406 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Still further, what is the status of a case, if a notice is 

 sent but not received? In most cases we have sent the 

 notice by registered letter. In two instances, however, 

 the letter has been returned, either because the post-office 

 address was incorrect, or because the milkman refused to 

 accept the letter, presuming on its contents. 



We can see no benefit from the law ; but, if it is to remain, 

 its vagueness should be remedied. 



The Legislature of last winter added September to the 

 months during which the statute standard for sale milk 

 should be 12 per cent ; in other words, reduced the stand- 

 ard from 13 to 12 per cent during the month of September. 



Many years ago the State started on the policy of having 

 a statute standard for milk, and having that standard 13 per 

 cent. Against this statute there has been a constant attack. 

 At length April and May were excepted from its provisions, 

 and the standard made 12 percent for those two months; 

 Then, after a while, June, July and August were added to 

 the 12 per cent months, and last winter, September. 



The argument before the committee for this change was 

 that during September cows are fed largely on corn fodder, 

 which produces milk of inferior quality, so far as total 

 solids are concerned ; consequently, it was claimed that the 

 standard should be lowered for September. 



If it appears that the policy of the State in establishing 

 the 13 per cent standard was wrong, it would be much 

 better to reverse that policy openly and squarely than to 

 kill it by piecemeal. No one would think of slaughtering 

 an animal by occasionally cutting a few inches oflf the end 

 of its tail. At any rate, such an unscientific argument as 

 that presented last winter should not be considered. It is 

 well known by all who have studied the question of milk 

 composition that the food of the cow has little to do with 

 the amount of total solids in the milk ; that the amount of 

 casein, sugar, fat, etc., in milk depends on the individualit}' 

 of the animal. A cow born to give 10 per cent milk cannot 

 by any process of feeding be made to give 13 per cent milk. 



We are not yet, however, convinced that the State was 

 wrong in the position it took years ago in favor of a 13 per 

 cent standard. Thirteen per cent milk is average milk, and 



