xiv BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



low the legal standard in either fat content, total solids, or both. 

 The milk from these herds is none the less a pure and whole- 

 some article, claimed by many authorities to be superior as a 

 food for infants to milk containing more butter fat, but would, 

 under present conditions, be barred from our markets unless 

 mixed with the milk of other cows containing more than the 

 required amount of fat and total solids. It is to be regretted 

 that any man-made law can shut from the market a pure and 

 wholesome article of food. There seems to be no reason why 

 the producer should not be allowed to sell such milk, under a 

 guarantee of fat content, or of fat content and total solids, to 

 any person who wishes to buy it, having full knowledge of its 

 actual analysis, under such guarantee. It seems to me that 

 the present milk standard law might very well be changed by 

 the addition of a clause allowing the sale of milk under a printed 

 guarantee of fat content, or of fat content and total solids, if 

 that seems wiser; the same to appear upon each receptacle in 

 which the milk is sold or conveyed. I would therefore recom- 

 mend that the Board place itself squarely on record, advocating 

 a change in the law in relation to the milk standard in these two 

 particulars. If it should seem to the Board that such is not the 

 wisest course, the secretary will of course bow to its decision; 

 but he has reached these conclusions after a somewhat exhaus- 

 tive study of conditions, and certainly hopes that they may 

 seem worthy of adoption by the Board. 



Changes in the Board. 



The Board lost one of its oldest, both in point of age and con- 

 tinuous service, and valued members by death during the year, 

 Quincy L. Reed, delegate from the Weymouth Agricultural 

 and Industrial Society, passing away after a short illness. 

 Theron L. Tirrell of South Weymouth was elected to fill the 

 vacancy. 



Changes in membership resulting from elections by the sev- 

 eral societies will be given in the report of the committee on 

 credentials in the proceedings of the annual meeting. Mem- 

 bers retiring because of expiration of term of service are: E. 

 P. Williams of the Deerfield Valley Agricultural Society; John 

 M. Danforth of the Essex Agricultural Society; Ralph M. 



