Commissioner of AcnicuLTURE. 15 



It will be seen by examining the above that there is no 

 standard that is below that of the State of New York; and 

 of the fourteen but five have standards as low as ours, so that, 

 so far as the actions of other States are concerned, we can find 

 nothing to indicate that our standard is too high. If it is to be 

 lowered it can not rest upon the doctrine of precedent, but must 

 rest upon reasons produced tending to show that the present stand- 

 ard is inequitable inasmuch as it condemns innocent parties for 

 selling a commodity when it is pure. When the present standard 

 was created it was believed that it was placed so that no pure milk, 

 drawn from healthful, well-cared-for cows, three or more in 

 number, would ever fall below such standard. At that time there 

 was a method of analysis known as the Wanklyn- Waller method, 

 and upon this method of analysis the standard was based. Since 

 that time a new method has been used which is pronounced accu- 

 rate by the best chemists, which is the same as the Wanklyn- 

 Waller method, except as to the method of extracting the fat 

 from the milk, which is known as the Adams method, and which 

 extracts more fat than the old method. It is estimated by those 

 in a position to know, as I am informed, that the extra amount 

 of fat it extracts varies from .24 per cent, to A per cent, of 1 per 

 cent., so that it will readily be seen that since the enactment of 

 the law creating this standard it has been practically lowered 

 so far as butter fats are concerned. Relying upon this as an argu- 

 ment, there are some people who desire to raise the standard as 

 to butter fats, some advocating 3.3 per cent., some raore and some 

 a little less. There are also others who advocate changing the 

 proportions a little without saying in just what way, claiming 

 that the proportions of fat in the present standard, to the other 

 constituents, are not as they should be. 



While this Department has not taken any active part either 

 for or against legislation tending to change the standard, I am 

 of the opinion that before any changes are made evidence should 

 be presented to the Legislature showing, beyond a doubt, that the 

 standard is unjust. This evidence should be of such a nature 

 that it can not be in any way questioned as to accuracy. 



