Report of E. I. Preston. 



Hon. Charles A. Wieting, Commissioner of Agriculture: 



Dear Sir — I herewith respectfully submit this my third annual 

 report of the work performed and the general conditions found 

 in the Third Division of the State, embracing the counties 

 of Columbia, Delaware, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, 

 Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and that part of Westchester not 

 included in Greater New York. 



MILK. 



Owing to the immense amount of milk produced in this divi- 

 sion, the greater part of our work from March to December is 

 necessarily given to the inspection of this product at the place 

 where offered for sale. 



Where thousands of cans were once shipped direct from the 

 producer to the city retailer, now but little is sold in that way. 

 Creameries have sprung up at nearly every railroad station, 

 which absorbs most of the milk produced in their immediate 

 locality, and when properly run are caring for and shipping 

 the milk and its products in a much better condition than can 

 be done by the average producer. The mixing together, in large 

 vats, of milk from many dairies is being generally practiced, 

 which, being drawn in cans for shipment, produces a milk of 

 uniform quality. Much of the high-grade milk is still being 

 robbed of a portion of its cream, perhaps to the pecuniary ad- 

 vantage of the creameryman, but at the expense of the con- 

 sumer and to the great detriment of the producer and the hon- 

 est creameryman who must compete with this adulterated 

 article. 



I believe that a majority of the dealers, and all producers, 

 will heartily favor any legislation which will effectively prevent 

 this fraud which at this time we are unable to prevent with the 

 present low standing of butter fats required. 



