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BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



cows were milked each month. Each month except one 

 several fresh cows were introduced, as many as 4 each in 

 September and March. The following is the average per 

 cent of fat in the mixed milk (fat is the most variable ele- 

 ment of milk, and the one that governs its quality) : — 



May, 4.2 



June, 4.3 



July, 4.3 



August, 4.4 



September, . . . .4.3 

 October, . . . .4.4 



November, . . . .4.2 

 December, . . . .4.2 

 January, . . . .4.3 

 February, . . .4.1 



March, 4.0 



April, 4.1 



This shows the constant quality of herd milk, and that 

 there is no marked seasonable falling off during any particu- 

 lar month or months. 



The present attack on the statute standard comes from 

 persons who preach that milk should be sold according to 

 quality. With this contention we are in sympathy, and be- 

 lieve that milk will be sold that way in the future. There is 

 no sense in selling 10 or 13 or 16 pounds of food all at the 

 same price. But the advance step should not be taken at the 

 expense of losing any of the advantages of the present law. 

 We hardly think that the times are yet ripe for such a 

 change, as, from the stand-point of those having some expe- 

 rience in enforcing the law, it would let in a large amount of 

 adulteration. 



Laws against adulteration seem as yet to need a standard. 

 Wealthy or intelligent people could discover fraud in milk, 

 but the ignorant would suffer imposition, and the poor 

 might be comparatively helpless. 



There is nothing in the law now to prevent milk being 

 sold on its merits in three grades ; 1st, extra ; 2d, standard ; 

 3d, skimmed. 



A man with Jersey or Guernsey stock is now at liberty to 

 make a 14 or 15 per cent milk, grade it as extra, guarantee 

 its extra quality, and sell it at an extra price if he can find 

 customers. On the other hand, milk low in solids can be 

 sold at a low price by labelling it skimmed milk, — which in 

 some instances is not far irom the truth. 



We hope to see many enterprising dairymen try this ex- 

 periment of selling extra milk at an advance from the going 



