338 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUKE 
There are 342 creameries which have been visited by one or the 
other of the assistant commissioners and help of some kind given 
them, but there are 203 creameries and 49 skimming stations that 
have not even been seen by the assistants, a condition which the 
department very much regrets. 
Upon such visits to the creameries the assistant commissioners 
have instructions to see the buttermaker and the manager of the 
business end of the creamery, and to give to both the best assist- 
ance and advice that is possible. Also to see that the statutes of 
the state are complied with and if necessary to bring prosecutions 
for violation. It is evident that this work cannot, for lack of men 
and time, extend to the producer of milk or cream, though such 
work would be extremely desireable and valuable to the industry 
and to the state, but it cannot be undertaken without considerable 
increase of men and money. 
A considerable number of complaints of low over-run have been 
investigated and the discovery made that the sampling by haulers 
of cream was at fault, resulting in tests that were too high. The 
sampling of cream is of such importance in the matter of testing 
that it ought to be checked up by the buttermaker and the over-run 
secured at the churn compared with that secured upon the books 
of the creamery secretary or manager. 
The state has a very considerable number of old creamery build- 
ings that have fallen into decay to a greater or less degree and the 
efforts of the assistants have been directed toward better creamery 
buildings, and especially towards better creamery drainage, not 
only because the laws require that creamery buildings and utensils 
shall be kept in a clean and hygienic condition, but because the best 
butter can only be produced in clean surroundings. Very great' 
improvements have been noticed during the year along the line of 
creamery building and sanitation. The commissioner regrets that 
threats of prosecution seem to be the only way to compel sanitary 
practices in some plants and in some cases prosecutions have beer 
undertaken by assistant commissioners and notice is here given that 
this practice will be followed with even more vigor than formerly. 
The statute requiring the pasteurization of skimmed milk before 
returning the same to patrons seems to have been complied with by 
practically all of the few creameries still receiving milk, and but 
few prosecutions have been made for offenses under this law. 
One prosecution of two counts has been made against a cream 
buyer at Gladbrook for manipulating the Babcock test. The exact 
