1902.] QUESTIONS. 181 



nine-tenths pure. I think the adulteration of food products 

 is steadily decreasing. 



Secretary Brown. " Why is it that storekeepers will not 

 purchase from farmers' wives at reasonable prices pure home 

 made jellies and preserves ? " Is that true ? 



A Voice. They are too high-priced. 



Prof. WiNTON. I think, Mr. Secretary, it is very true 

 that they will not. 



Secretary Brown. Can you give us the reason for it? 



Prof. Winton. Storekeepers say, in the first place, that 

 the farmers' wives charge too much, and, in the second place, 

 they say that the goods do not keep well. In the third place, 

 they say that the goods do not look so well as others, and the 

 grocerymen are entirely right in all these statements. They 

 do cost more, and they do not keep as well, and they do not 

 present such an attractive appearance as those that come from 

 a factory. The reason why the factory goods sell so cheaply 

 is because they are, in many instances, artificial mixtures. 

 That is one reason why they cost less, and then, another 

 thing, they keep better because they put in these artificial 

 dyes and salicylic acid. This coloring matter gives the goods 

 a better appearance, and they take the market. Even though 

 the farmer's wife comes in with an honest product that tastes 

 better, the dishonest product gets the market many times 

 because of those qualities. 



Mr. Hale. One of the answers of the grocerymen to the 

 housewife who brings in such goods for sale, as stated by the 

 gentleman who has just preceded me, is that the goods do not 

 look so well. Now, the attractiveness of the package, and the 

 way it is put up, is one of the largest factors in the sale of 

 almost any product. You must catch the eye first if you are 

 going to open the pocketbook, and then if you are going to 

 keep it wide open you must give them a good thing. You 

 must give your goods a good appearance first, and that will- 

 do much to help the sale, and if the housewife will make a 



