housekeepers are advised to use. For there is only one way that you can be absolutely sure; that is, to measure and weigh what you have bought. One of the business men of Pleasant Valley was so interested in this pamphlet that he bought a set of scales and measures for the school, that the pupils might learn how to weigh and measure accurately, and to test packages. The pictures that follow show some of the frauds used by dealers. One of the tricks of the trade is to use liquid measure instead of dry measure for certain food materials. You can see what a difference it makes in the beans in Figure 126. Look at the picture (Fig. 127) of the bottles. Is it not strange that the bottle that looks the smallest holds the most? Miss James said, "If you are tempted to buy some flavoring that seems to be cheaper than another, you had better find out whether you are really getting as much for your money."

Fig. 125. - Weights and measures that all housekeepers are advised to use.

Cheap brands of food are often made of poor material. Ask the Woman's Club to write to the State University for advice in regard to reliable dealers. We have pure food laws in our country, but we must learn to obey and enforce them.

Fig. 126. - See what a difference it makes to use liquid instead of dry measure for beans.

Clean food, again. It is important in buying foods to consider cleanliness as well as the exact measure or weight. Clean milk and meat we have already talked about. It is not wise to buy salted almonds or any nut meats taken out of the shell, because sometimes these are prepared in uncleanly places. Crack your own nuts with a hammer, and take out the meats with clean hands and a nutpick. Fruits that come from foreign countries, like dates and figs, we should be sure to wash carefully before using.

Fig. 127. - Three bottles of extract (front and side views). This shows the impossibility of correctly estimating the quantity of contents from apparent size of the container. The bottle which is apparently smallest holds the most, and vice versa.

If we buy bread and cake from a baker's cart, as we do sometimes in the country, especially in the summer, we should know whether or not the bakery is clean. It is a great comfort in the hot weather to give up the baking for a while; but how unfortunate to buy, food made of poor materials and in an uncleanly way. There are large bakeries in some cities where the bread is made without being touched by the hands, the paper wrapper even being put on by machinery. This is a matter for study by the Woman's Club. If there are bakery laws, they should be enforced. No one has a right to sell baked food on which flies have crawled. We all should be too intelligent to eat impure and unclean food.

Cannot a girl help herself and her family by earning a little money? Many mothers and daughters around Pleasant Valley have what we call the "egg money." In the lesson on eggs we have already talked over some points about selling eggs. The Girls' Club one day asked if Miss Travers and Miss James would not discuss with them the question of earning money in other ways. Barbara Oakes said that she wanted to go away to school and then to the State College, after she had finished at the Pleasant Valley School; but with their large family, she did not know whether she could ask her father to help her. The girls had already heard of the canning clubs and knew that in this way each girl could have a little income. As a result of their discussion with their teachers and with their mothers and fathers, two or three of the club members decided to make bread and some other baked foods for sale. Miss James called upon several of the members of the Woman's Club who might be willing to be relieved of some of their baking. Several of the ladies were glad to try this experiment and they have found that the girls can make really delicious bread, rolls, cake, cookies, and desserts.

Fig. 128. - Raising ducks is a possible occupation. An old iron sink is used for a swimming pool.

An experiment in making butter for sale. A part of Mr. Allen's income comes from his selling his very good milk to a creamery. Marjorie said to him one day: "Father, you certainly have good cows. How different they are from those on Mr. Blank's farm ! Miss Travers noticed it one day when she was here and we were taking her to drive. She said, Why does Mr.

Fig. 129. - Marjone Allen and her new work and play.

Blank have such poor cows?' I could not help telling her that he has only three cans of milk from fifteen cows, and you have four cans from six." 1

This little book cannot tell you very much about dairying, but the U. S. Department of Agriculture will send all the pamphlets about cows and butter that you need.

1 This is an actual fact in one town.

Marjorie astonished her father by asking if he would give to herself and her brother Frank one of the fine calves, if they would care for it. She was not sure that she could now pay for all its feed, but when it was older she thought that she could return to him what the calf had cost, in butter. Mr. Allen talked it over with Mrs. Allen, and finally allowed Marjorie and her brother Frank to try the experiment. The brother and sister read all the pamphlets that they could find, studied the question of food for the calf, and kept an account of its cost. They learned, too about butter making and ways of selling butter. The experiment has not ended yet, but in the meantime Marjorie is making butter with her mother. Do you suppose that some one of you could do this, too? Although they plan always to live in the country, Marjorie and her brother are very anxious to go to the State College, and they want to help educate themselves.

Pin money from fresh vegetables. A girl who will give herself the pleasure of working in a vegetable garden in the summer will probably be able to sell her delicious fresh vegetables. These can even be sent away by parcel post. You can get directions from the post office about mailing boxes to be used in this way.

Exercises And Problems

1. Study the labels on all the food packages and bottles that you have at home and at school.

2. If you have scales of any kind, measure a few of the food packages either at home or at school.

3. Measure the contents of a few bottles to see if they agree with their labels.

4. Find out the laws of your own state and town in regard to pure food.

5. What are some of the important points to remember in selling food?

6. Is it good business to sell material of poor quality? Why not?

7. Is it good business in selling fruit to put the best on the top and the poor underneath?

8. Can you think of other ways than those suggested in this lesson for a girl to earn a little money at home?

Review

1. What is the use of a thermometer?

2. Do you know how to use a Centigrade thermometer?

3. What is a calorie?

4. What is meant by a 100-calorie portion?

5. What are you going to be particular about when you buy food?

6. What is the government doing to help you to have pure food and honest weights?

7. If some one in your family seems to be under weight, what can you suggest?