244 Third Annual Report of the 



»■ 



We have answered every applicatioti for inspections or assist- 

 ance as promptly as possible; during most of the busy season 

 applications have had to wait from one to two weeks, and we have 

 also been obliged to confine ourselves to making inspections only 

 where applications were made. I do not like this plan, as I be- 

 lieve we get much better results, and give greater satisfaction to 

 all concerned, where we inspect without an application; no one, 

 not even the cheese maker or owmer, kn'owing that an inspector 

 is coming; but with our limited number of employes, this method 

 can be followed only during a small portion of the year. 



For the past two years we have been giving considerable at- 

 tention to the condition of factories, drainage and surroundings, 

 as well as the utensils, and the inspectors report a great improve- 

 ment; we have also given much time to the condition of milk when 

 delivered to factories, but not as much as necessity seemed to 

 require; at the beginning of the factory season this year, I re- 

 quested all the inspectors to take special care in determining the 

 condition of milk when delivered, to be sure to call the attention 

 of all those bringing milk in any way tainted or dirty, or whose 

 cans were in an unfit condition, to the fact, and warn them that 

 should the practice continue we would certainly be obliged to 

 take samples and begin suits. This action has met with the hearty 

 approval of the che-ese makers and careful, prudent farmers, be- 

 cause this evil has been, in the past, one of the most serious hin- 

 drances in making a fine article of either butter or cheese. Upon 

 again visiting the factories^, where we found this trouble early in 

 the season, we have found marked improvements, showing that 

 our efforts in this line have not been in vain. 



We have carefull.y traveled over the greater portion of this 

 division for violations of the vinegar law, and I am satisfied 

 that at the present time no vinegar made in semblance ot cider 

 vinegar is being sold; very little is offered for sale but what 

 is up to the standard; we have taken samples in a few cases 

 where cider vinegar was found to be below the standard in acid. 

 Am a I'ule the pro'duct found in small towns is not of as good 

 quality as found in cities or large towns, owing undoubtedly to 



