50 - Report of the Department of Bacteriology. 



as information is available all those who took the chance found it 

 financially profitable. 



The situation which existed during 1911 may be summarized by 

 saying that the farmers produced fairly sanitary milk because it 

 was the quality which they could produce most profitably. 



Under conditions which existed during the latter part of 1912, 

 when the official grading of the dairies merely retained them at the 

 highest grade which they had previously reached, the financial 

 stimulus for the production of cleaner milk was weakened if not 

 entirely removed. Although the farmers exercised progressively less 

 care in the production of milk they suffered no financial penalty. 

 While the retailers were aware that the sanitary quality of the 

 product as furnished them was deteriorating they could make no 

 effectual protest since they were bound by their contracts to accept 

 the official score as the basis for payments. 



CONCLUSIONS. 



The former system of wholesale prices according to which milk 

 was bought by weight or measure regardless of its commercial 

 quality practically compelled the production of the cheapest and 

 dirtiest possible supply. 



At present prices the margin of profit in the production of milk 

 is so narrow that the farmers can not afford to act the part of 

 philanthropists by the production of a higher grade of milk than the 

 market demands and is willing to pay for. 



On the other hand the farmers have a business sense which quickly 

 leads them to produce the grade of product for which they can 

 obtain the largest margin of profit. 



The important fact which stands out clearly in the present situa- 

 tion is that while the farmers are able and willing to produce a 

 sanitary milk whenever such production is the more profitable they 

 can not be expected to continue such production whenever there 

 is greater profit in the making of dirtier milk. 



The lessons which have been taught by this five years' study of 

 a municipal milk supply indicate fairly clearly that the farmers 

 are prepared to produce any grade of milk which the market desires. 

 They will produce it as soon as the market clearly states its wants 

 and offers a price which will make the production reasonably profit- 

 able. 



Under present conditions there is a demand for milk for three 

 distinct purposes: for the feeding of infants, use by adults at table, 

 and for cooking. The simplification of the municipal milk problem 

 lies along the line of defining and establishing commercial grades 

 of milk which shall correspond to these market demands. 



Whenever it becomes possible to buy milk by such grades and 

 feel sure that the milk is true to grade the supply upon the market 

 will become just as clean and pure as the purchasing public desire 

 it to be. 



