Commissioner of Agriculture 59 



to be reshipped for consumption as such, to say nothing of the 

 great number of stables in which cows are kept for the production 

 of milk. In doing this work we have made 1,587 sanitary inspec- 

 tions, and found 425 plants in such condition as to be subject to 

 criticism. The conditions in 190 of these plants have been cor- 

 rected and correction is in process in such of the others as are 

 now in use. This work has been done under the power and 

 authority conferred upon the Commissioner of Agriculture by 

 the provisions of section 45 of the Agricultural Law, relative to 

 unclean receptacles and places for keeping milk. I believe that 

 this work has been of great value to the consuming public and 

 will be, if continued, not only of great value to the consumer but 

 of great advantage to the dealers in this product. I feel that the 

 milk going to the markets of this state at the present time is, 

 as it ought to be, delivered in a better condition than heretofore. 

 Improvement along these lines should be continued to the end 

 that the consumer may have pure milk in the full sense and mean- 

 ing of that term. In order to do this it is quite probable that 

 some amendments should be made to the Agricultural Law, so 

 that those who handle milk to be exposed for sale on the markets 

 shall conduct the work in an entirely cleanly manner, and so 

 that the commodity shall not be allowed to be handled by persons 

 suffering with infectious or contagious disease. If the desired 

 result is produced, it may be necessary to give some additional 

 power to the Commissioner of Agriculture, to the end that the 

 stables where milk-producing cattle are kept shall be put in a 

 condition that will not be inimical to that product. I am of the 

 opinion that this work should be performed by the state and not 

 left for the municipalities. I would not leave the impression 

 from this report that the stables where milk is produced are as 

 a whole in such a condition, but there is a goodly number of 

 them that should receive attention. 



MILK CANS 



A surveillance has been kept over the milk cans and other 

 receptacles in which milk has been shipped to the market to see 

 that when returned to the producer they are in a cleanly condi- 

 tion. One hundred cans only have been condemned during the 



