300 BOAED OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doe. 



The result of these cases was as follows : — 



Discharged, 10 



Defaulted, 3 



Nol pros., 34 



Conviction after trial, pleas of guilty or of nolo con- 

 tendere, ......... 238 



Total, 285 



Several appealed cases have been pushed to a successful 

 termination in the superior courts in various counties ; and 

 the supreme court appeal, reported at length last year, 

 resulted in a decision in our favor, the defendant's exceptions 

 being overruled. 



Ole omarg arine . 



The disparity of 9% cents per pound in the case of col- 

 ored oleomargarine and white oleomargarine has driven 

 much ofi the former imitation butter out of the market, and 

 led the manufacturers to make a determined effort to get the 

 uncolored article before the consuming public. This has 

 done much to modify the nature of our work, and the 

 results. We have been unable to relax our vigilance as 

 regards oleomargarine colored in imitation of yellow butter. 

 Although less of it has been sold in the State than hereto- 

 fore, we have been obliged to keep a constant watch for it, 

 as in many cases it has been in evidence ; and we have had 

 in court this year, as will be seen by the above table, 53 

 cases, as against 88 last year, 145 the year previous, 47 in 

 1899 and 13 in 1898. On the very last day of the year, 

 December 31, our inspectors foimd two dealers handling the 

 imitation article in cities in different parts of the State. 

 The uncolored oleomargarine has also increased our work, 

 for all of the laws heretofore existing relative to stamps, 

 brands, signs, etc., apply to all kinds of oleomargarine, 

 regardless of color. Hence we were obliged to inspect the 

 dealers handling oleomargarine without artificial color, to 

 see if the laws were complied with. The result has been 

 that, instead of bringing cases under onl}^ two difterent 

 laws, as was the case for the three previous years, in 1902 

 we made complaints for violation of five laws. Sometimes 



