CONTROL OF THE PUBLIC MILK SUPPLY 427 



determined whether dairying has reached the maximum development 

 possible in the district or whether it may be greatly increased. Whether 

 there is but a single market for the milk or whether there is competition 

 for it between creameries and condenseries or between different cities 

 should be noted. 



The breed and character of the cows should be observed and the domi- 

 nant breeds in the different herds recorded so that it may be known 

 whether to expect milk carrying a good percentage of milk solids or not 

 and whether the need is urgent of a campaign for better herds. 



The water supply of the different farms should be examined and 

 its adequacy, permanency, temperature and purity should be determined. 

 The temperature of the water is important for it tells to what degree milk 

 can be cooled on the farm without the use of ice. 



The means of transportation should be studied. The distance milk 

 is hauled to the shipping point or to the city should be known and whether 

 it is done in wagons or motor cars and whether cooperative hauling is 

 practised. 



An estimate should be made as to whether cost of producing milk is 

 reasonable or whether slovenly diarying or conditions beyond the farmers 

 control make the cost of production excessive. 



Finally, the probable value of the farmer's investment in the business 

 and the condition of his property should be noted, in order to judge 

 whether or not the price paid for his milk is sufficient to make it worth 

 his while put in still more capital and to adopt better methods of dairying. 



Such observations as these ought to furnish information that will 

 enable the health officer to organize a constructive farm-inspection 

 policy but before any regular inspection or analytical work is started a 

 system of keeping office records should be devised. 



Office Records. The importance of this can hardly be overstated for 

 if an office is successful in winning the confidence of the public, questions 

 are constantly asked that can be properly answered only by reference 

 to the records. Therefore, they should be adequate and in a permanent, 

 convenient, usable form. There should be a system of filing correspond- 

 ence, score cards and complaints. Blank forms should be adopted for 

 licenses, labeling samples, recording analyses, sending out notices, etc. 

 A map should be available showing the location of the divers farms that 

 send milk to the city. Each of these farms should be given a number 

 which should appear on all records pertaining to the farm. In like mari- 

 ner there should be a city map showing the places where milk is 

 sold and these places, too, should be numbered. With a good record 

 system established the general work of the bureau may be laid out. 



Important Phases of Milk Control. Regulation and improvement of 

 the milk supply is accomplished by inspection, at frequent stages of its 

 long journey from the cow to the consumer, of the milk and of the methods 



