330 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



MILK AND CBEAM EXHIBITIONS. 



During the year 7 niillc jind cream contests, in 5 States, were super- 

 vised by oflicials of the Dairy Division, and 334 samples exhibited 

 in these contests were scored and criticized. These contests are doing 

 much good in the way of bringing about improvement in milk 

 supplies. 



Eleven exhil)its pertaining to market milk, consisting of large pho- 

 tographs illustrative of various conditions, were made by the division 

 at shows and meetings. A new exhibit has been made up, which is 

 of light weight, suitable foi' shipping long distances, and which in- 

 cludes a set of pictures illustrating many of the most important 

 problems met in market milk work. 



MILK INSPECTION FOB GOVEBNMENT DEPARTMENTS. 



Inspections are made and permits issued for the sale of milk in 

 various departments of the Government at Washington. At the 

 present time six dairies have permits to sell in the Government build- 

 ings, A number of dealers have been refused permits on account of 

 the poor quality of their milk. This work is having a very good 

 influence, as the better dairymen are very unwilling to be discredited 

 b}' having their milk barred from the departments. Efforts are 

 made to assist dairymen in meeting the requirements. It is believed 

 that this work has done much to improve the general milk supply 

 of the city. 



OTHER WORK. 



A systematic plan of getting information on the important prob- 

 lems in connection with market milk has been put into practice. 

 During the year a collection of dairy laws of cities and States has 

 been brought together to be used for reference. Efforts are being 

 made to obtain and classify useful information upon various sub- 

 jects, such as the cost of transportation and delivery, cost of build- 

 ings, etc. 



A new feature of the market milk work this year has been the work- 

 ing out of a score card for stores which handle bulk milk. This does 

 not mean an indorsement of that method of milk distribution. How- 

 ever, since in some cities a great deal of milk is sold from stores, it 

 seems imperative that these stores should be regulated and kept in 

 (borough sanitary condition; and the score card serves a good pur- 

 pose in facilitating the inspection of these places. Little attempt 

 has hitherto been made in many cities to control milk stores. 



Some investigations have been made of the feasibility of denatur- 

 ing condemned milk and cream in such a manner as to prevent its sale 

 as human food and at the same time to avoid destroying its value 

 for feeding animals. For this purpose a small amount of rennet has 

 been used with some success. 



In the past most of our work relative to market milk has pertained 

 to sanitary conditions rather than to economic questions. It is desired 

 to give more attention to economic problems during the coming year. 

 Among the subjects to be studied are the effect of transportation on 

 temperature, porch boxes for delivering milkj and factors influ- 

 encing the market prices of milk. It is desired also to make a thor- 



