PAIL OF COCHITUATE MILK. 143 



are charged to the farmer, and one-tenth of the gross receipts is 

 the compensation required for selling. 



One firm in Qiiincy Market sold in one day 28,000 boxes of 

 strawberries, which at eighteen cents per box, would amount to 

 $5,040. To say nothing of other sales made on that day, their 

 commission on this fruit alone would amount to 1504. And so 

 with millc. Tlie man who takes fifty or one hundred cans of 

 milk from the depot daily and distributes it to his customers 

 throughout tbe city, is in possession of a business which far 

 exceeds in value the best milk farm in the Commonwealth. 



I was recently told by a gentleman who possessed ample 

 means of knowing the truth whereof lie affirmed, that a certain 

 man in Boston was in the habit of receiving one hundred cans 

 or eight hundred quarts of milk per day, for which he paid 

 $45. On the arrival of the train the milk was taken from the 

 cars and placed on ice, and allowed to stand three hours. Then 

 one quart was taken from the top of each can and delivered to 

 ice cream saloons at the rate of forty-five cents per quart. The 

 cans were then filled with pure Cochituate, and distributed at 

 the rate of eight cents per quart to a choice set of customers, 

 constituting one of the most desirable milk routes within the 

 city limits. The gross profit of this transaction involves but a 

 slight knowledge of mental arithmetic. 



The man who does this business, uses a capital, invested in a 

 horse and wagon, to the amount nearly of $500. Most farmers, 

 I am aware, would object to taking all this business out of the 

 hands of the contractor. But after divesting it of all the " tricks 

 of the trade," and making a liberal allowance for bad debts, the 

 net profits of a single day's work would by far exceed the net 

 daily income of the best farm in the State. A system of mar- 

 keting which will divide this profit between the producer and the 

 consumer is not only a " consummation devoutly to be wished," 

 but is absolutely demanded, as one of the first steps to be taken, 

 with the view of making farming profitable. I am aware that 

 much has been said and written upon this subject, and remedies 

 prescribed for the evils of which we complain. And I am also 

 quite certain that no system has yet been devised or adopted 

 which has not in many respects proved quite impracticable. A 

 very able writer, in an essay to the State Board some years ago 

 upon this subject, strongly urged the institution of fairs or 



