REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 49 



unprofitable and get rid of the latter. By this method the breeding 

 of herds is steadily improved, better feeding methods are adopted, 

 the average production of cows is increased, and greater profits are 

 obtained. 



The cow-testing association is another means of promoting the im- 

 provement of dairy herds, and embodies also the keeping of herd 

 records. There are now 97 active cow-testing associations in the 

 United States out of 118 which have organized since 1905. One 

 of the greatest difficulties is to secure efficient men to supervise the 

 associations. 



MARKET MILK INVESTIGATIONS. 



The work for the improvement of market milk has been continued 

 and consists mainly in introducing and maintaining the score-card 

 system of inspection, assisting in competitive exhibitions of milk and 

 cream, and investigating the conditions surrounding the milk sup- 

 ply in various places. During the year cooperative work has been 

 carried on with 21 cities and 11 States. Practically all cities in the 

 country are now using some form of score card ; the department has 

 records of 170 such cities. Some of the handicaps to obtaining a 

 milk supply of good quality are that municipalities fail to provide 

 sufficient funds, the inspection work is sometimes made inefficient by 

 political domination, and consumers fail to appreciate the fact that 

 the production of clean milk involves additional expense. In cam- 

 paigns for better milk the attempt is too often made to place the 

 entire cost of improvement on the producer. Some incentive ought 

 to be offered to the producer to supply the higher grades of milk. 

 The fact is that most consumers are not demanding a high grade of 

 milk, especially when this involves slight additional cost. It is well 

 recognized that the health authorities of the country generally are 

 seeking to give the public a higher grade of milk than the public is 

 demanding or is willing to pay for. 



DAIRY MANUFACTURES. 



Work is being conducted with a view to assisting creamci'ies in 

 better methods of operation and business management and in im- 

 proving tlie quality of their products. Reports were received from 

 1,500 creameries during the year, and on the basis of these reports 

 advice has been given by correspondence and sometimes by visits for 

 the purpose of remedying defects and bringing about needed im- 

 provements. The grading of cream is recommended as a method of 

 securing better cream and producing better butter. Although there 

 has been some improvement, a great deal of inferior cream is still 



70481°— AOR 15)12 4 



