138 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [P. D. 4. 



probably not so great as they are in different herds, for the 

 reason that dealers mix the milk of the herds. But from what 

 I know of the conditions I believe that market milk values are 

 about as wide apart as are the 9 and 10 cent prices about which 

 there is so much discussion. And this is necessarily so on ac- 

 count of a feature of the milk law which is absolutely no good 

 looked at from any standpoint. I realize it would take some 

 courage to promote the change in the law which I have pro- 

 posed. Following the beaten path is a safe and easy way, but 

 is liable to result in conditions not to be desired, like the pic- 

 turesque but highly inconvenient older Boston. 



The cares of the distributor of milk begin with the dairies. 

 Cleanliness and liberal use of ice may be urged upon the pro- 

 ducer. It does not cost farmers over $1 a ton for ice, on an 

 average. This is 5 cents per 100 pounds. A farmer can hardly 

 use more than 50 pounds of ice to 100 pounds of milk. Two or 

 3 cents' worth of ice is sufficient to keep 100 pounds of milk in 

 first-class condition until delivered to the dealer. For several 

 years I have called the producers' attention to this fact at the 

 proper season for storing ice. Nearly all of our patrons do 

 store ice. 



The most effective inspection of dairies that I have observed 

 has come clothed with authority from the market in which the 

 milk was to be sold. This inspection is at a standstill now for 

 some reason. I wish that it might be resumed in a reasonable 

 fashion, not too rigorous in its requirements. The next care of 

 the distributor comes in the transportation. This is a matter of 

 no small amount of anxiety where freight train service is used. 

 Such service has not improved any in the last ten years. 

 Freight train service, except in specially favorable cases, is so 

 incompatible with our increasing desire and determination to 

 market a fine quality of milk that I have recently made applica- 

 tion for passenger train service in accordance with the order of 

 the Interstate Commerce Commission. Thus far we have had 

 no tariff covering carloads in passenger train service from the 

 Maine Central Railroad, but we are to have it now as soon as 

 equipment can be procured by the railroad company. This 

 will make an increased cost of about $30,000 a year for our 

 company; but that amount distributed over 20,000,000 quarts 



