OFFICIAL INSPECTIONS /I. ' 97 



STATEMENT BY THE EXECUTIVE OF THE LAW. 



A. ]\I. G. SouLE, Chief Bureau of Inspections. 



The following' notes on the cream and milk conditions as 

 found in Maine are written by Mr. Clifford W Wescott, who 

 has acted as Dairy Inspector during the quarter covered by 

 this report. 



DAIRY INSPECTION. 



The inspection work carried on during the past three months 

 has revealed very few cases of understandard or adulterated 

 milk and cream. This fact is pleasing to the Bureau of In- 

 spection as we see that the milk situation in the State of 

 Maine has greatly improved in recent years. This improve- 

 ment has been largely brought about by the instructive and 

 suggestive manner of inspection. The producers, as a rule, 

 are glad to cooperate with this Department and are willing to 

 accept any reasonable suggestions made. However, the pro- 

 ducer can riot be expected to lay out a large amount of money 

 that he may produce higher quality milk unless he is to re- 

 ceive, his reward in the way of a higher price for his product. 



The prices of milk here in Maine are comparatively low, 

 therefore, it is our duty to protect the producer of this low 

 priced milk, as well as the consumer of it. That is, this bureau 

 cannot condemn a man's dairy, if his conditions are not too 

 bad, when he is receiving practically the cost price of produc- 

 tion. It is to be encouraged, however, that, the consumer co- 

 operate with the producer and pay him a better price for a 

 better product. We feel sure that the large number of pro- 

 ducers would gladly build sanitary milk houses and install sani- 

 tary equipment if a higher price for their product would war- 

 rant their doing so. One way of bringing about this result, 

 automatically, is for the consumer to cease to patronize pro- 

 ducers or dealers whose products have been shown to be adul- 

 terated or extremely dirty. There is no excuse for adulterated 

 milk and the cleanliness of milk depends entirely upon the 

 conditions under which it is produced. 



