OP ARTS AND SCIENCES. 103 



standard below which the solids in milk should not be allowed to fall. 

 This might be even as low as 12 per cent. This low figure would be 

 better than the present system, because, in the first place, the consumer 

 would get a better article than he now gets, when all milk that contains 

 over Ut.75 per cent of solid matter has to be pa-;seJ as pure. The 

 producer woidd fire better also, since by stopping the sale of watered 

 milk, or rather tliat portion of watered milk tluit falls below 12 per 

 cent of total solids, the demand would be increased for pure milk. As 

 it is now, the majoi-ity of dealers seem to prefer to buy seven-eighths or 

 less of the milk that they need and make up the balance with water, 

 since water costs considerably less than milk. 



It seems to be pretty generally conceded that the producer very 

 rarely waters the milk that he delivers to the middlemen or contrac- 

 tors. These deliver to the owuers of milk routes, who sell to private 

 families or to stores, from whence it is delivered to the consumer. 

 The owners of the milk routes are the ones who are generally accused 

 of adulterating the milk. 



Such a law as that mentioned would, therefore, only diminish their 

 profits, while both tlie producer and contractor would be better satisfied , 

 for the market would be better and the consumer would be better 

 served. It may be urged, oii the other hand, that milk being an un- 

 certain animal product, dependent on various circumstances for its 

 richness and strength, — any one of which circumstances may at any 

 time become abnormal, and so change the value of the milk, — there- 

 fore it would be unjust to establish any fixed standard below which 

 the solids should not fall. Tlie answer to this is that the milk of well- 

 fed cows, in good health, rarely, if ever, falls below 11.5 per cent of 

 total solids, and that it will average over 13 per cent of total solids, 

 and that by establishing the standard at 12 per cent, with a margin 

 of half a per cent for exceptional cases, no injustice is done to any 

 one, while the public would be decidedly benefited. 



The average milk containing 12.5 per cent of solids should have 

 about the following composition : — 



Actual 

 Theory, Analysis. 



Sp. Gr 1.030 1.031 



Cream 8% 6% 



Sugar 4.40 4.32 



Caseine 4.30 4.27 



Ash 60 .64 



