No. 4.] REPORT OF DAIRY BUREAU. 179 



Milk. 



We are glad to note some apparent increase in the con- 

 sumption of raw vviiole milk in Boston. During the years 

 1907 and 1908 there was a decided falling oil". In earred 

 milk alone this amounted to 10,402,(397i/o quarts; but a 

 turn has been made, and 4,351,657^2 quarts more were 

 shipped in during 1909 than was the case in 1908, but it is 

 still 6,151,040 quarts behind where it was three years ago, 

 and this in the face of a constantly increasing population. 



We are also glad to note a slight increase in the price paid 

 the farmers by the Boston contractors, brought about by ex- 

 tending the winter })rice over eight months instead of six, 

 as formerly. The average price now paid in the 9-cent zone 

 is still below 4 cents a quart. Milk production cannot be 

 placed on a satisfactory footing in Massachusetts until at 

 least 5 cents per quart is the average price paid the farmer 

 throughout the year. A creditable move has been made by 

 some of the contractors in offering an increased price for 

 milk made under specially sanitary conditions. This is 

 manifestly a help to those consumers who can afford to pay 

 for such milk, as well as to the farmers, who care to take 

 the necessary pains to produce it. 



The amount of certified milk sold in the State is very 

 limited indeed, owing to its high cost to the consumer and to 

 the extreme requirements in its production. 



It is reported that the sales of cream are falling off as 

 the result of the high cost of living; this is natural, as 

 cream is something of a luxury compared with whole milk. 

 We regret that there are no figures available giving the 

 exact amount of this decrease. 



Appended Tables. 

 Tables I. and IT. show instances where prosecutions might 

 have been made under the milk standard law had not the 

 samples of milk of known purity indicated that the origi- 

 nal samples were of pure milk. ISTotified of this fact the 

 owners of the' herds withdrew their milk from market. 



