60 Seventeenth Annual Report of the 



year, which indicates a great improvement in the condition of 

 the cans themselves. Practically all of the cans that are now re- 

 turned from cities to the milk producers are in a cleanly condi- 

 tion when returned. This is a great improvement over what 

 existed prior to the amendment to the statute placing power of 

 surveillance under this department. There have been about 

 65,000 cans inspected in New York City and 60,000 cases con- 

 taining 12 bottles each, with a view to getting data for a fair 

 estimate of the conditions prevailing in the average stables where 

 milk is produced for the consuming public, and with the further 

 view of getting data upon which to determine the best methods of 

 approaching the question from an educational standpoint of im- 

 proving such conditions. I have caused a series of investiga- 

 tions to be made by Dr. Ellis M. Santee, Cortland, N". Y., of such 

 stables in various parts of the state where he examined the cattle 

 in stables on farms using a score card, to determine two ques- 

 tions, (1) the equipment and its condition and, (2) the methods 

 followed in production. In doing this work he visited farms in 

 the following counties: 



Montgomery County.— Sixty-one dairy farms in which the 

 total score varied between 71.6 per cent., the highest, and 14.6 

 per cent., the loAvest; the average being 33.58 per cent. 



Steuben County. — ■ Fifteen dairies in which the scoring varied 

 between 60.3 per cent., the highest, and 20.1 per cent., the lowest; 

 the average score being 43.37 per cent. 



Clinton County. — ■ Twelve farms in which the scoring varied 

 between 57.6 per cent, and 27.1 per cent.; the average being 

 36.92 per cent. 



St. Lawrence County.— Twenty-one farms in which the scor- 

 ing varied between 84.0 per cent, and 14 per cent.; the average 

 being 45.85 per cent. 



Oneida County. -Twelve farms in which the scoring varied 

 between 82.7 per cent, and 25.9 per cent.; the average being 

 •J t.85 per cent. 



Niagara County. — Thirty farms in which the score varied 

 between 54.1 per cent, and 12.7 per cent.; the average score being 

 30.62 per cent. 



