242 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Need of Legislation. 



That forty-two per cent of the cases, ahnost one-half, 

 were for absolute fraud, is significant. 



As regards the need of these laws, the experience of 

 another year only confirms and emphasizes what we said a 

 year ago. While the oleomargarine manufacturers claim to 

 have discovered a new food product of great value to the 

 public, " a separate and distinct food product," " a distinct 

 and valuable food product, which sells on its own merits," 

 the way in which it is too often sold at retail has a strong 

 flavor of deceit and misrepresentation. The following is a 

 photographic reproduction of the trade mark of one manu- 

 facturer, — omitting his name. It is not suo:gestive of an 

 independent food product, selling on its intrinsic indi- 

 viduality. 



SWEET-PURE-CLEAN 



" The largest butter store in Boston. Try our fancy Jer- 

 my Butterine Prints," was a sign recently displayed on 

 Blackstone Street in this city, urging people to buy that 

 " independent and separate food product, sold on its intrinsic 

 merits." Butter tubs, butter color, dairy nomenclature, 

 prominent butter signs, opposition to all laws for honest 

 wrappers and marks, are familiar features in the history of 

 this independent and separate food product, sold on its in- 

 trinsic merits. 



