258 RURAL 2V£W YORK 



fat and III/2 of other solids; butter must not contain 

 more than 10 per cent of water. Standard measures 

 of volume are established and provision is made that 

 products may be bought by weight if so required. 

 Closed packages must be marked correctly with the 

 net weight. Milk bottles are regulated to show the 

 name of the owner and the grade of milk on the cap. 

 Grades are defined for milk and for apples. The 

 standard apple barrel is defined to have a capacity 

 of 100 quarts. The form for labeling many com- 

 modities is specified. All these things are in the 

 direction of standardization and honest dealing, and 

 aid in the rapid and direct movement of products 

 at a more stable price. 



In 1914 a further step was taken by the State in 

 the establishment of a department or office of foods 

 and markets, later made a division of the Depart- 

 ment of Farms and Markets, which is charged with 

 the investigation of market conditions and the dis- 

 semination of market information, and is authorized 

 to establish public auction markets in the several cen- 

 ters of distribution and to aid in the organization of 

 farm producers. The idea is that a public auction 

 market under the supervision of the State would be 

 an open court to which producers and buyers may 

 come and at which a fair, open and direct sale price 

 may be established. Not only is this for the mutual 

 benefit of the parties involved but the prices so estab- 

 lished when taken with the established grades set 

 a standard by which sales by private agencies may be 

 measured. This auction market under State super- 



