New-York tribune., 1912-02-07
Cutting Dos0n tie Food Bills
By Taking Thought Betimes for Summer Ice
Its Price May Be Reduced by Half.
BY Martha McCulIoch Williams.

member, as do. days when eggs were slow
of sale at two dozen for five cents. taken
in trade at that. But the bulk of eggs pass
from the farmer or the poultry keeper to
local dealers, often itnerant ones, who,
after gathering them up and standing the
less OF preakage, spoiled eggs and so on
ship them to the wholesalers, who, in turn,
after Gambling" them, tedious and rather
expensive process, distribute them to the
jobbers, whence they pass to the retailers,
and then pass to our kitchens and exc out
our breakfast tables. Considering the
hands that touch them, Is it wonderful that
the ultimate consumer pays quite double
the original cost? He may cry out eXtor-
tion and even mouth OF highway robbers,
but he has his choice Of paying the robbers
or going without eggs, or paying Infinitely
higher rates Depend on IT, were It not
for the egg gatherers, the chicken buyers
and all their kidney city folk would be
driven to fare more meagre than even
Lenten diet. Only the very rich could
afford fresh meat, poultry, fruit and vese-
tables produced within wagon range OF any
great metropolis.
A story in point was told me by R woman
now dead. who in her day though not par
tcularly refined or witty, was accepted
socially in the highest circles abroad and
knew the secrets OF their menages. my
friend Lady -" she said, commands
my undying admiration. She had three
daughters but no son. At her husbands
death. title and estates went to distant
and hostile branch. leaving her with three
beauties on her hands, and I'M income
about sufficient to keep a curate's family.
But she had in addition fine garden. two
well equipped glass houses, hothouse and
a grapery. She had also n genius for gar
denlng Upon less than three acres she
raised enough salable stuff to piece out
her income so her girls dressed beautifully
and all married well. She had asparagus In
one glass house. strawberries in The other.
They came to perfection long before thos"
growing outside and fetched IN Coyent
| Garden Market absolutely enormous prices.
Every stalk Of asparagus. every berry was
sold. SO were the roses, the vlolets, the
grapes Her own family she fed on canned
stun. or things brought In from afar-the
South II France say. or else she took over
through her agents. OF course and az
bargain ratcs-any considerable surplusage
I'm the market stalls My asparagus paid
for my youngest girls presentation gown
she told me proudly. adding. with little
frown: Yet the migrate said she had
rather have eaten the stun than sold Il.
Nv gravcs saw me- safe through the two
dinner parties I was compelled 10 give
each season As Tor the straw berries, the
flowers and such Ike stun they were lifc-
presoryors People will pay any price for
things absolutely frcsh-I mean people who
have tho price. ! never could have done
all did but for living so close 20 London.
/ had no expenses OF transportation. My
own gardner and steward fetched md car
rlcd everything saw 90 selling it and
brought back the money. never thinking of
asking extra wages, though always gave
them something at Christmas"
The morale II Is this: But for the
berated middle man. in his several phases.
only the folk who can pay for fresh things
would navo the chance Of them. Middle
mon have made truck growing possible,
notwithstanding they may have mulcted
individual truck growers. There Is no help
I'm abusing them? Plan rather TO diminish
their number as much as you may.