58 THIRTIETH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 



to the statement of Mr. Higbee to the effect that "if the sta- 

 tion is going to make our butter maker or our directors respon- 

 sible for stealing we want it to test the sample we used and 

 we will not submit to anything else," I would say that under 

 the^ law the station has not much discretion in the matter. 

 The Experiment Station is by law required to analyze agri- 

 cultural materials sent to it by citizens of the state. If a 

 sample of milk is sent, we do not conceive it our duty to re- 

 fuse it lest it be improperly taken. In reporting results, how- 

 ever, we are careful to disclaim all responsibility as to the 

 correctness of the sample and at the same time to say that 

 unless it was correctly taken the results mean nothing. We 

 send with each report of milk analysis a little four page bulle- 

 tin which we think describes in a plain way the correct meth- 

 ods of sampling milk. Mr. Higbee states that to insure 

 certainty as to the validity of comparative tests at creamery 

 and Experiment Station the same sample needs must be tested 

 at each place. In my judgement there is absolutely no way 

 in which correct results may be inevitably attained. What 

 will it avail halving a creamery sample which has been in the 

 hands of the creamery man who may have tampered with it? 

 If the creamery for any reason is afraid of the station's tests 

 the sample may be readily manipulated by the interested party 

 — the management. On the other hand if the patron takes 

 his sample for himself or has the creamery operator take 

 duplicate samples, one to be held by him, the other by the 

 management, the sample for the station is in the hands of the 

 other interested party, the patron. Experience indicates that 

 he is quite as likely to affect his sample, either through igno- 

 rance or intent as is the creamery man. If either side is ill- 

 informed as to sampling methods or is inclined to be tricky, 

 no method of sampling will insure justice. The station anal- 

 ysis is, however just to those parties who are honest, candid 

 and intelligent. 



Mr. Vail. The point which I brought out in my paper and 

 which drew out this discussion upon the relation of quality of 

 milk to profit was the claim that creamery patrons find four 

 per cent, milk the most profitable. My experience with the 

 private dairy was quite different. Can you tell us why this 

 is? Prom creamery sources one statement from the Experi- 

 ment Station and from the individual dairy the opposite? 



Prof. Hills. I cannot answer that question. The burden 

 of proof rests upon the creamery men and they should eluci- 

 date that point. 



Mr. Aitkin. Careful investigation indicates that the rich 

 milking cow is the most profitable, yet the creamery men say 

 the cow testing the lower per cent, is the more profitable. Is 



