Farmers' Week in Agricultural College. 



293 



Ketail prices differ considerably in different places. In smaller 

 towns there is less difference in the retail price of the different cuts 

 and the general retail price is usually lower than in the larger places. The 

 retail price of meat in Columbia is higher than in most of the other 

 cities of the same size. In fact, Columbia is to be classed with Boston, 

 Philadelphia and Pittsburg in the price asked by the butchers for the 

 best cuts of beef. The quality of the beef sold in Columbia is only 

 medium. Few strictly No. 1 or prime cuts are sold here. The most of 

 the meat sold here grades as No. 3, or "butcher's stuff," with retail 

 prices as follows : 



Porterhouse steak or roast, 25 cents per pound (short cut). 



Sirloin steak or roast, 20 cents per pound. 



Round steak, 18 cents per pound. 



Standing rib roast, 15 to 18 cents per pound. 



Chuck steak, 12 i to 15 cents per pound. 



Chuck roast, 12 J cents per pound. 



Rump roast, 15 cents per pound. 



Plate stew, 10 cents per pound. 



Recently the writer visited the largest butcher shop in Troy, Mo., 

 and was given the following retail prices for beef : Porterhouse, sir- 

 loin and round, 121/4 cents per pound ; rib, chuck, rump and plate, 10 

 cents per pound. This market claims to kill all their own cattle. Meat 

 is selling considerably lower in Kansas City than in Columbia. 



COST OF A POUND OF LEAN MEAT. 



In most families but little fat beef is eaten, therefore the cost of 

 the edible lean meat is the important consideration for the average 

 housewife. 



The following table (No. 1) shows the distribution of the lean, 

 fat and bones (hand separated) in the different cuts of the prime beef 

 shown in plate four; while in table two is given the same distribution 

 for the good fat cow shown in plate two. 



TABLE 1. 

 Distribution of Lean, Fat and Bone, Steer No. 121. Prime Beef. 



