14 



required by law, although they did not always feel sure that such was 

 the case with the portion purchased. 



The dairy utensils were generally cleaned in the home kitchen with 

 the aid of hot water, and placed out of doors in the sun. In only a 

 few cases were producers supplied with steam for a more thorough 

 sterilization. 



There seemed to be a concensus of opinion 

 Demands of the among dealers that the public wished cheap 

 Trade. milk. From the milkman's standpoint, tlie 



average consumer cared little concerning the 

 method or cost of production, so long as he received an article ap- 

 parently free from dirt, bad odor and of a reasonable degree of rich- 

 ness. It was not believed that milk produced under better sanitary 

 conditions would generally command the extra price warranted by 

 the increased cost of production. 



It did not seem possible to obtain any posi- 

 Cost of Production tive ideas from producers relative to the expense 

 and of production and distribution, although the 



Distribution. opinion was frequently expressed that it cost 

 2/^ to 3 cents to produce a quart of milk, and 

 about 2 cents a quart to peddle it. So far as could be ascertained, 

 farmers did not keep any records of the yearly production of their 

 herds, and the number who seemed to know how much milk a cow 

 should produce yearly to be considered profitable, was very limited. 

 Such a lack of systematic accounting is to be regretted, it being most 

 assuredly for the interest of the producer who would achieve the 

 greatest measure of success to note carefully the debit and 

 credit of his various farm operations. The consumers (in the area 

 covered in the investigations) were somewhat scattered, and the 

 peddlers relatively numerous. The cost of distribution naturally 

 would be lower had the peddlers been fewer, and had each been 

 able to confine himself to a definite district, thus avoiding the cross- 

 ing and recrossing of each other's routes.' 



As a result of the investigation, briefly stated. 



Conclusions. one may safely draw the following conclusions : 



I. The ordinary method of housing and 



caring for dairy stock is far from ideal, yet it is capable of being 



' This, of course, would not be practicable unless tlie control of the distribution could 

 -be in the hands of one or two large concerns. 



