160 BOAKD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



ditferent grades of part skims, and for full-skim cheese. 

 The numerals 5 and 6 might be added for cheese made from 

 enriched milk. This plan is suggested as being simple and 

 accurate, easily understood when adopted, and enabling the 

 proposed grading to be easily tested and verified. 



Full as much difference exists in the quality of milk con- 

 tributed to the general urban supply as in the case of cheese. 

 It is absurd to place all milk on an equality in the market 

 which reaches the legal standard, whatever that may be, and 

 regardless of the degree to which some of it may exceed the 

 standard in quality ; and it is unjust, as well as equally al)- 

 surd, to give the same legal status of skim-milk to all falling 

 below the standard, no matter how slightly deficient in fat. 

 With a standard of three and one-half per cent of fat, and 

 prevailing prices being four cents per quart for skim-milk 

 and eight cents for whole milk, an article containing 3.4 per 

 cent of fet must be sold as skim-milk, while one with 3.6 

 per cent, or even less, may sell for twice as much, because 

 it meets legal requirements, and most city buyers would 

 accept it as satisfactory. Milk should be graded like other 

 commodities, and sold on its merits according to its proper 

 grade. Butter fat is the determining factor in the commer- 

 cial value of milk, and this fat is easily and quickly meas- 

 ured by the tester. Therefore I would give fresh milk five 

 grades, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, these numerals to indicate the 

 percentage of fat guaranteed as the minimum contents, ex- 

 cept that No. 1 should be allowed a margin of one per 

 cent and cover all skim-milk. No. 2 would pass as partly 

 skimmed, or low grade, 3 as whole milk, and 4 and 5 as milk 

 of extra quality. At the rates now ruling. No. 5 would 

 probably retail at ten cents, No. 4 at eight cents. No. 3 at 

 six cents and No. 2 at four cents per quart. With proper 

 regulations for plain marking of cans, bottles, jars or other 

 vessels, and for enforcing the guarantees of dealers and sales- 

 men, the dubious legal standard for milk might be abolished, 

 buyers protected as well, and better justice done than under 

 the present system. The suggested regulations would be as 

 easy to enforce as existing laws and ordinances. The plan 

 is not wholly new, some features of it having been in prac- 

 tical and successful use in at least two places in this country. 



