42 



AGklCLLTURlv OF MAINE). 



made if the colored article is sold, but no licenses were issued 

 for that purpose. 



The sale O'f oleomargarine for exactly what it is and not 

 under the disguise of butter is of economic importance to the 

 consumer. With the object of enlightening the consumers, J. 

 complete list of names of dealers selling oleomargarine was; 

 secured from the Revenue ofihce at Portsmouth and published 

 in bulletin form. 



Dealers selling renovated butter do not require special li- 

 censes so that data in regard to the extent of its sale are limited 

 to observation. Closed cartons containing oleomargarine or 

 renovated butter are becoming the prevalent method of sale ; 

 still in many instances the substance is sold in small lots from 

 tubs. Grooerymen are coming to regard the sealed carton as 

 the most sanitary method and one which lessens the danger 

 from failure to mark the package. 



A number of samples of the product has been purchased m 

 an endeavor to ascertain whether the dealers were complying 

 with the law or not. These purchases were made as any con- 

 sumer would buy and the following tabulation shows the re- 

 sults of samples secured in i6 cities and towns. 



Local Inspection. 



I have endeavored to ascertain to what extent local inspec- 

 tion has been practiced, and while inspectors have been ap- 

 pointed in several instances the work is far from efficient be- 

 cause of a lack of knowledge or of equipment to work with. 

 I have found that inspectors in but 3 cities and in but 5 towp.> 

 make any examination of milk whatever, and that in but one 

 city are the tests other than the preliminary tests for butter 

 fat, made. In this instance a bacterial test has. recently been 

 included and made by a special officer. The time is not far 

 distant when a limit will bq established for the number of bac- 

 teria allowed in the milk of that city. 



