No. 4.] REPORT OF DAIRY BUREAU. 



397 



The amount which has been consumed is materially larger 

 than it would have been had imitation butter been allowed 

 full and free sale in a deceptive manner. On the very 

 moderate estimate of curtailing dishonest sales to the amount 

 of one-half of one per cent of the amount consumed, which 

 no one will dispute, the law has prevented imposition and 

 enhanced honest dealing to the extent of 243,400 pounds, 

 which, at the average price of 20 cents per pound, amounts 

 to $46,680. This is based on the Boston market alone. 



The following table shows the extreme quotation for the 

 best fresh creamery butter in a strictly wholesale way in the 

 Boston market for four years : — 



1895. 



Cents. 



January, 



February, 



March, . 



April, 



May, 



June, 



July, 



August, . 



September, 



October, 



November, 



December, 



26 

 25 

 23 

 21 

 W 

 20 

 19 

 21 

 22 

 23 

 23 

 28 



The price for 1898 averaged about £• of a cent per pound 

 less than for 1897 and fa of a cent per pound more than for 

 1896. But during the months of greatest depression — 

 June and July — the price in 1898 did not drop so low by 

 1| and 2 cents per pound as in 1897. Prices in 1898 were 

 better than in 1897 up to September ; but for the last four 

 months of 1898 there was a marked falling off, as compared 



