112 AGRICULTURE OF MAINK. 



to deliver full weight and that competition in quantity is not a 

 feature of his business. 



Then again, take for instance, the advantage of a good repu- 

 tation in the line of full weight. A large amount of the butter 

 sold in Massachusetts comes from the State of Vermont, and 

 a few years ago it was discovered that short weight butter was 

 being delivered from that State. Steps were at once taken to 

 stop that practice, — and let me say here, that in most cases it 

 was found that shortage was not intentional for upon investi- 

 gation the scales used by the creamery were at fault, or the 

 moulds were to blame, and in the case of 5 lb. boxes it was 

 often found that the paddle used to press the butter into the 

 box and smooth it over, had become worn so deep at the notch 

 where it fits over the top edge of the box that it scraped deeper 

 than it should have, causing shortage. 



As soon as Vermont established its State Department this 

 butter shortage in its State was called to its attention and the 

 Department was soon in touch with the creameries and faulty 

 conditions were remedied. 



Now, if we in Massachusetts have a complaint that any cer- 

 tain creamery in Vermont is sending short butter, our commis- 

 sioner notifies the Vermont commissioner and the creamery is 

 called to account. 



This supervision is working to the benefit of the dairymen 

 in Vermont, for the merchants in Massachusetts, at least, feel 

 assured that the Vermont creamery will deliver full weight, 

 and with this assurance they feel disposed to favor the Ver- 

 mont trade. 



Like conditions should exist in all states and just as soon as 

 your State Commissioner is given the essentials to carry on 

 his work, the better it will be for all. 



Tlie third form of the evil is a direct result of the short- 

 comings of the National Pure Food and Drugs Act. This 

 Act, as is well known, was a compromise measure and onh' by 

 allowing the clause which would have required the branding 

 of the net contents on the outside of the package to be stricken 

 out, could even so powerful a champion as Congressman Mann 

 succeed in getting this magnificent piece of legislation enacted. 



Packages have been constantly shrinking in size and content. 



