754 Popular Editions of Station Bulletins. 



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. 



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 



Conclusions, cheapest and dirtiest possible supply. 



At present prices the margin of profit in the pro- 

 duction 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 p ofit 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. 



