384 EXPEKIMENT STATION EECOKD. 



develops that a few eighth-cents are all that cau be hoped for until essen- 

 tially more economical methods are discovered in the manner of distributing 

 the product. 



In the brick, Swiss, and Limburger districts most milk is bought by the 

 hundred pounds, regardless of butter fat or casein test. This method is ad- 

 mitted to be unfair, but is said to be preferred by the milk producers. In 1913 

 the farmer received on an average of from $1.29 to $1.33 per 100 lbs. of milk 

 taken to a cheese factory. The cost of manufacturing a pound of cheese is from 

 1.2 to 1.75 cts. The length of time cheese is stored depends greatly on market 

 conditions. The charge for storing is i ct. per pound per month, or from | to ^ 

 ct. for the season. In the consideration of marketing cost, the shrinkage of 

 cheese in storage must be taken into account. The amount of this shrinkage 

 during a given time depends on the type, quality, and size of cheese, the tempera- 

 ture, paraffining, wrapping, and time in storage. Data are presented showing 

 the influence of these factors. 



Nearly all cheese passes through the hands of one or more middlemen between 

 factory and retailer. The dealer gets a margin of about 1 ct. per pound, the 

 wholesaler about 2 cts., the broker from i to i ct., and the retailer from 5.5 to 

 9 cts. The factory, dealers', and wholesalers' prices fluctuate widely during 

 different seasons of the year. The retail price is largely a' customary one. 

 The farmer gets about one-half the money paid by the consumer, the remaining 

 half going to pay distributing costs. 



In conclusion it is said that " the producers and the consumers are a long way 

 apart. Direct marketing is well-nigh impossible so far as cheese is concerned. 

 The cooperative ownership and management of a cheese factory is of relatively 

 small consequence, although undoubtedly better than any other system, because 

 it solves such a small part of the marketing problem. The long line of middle- 

 men is still intact, and the line is too long. Probably the farmer can not hope 

 to break into the retailer's realm. If that is improved it will have to be by 

 action on the part of consumers. The farmer has therefore at best a hope of 

 effecting savings from but a relatively small part of the total increase in price 

 from factory to consumer. This hope is based very largely on his ability to 

 understand the market and first of all to understand that on himself rests the 

 responsibility of supplying a product of known high quality. In some manner 

 those farmers who produce the high-grade goods should be able to unify their 

 efforts, and by establishing a brand command a higher price for their product 

 than that secured for inferior goods." 



VETERINARY MEDICINE. 



Annual report veterinary research, 1913-14 (Union So. Africa Dept. Agr. 

 Rpt. 1913-lJt. pp. 101-139). — This report deals first with routine work, which 

 relates largely to inoculations against horse sickness, blue tongue, redwater, etc. 

 Under the heading of research it deals briefly with tuberculosis in hogs, con- 

 tagious abortion, chick fever in ostriches, pernicious anemia in horses, jagziekte 

 in sheep, and redwater and gall sickness in susceptible cattle. Particular 

 attention is given to investigations of the life history of the ostrich wireworm 

 {Strongylus douglasii), and the life history of the sheep scab parasite (Psoroptes 

 communis ovis). Under the heading of miscellaneous investigations the re- 

 port deals with diseases of cattle, effect of dipping working oxen, and dun sick- 

 ness in horses. A brief report on miscellaneous poisonous plant feeding experi- 

 ments and a historical sketch of the inS^estigations into lamziekte are included. 



