“And how much does the basket hold?” “Five quarts.” Mrs. Larry looked startled. “Then a customer pays ten cents for one quart, and nineteen cents for five quarts? Think of paying ten cents a quart when I could get them for four cents! I have been buying them by the quart because they don’t keep well.” “Keep your sweet potatoes in a cool place and pick them over every day. When they show spots, boil them in their jackets, set them away in the refrigerator, and they will keep indefinitely after they are boiled,” advised the clerk. “We are having a special on certain brands of canned goods to-day--peas, tomatoes, apricots and sliced pineapple. Probably some canner found himself overloaded with certain vegetables and fruits, and our firm took advantage of the fact. If you can use a dozen cans, you will save thirty cents on the dozen, nearly three cents on each can. And you can mix your order in any way you like--three of this, four of that, two of another, etc.” “And you have ‘specials’ like this every day?” asked Mrs. Larry. “Yes, sometimes the specials run a week. Others are only for one day.” “I am through with telephoning. Hereafter I shall order my groceries in person,” announced Mrs. Larry. * * * * * Wednesday evening found the Nortons, the Moores and Claire Pierce waiting in Mrs. Larry’s living-room for Mr. Benton, manager of the Dorlon store. On the reading table, Lena, fairly bristling with importance, was arranging the exhibit which had arrived from the store. This included two brands of canned peaches, cartons of rice, tea, sugar, crackers and flavoring extracts and various packages of irregular shape. “Looks like a private pure food exhibit,” commented Mr. Norton. Mr. Benton proved an interesting and interested talker. “Personal investigation and experimentation on the part of the housewife are desired by all conscientious tradespeople. In the case of the Dorlon Company, which operates a chain of thirty stores in Greater New York, the buyers desire to give customers the benefit of every possible price-saving. The managers of the stores are equally desirous of keeping customers posted on price changes and market values, but we can not force customers to take a lively interest in saving money, when they prefer to follow the line of least trouble and least resistance. Therefore, I am very glad to give you a few pointers on the subject of buying groceries. “The principal topics in which housewives are interested are these: package versus bulk goods; cold storage versus fresh goods; adulteration versus substitution; honest and dishonest labels; premiums.