lo May, 1911.] The City Milk Sup-ply. 311 



of the picture, is the distributing room, for both milk and butter, 13 feet 

 by 21 feet; and from this the cans and boxes are loaat-d to the carts. 

 These rooms are of brick witli concrete floor, well ventilated, and lighted 

 by electricity for early morning and night work. Across a 4 J feel 

 passage-way from the distributing room is the washing and can room. 

 This is 15 feet by 21 feet, with bricked floor; and fitted with coppei, 

 troughs, and steam spray, with hot water laid on from the boiler room 

 adjoining. A butter box recess and milk testing room complete this 

 building. The property is sewered. 



The rest of the block is taken up by the dwelling and garden ; and 

 both the condition in which the premises are kept, as well as the arrange- 

 ment and fitting up of the buildings, justify its being named " The 

 Model Dairy." 



Among the number of dairies mentioned the two which do the largest 

 business, and which have also been the longest fitted up in regard to 

 refrigerating appliances, are those of the Willsmere Certified Milk Coy., 

 in Bourke-street, Melbourne, and Messrs. Larcher and Sons, of Moor- 

 street, Fitzroy. Between them, these firms handle about 18,000 gallons 

 of milk weekly ; and, to supply their clientele, numbering in each in- 

 stance upwards of 3,000, they carry a large vehicular equipment and 

 staff of employes. The supply of each is drawn from several districts, 

 and from numerous farms. Members of both firms are well known in 

 every milk-producing district supplying the metropolis ; for both make 

 a point of inspecting the farms from which they draw their supplies. 

 The Willsmere Co. makes a speciality of bottled milk, a particular line 

 of which is put up especially for infants. Their supply for the latter 

 is drawn from the farm of Mr. O. Syme at Gisborne, which is laid out 

 on sanitary lines and fitted with refrigerating machinery and cold storage 

 room. The working of .several similar farms, such as Messrs. Wood- 

 mason of Malvern, Hope of Caul field, and Rout of Kew, has previous) v 

 been described in this Journal, and so there is little fresh to be mentioned 

 in regard to the conditions at these premises. 



Reviewing the foregoing, it will be seen that, a« the dairying business 

 lias made nrogress, there has been a general tendency to improve the 

 keeping quality of the milk by careful handling. None were more fully 

 aware of the shortcomings of the daily supply than tho.se engaged in its 

 distribution; but the condition of the trade checked any steps being taken 

 towards improving them. There was always the question as to whether 

 the retailer of pure milk from sanitary premises would be able to hold 

 his ground, or be crowded out of the business by the vendors of skimmed, 

 watered, and dirty milk. The administration of the Milk and Dairy 

 Supervision and Pure Food Acts has changed this, and the trade and 

 the public generally have benefited. 



