No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 417 



erate income may freely purchase as a probable means of improving 

 the character of the dietary and cheapening the cost of their supply 

 of animal foods." 



But milk is not appreciated and used to the extent that it should 

 be, partly from lack of information, but largely through the fear of 

 consumers that it may not have been produced under as good condi- 

 tions as should prevail. While it is true that the large majority of 

 dairymen are careful men who supply a higli class product, there is a 

 small minority who have no regard for the standing of their calling 

 or for the rights or health of their customers and are devoid of per- 

 sonal honor. It is such men who injure the whole milk trade. They 

 are found among dealers as well as among producer®, and while per- 

 haps they are not numerous they are still plentiful enough to detract 

 largely from the results of the good work of careful men. 



That the consumers appreciate a guarantee of wholesome condi- 

 tions governing production and shipment may be seen from the 

 fact that large milk businesses have recently been built up on the 

 basis of furnishing consumers satisfactory proof of such conditions. 



Better prices for milk are necessary to material improvement in 

 the supply. But there are dealers who are willing to pay a higher 

 price for better milk. The beet class of dealers tell me that they 

 have more trouble in finding dairymen who will furnish a satisfactory 

 product than finding the means to pay a cent or a cent and a half 

 bonus above the market price. I know of a dealer in Philadelphia 

 who is anxious to pay five and a half cents a quart for milk that will 

 come up to liis standard of cleanliness, which is by no means un- 

 reasonably high, and he can't find a suflQcient supply. 



The two methods for improving the general milk supply are the 

 voluntary and the compulsory. Under the voluntary method dealers 

 guarantee a certain standard and their business integrity rests on 

 the maintenance of the standard they promise. To secure the co- 

 operation of producers they have to pay more than the usual market 

 price. Again, voluntary milk commissions are established in some 

 cities to examine and certify to the quality, wholesomeness and 

 cleanliness of the milk furnished by certain producers. The certifi- 

 cate of this commission carries with it such a business advantage 

 that considerably more than the market price can be charged foT the 

 milk covered by it. 



These voluntary methods for improving the milk supply, have the 

 great advantage of carrying with them increased price. In other 

 words they encourage the careful producer and compensate him for 

 his extra work. This is right. 



The compulsory method on the other hand, aims to compel the ob- 

 servance of a certain standard, but does not. except directly, improve 

 the market of those who surpass this fixed standard. The voluntary 

 27—6—1901 



