306 BOARD OF AGEICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



marked and distinguished by all the marks, words and stamps 

 required by existing laws, and not having in addition thereto con- 

 spicuously upon or across the surface of the exposed contents of 

 every opened tub, package or parcel thereof a placard with the 

 word " oleomargarine " printed thereon in plain, uncondensed 

 Gothic letters, not less than one inch long, shall be fined not less 

 than one hundred dollars for each offence. 



The bureau has also had a few cases for selling oleo- 

 margarine wlien butter was called for, one for sale in a hotel, 

 one for lack of signs on a wagon, and several for improperly 

 stamped wrapping paper. 



The detective officer of the bureau has made four hundred 

 and eighty-six visits of inspection to stores or places where 

 oleomargarine is sold ; in these he has purchased one hundred 

 and eighty-four samples. The chemical analyses have been 

 made by the State Experiment Station, Dr. B. F. Daven- 

 port and Professor Kinnicutt of the AVorcester technical 

 school. 



Although our work has been hampered by our inexperi- 

 ence, by the newness of the laws, and by the anti-color law 

 being ino[)erative during a considerable portion of the year, 

 we feel that the legislation under which we act has been of 

 much value in preventing dishonest practices and in restrict- 

 ing the sale of "oleomargarine, which is deceptive, and 

 which is designed and is likely to be passed ofi' for some- 

 thing diflerent from what it is." The clause in quotations 

 is the language- of the Massachusetts supreme court. Much 

 oleomargarine is still sold, however; a system of selling 

 upon orders has been devised, by which a licensed whole- 

 saler sends out trusty salesmen to take orders from only 

 known parties, the goods being delivered and billed from 

 the main store. We have reason to believe that the oleo- 

 margarine dealers in the State are banded together in a 

 strong organization, which receives material sympathy from 

 the large manufacturers. In nearly all of the cases which 

 have been tried, from New Bedford to Holyokc, the same 

 attorney has appeared for the defence, showing that they 

 are associated together in order to defy and if possible break 

 down the law, and, if defeated, share the costs and penalties 

 when a member is convicted. 



