No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 85 



standard into conformity with that recognized by the national 

 authorities, in dealing with cream that enters into interstate com- 

 merce between Pennsylvania and the neighboring states. The analy- 

 ses of market creams made by the chemists of this Bureau, in course 

 of enforcement of the act of 1909, indicated that an 18 per cent, 

 minimum for cream would not be unjust in its application to the 

 cream trade of Pennsylvania. 



PUBLICITY POLICY 



The foregoing discussion of the new food acts of 1911, illustrates 

 the fact that the pure food laws of this State,, as well as other states, 

 are, from time to time, undergoing modification in matters of detail 

 and, in rarer cases, by the recognition of more advanced principles 

 of public policy. It is nevertheless true, that the main principles ex- 

 pressed in the general food law lie at the basis, also, of these new 

 laws, and are not set aside with the modifications of detailed legis- 

 lation. 



It is an assumption of the courts, long recognized as necessary to 

 the enforcement of laws, that every citizen know the law. It is 

 not ruy purpose to discuss, in this connection, the extent to which the 

 facts support this thory. It is mentioned only as introductory to 

 the statement, that it is the policy of this Bureau to make every 

 endeavor to secure a general knowledge on the part of the selling 

 public, as well as on the part of the consumer, relative to the pro- 

 visions of the food laws and of regulations issued thereunder, in 

 order that the practices of the manufacturer and dealer may be, so 

 far as practicable, brought into compliance with the law without 

 resort to the method of legal prosecutions. 



The agencies employed for the spread of information concerning 

 new acts and regulations have been various. The work has, in part, 

 been accomplished by the efficient services of the agents of the Bureau, 

 in the course of the exercise of their regular duties as purchasers 

 of samples; in part by articles of information prejiared by this 

 office, and distributed throughout the State by the courteous assist- 

 ance of the public press; and in part by addresses made by the 

 Commissioner, or his representatives, to various trade organizations 

 concerned. 



In pursuance of the policy here outlined, manufacturers of sausage 

 and dealers in milk were promptly informed of the new legislative acts 

 affecting their business, with the result, it is believed, that very few 

 of those engaged in these lines of production failed to have knowledge 

 of the recently adopted legal requirements, before the work of the 

 Bureau in the enforcement of these laws by the examination of 

 samples and the institution of prosecutions, was begun. 



In like manner, Avidespread notice was given when it became evi- 

 dent that it was the duty of the Food Commissioner to bring before 

 the courts, for judicial determination as to its legality, the practice 

 by confectioners of coating certain classes of their wares with resinous 

 glazes, such as shellac or the grass gums. One further illustration 

 of the same policy may be mentioned at this time. Earlier exper- 

 ience had shown that stocks of breakfast foods and other cereals, 

 held through the summer months, often became the subjects of insect 

 attack during the warm period, and were thereby rendered unfit for 



