Commissioner op Agriculture. 245 



the fact, that most of the vinegar sold in small towns is pur- 

 chased from the farmer who has no instrument for testing, simply 

 relying on his own judgment; he knows it to be cider vinegar so 

 far as its being made from cider, and thinks it must be of suflicient 

 sitrength; in this way much reaches our markets before it has 

 arrived at a proper degree of aeidit3^ I have always hesi- 

 tated about taking samples of known cider vinegar when 

 it was nearly up to the standard; but the more I study 

 the question the more I am convinced that this matter 

 should be treated exactly as the milk section of our law. 

 The present condition of the vinegar trade and product, as com- 

 pared with its condition when this law was enacted, is a matter 

 that all should rejoice o^^er. Only a few years since, much of the 

 vinegar offered for sale as cider vinegar, was an imitation; now 

 nearly, if not all, is just what it represents itself to be. This is 

 a source of satisfaction to me, because it demonstrates the fact, 

 that this Department is able to, and will stamp out a fraud if given 

 the opportunity; and it also brings to light anew, the desire of the 

 people of this Empire State, to obey its laws, not to be willing 

 to patronize a fraud, and to demand that they get from their 

 dealers just what they suppose they are getting. 



We have not relaxed our vigilance on the oleomargarine ques- 

 tion, but have kept a continual watch for its appearance^ visiting 

 not only the cities and larger towns, but going into out of the way 

 places, lumber and lodging camps, and cheap boarding-honses; 

 but since the decision in favor of this law, by the court of last 

 resort, we have not been able to find anyone willing to handle or 

 use the goo'ds. Those in this locality who were so active hereto- 

 fore, selling these goods, have ceased their activity, and are now 

 advertising and selling dairy butter with just as much zeal as 

 was formerly used in selling oleomargarine. I do not believe any 

 is used or sold in this division contrary to law, at the present time. 



On February 2, 1895, I received a oommunication from you, 

 requesting that the factory statistics for the preceding year be 

 gathered. I immediately notified all the agents under my direc- 

 tion^ assigning them territory, so that the work might be carried 



