Skimmed Milk Is Being Sold 
By the Big Milk Companies 
THE BORDEN SHOWING.—The mik Inspector 
of the Department of Foods and Markets finds that 
the average milk being delivered at the present time 
to tlie consumers of New York City is below the 
legal State and City standards in butter fat. Tests 
turned in on Jan. 16 on samples of milk taken from 
the Borden wagons in four tests sho-w grade A milk 
at 2.S% butter fat and one test on grade B milk 
showed the scant legal standard of 3%. Two tests 
of grade B milk showed 2.8%. These four tests 
average le.ss than the legal standard. 
TEST OF SHEFFIELD FARMS.—Milk secured 
from the Sheffield Farms Avagons showed one 
test of -V milk at the scant legal standard of 
3% and two tests at 2.8%. Of four tests of Sheffield 
Farms grade B milk, thi*ee showed the scant legal 
test of 3% and three samj)les showed 2.8% each. 
The average of these nine tests is also below the 
legal standard. 
OTHER POOR RECORDS.—One test from 
Mutual-McDermott wagons on B milk showed 2.8% 
butter fat, and one test of Clover Farms A milk 
showed 2.8% butter fat. Both the McDermott and 
tlie Clover Farms tests reached .2% below the legal 
standard. One test from the Brooklyn Milk & 
Creamery Co. on B milk also showed 2.8% hutter 
fat. a shortage of 2% under ftie legal standard; 
and one test of the Empire State Milk Co. made 
the worst showing of all, being 2.6% butter fat, or 
.4% below the standard. One test of Borden’s route 
cream, supposed to contain 20% hutter fat, showed 
15%. 
IS THE INIILK SKIMMED?—.Vside from the 
legal requirements of 3% for milk in this State 
and in this city, we have a. State law forbidding 
the adulteration of milk, and adulteration is de¬ 
fined as ‘’putting anything into milk or taking any¬ 
thing out of milk.” The milk being made on the 
farms and delivered to these companies Avill prob¬ 
ably average not le.ss than 3.6%, and this generally 
low percentage of hutter fat in the tests cannot 
be harmonized with the strict observance of this 
State law forbidding the adulteration of milk. The 
only possible conclusion of a practical mind is that 
the dealers are generally skimming or partially 
skimming the milk and taking cream out of the 
milk, and are selling to the patrons of the City of 
New York skimmed milk in open violation of the 
statute. 
CAN THEY BE TRUSTED?—This record at the 
present time, when the large dealers in New Y’'ork 
are planning, through the influence of the Wicks 
Committee, to divide the city into zones and to 
secTire for them.selves a monopoly of the distribu¬ 
tion of milk in the re.spective zone.s, gives a pretty 
fair intimation of Avhat might happen to consumers 
of the city after the monopoly Avas once Avell estab¬ 
lished. If Avhen the.se dealers are in an alleged 
competition Avith each other they are able to violate 
the State and City hnv Avith impunity, AA’hat might 
Ave expect after they have divided the City among 
themselves and secured a legal exclusive monopoly 
of the distribution in the.se districts as proposed 
by the Wicks Committee? 
PROMISE AND PERFORM.VNCE.—The Shef¬ 
field Farms adopted a standard of 3.8% for a 
basis in the purchase of milk from producers, and 
its conspicuous advertisements throughout the City 
are intended, at least, to give the comsumer the 
impression that this particular company furnishes 
a richer quality of milk than other dealers. Its 
record here, while a small fractioii better than its 
next competitor, still averages beloAV the legal re- 
quii-ement. The farmer is obliged to sell his milk 
strictly on the butter fat test. If it runs heloAV 
the legal standard of 3% he is prosecuted and fined 
for adulteration. The dealer evidently escapes the 
embarrassment of prosecution and the expense of 
fines, and the consumer takes skimmed milk in 
blissful ignorance of the amount of butter fat it 
may contain, Avhile she i)ays 2c a quart extra for 
the .\ brand. These tests seem to indicate that on 
an average she gets at least an equal quality of 
ndlk under the B brand, and nothing in the Avay of 
quality to brag of in either ca.se. 
NEW LEGISLATION NEEDED.- The dairy hiAvs 
of this State are archaic, contradictory, and Avorse 
than useless. The dealers and speculators hold 
them in contempt, and the officials charged Avith 
enforcement of the hiAV persistelitly neglect them, 
and probably could not enforce them if they Avould. 
Occasionally a farmer is ajiprehended and fined for 
some trivial offense, and a dealer orcasionally is 
quietly fined for a violation, but the hiAVS, as a rule, 
are a dead letter. The best Avay to treat them 
would be to wipe the whole bunch off the slate and 
JShe RURAL NEW-YORKER 
begin anew, and draft some legislation adai)ted to 
the present need, .\mong these Avould be a new 
or revised law in regard to the branding of cans 
and bottles, and the use of them by non-owners. A 
requirement for railroads to give a bill of lading 
for return cans and bottles, and entirely new pro¬ 
visions for the grading and standardizing of milk, 
both as to whole.someness. cleanliness and fat con¬ 
tent. The present system of certifying milk has 
also led to abu.ses that ought to be corrected. The 
Wicks Committee has had ample time and oppor¬ 
tunity to learn of these things, and it Avould .serve 
the people better by bringing forward measures for 
them, rather than Avaste its time in preparing 
monopolistic .systems for the benefit of dealers. 
The N. Y. State Agricultural Society 
Annual Meeting at Albany 
The 85th annual meeting of the New T’ork State 
Agricultural Society Ava.s held in Albany January 16- 
17 and was successful both in attendance and in the 
interest displayed in the proceedings. A.side from the 
excellence of the papers and the full reports from the 
society’s committee.s po.ssibly the gi'eatest interest cen¬ 
tered about the resolutions submitted. The.se are given 
beloAA\ The old officers Avere reelect(>d as folloAA s: 
President. F. W. Sessions, Utica; Secretary, Harry 
E. Cole, Albany; Treasurer, Harry B. Winters. 
‘‘WIfERE.\S. the agricultural interests of the State 
of Ncav 1 qrk are greatly handicapped in the market¬ 
ing of their ))i'oducts, due to cert.-iin conditions which 
noAV exist, and 
‘‘M HEREA.S. these conditions c.an be improA'ed by 
promoting cooperative organizations, and 
‘‘^^1HEREAS. the Commissioner of Foods and Mar¬ 
kets. according to Section 520 of the laAA's establishing 
the I)ei)artment_ of Foods and Markets, is authorized 
to aid and assist in the organization of cooperative 
.societies among producers and con.sumers for the pur¬ 
pose of .securing more direct busine.ss relations between 
them, therefore be it 
“RESOLl ED, that the Ncaa' York State Agricul¬ 
tural Society requests the Governor of the State and 
Legislatui-e to make specific and ad(“qAiate appropria¬ 
tion to the Dej)artment of Foods and Markets for the 
purpose of extending cooperative Avork.” 
‘‘WHERE.\S. the groAving of bi^ans is an important 
industry to the fruit groAver, the dairyman and the 
general farmer of the State, and 
‘‘WHEREAS, certain de.structiA’e diseases of the 
roots and vines of beans which as yet cannot be con¬ 
trolled are doing serious damage to this crop and are 
threatening the bean industry of the State, therefore 
be it 
‘‘RESOLVED, that the New Y'ork State Agricul¬ 
tural Society here assembb'd endorse the action of the 
NeAv Y'ork State Bean GroAvers’ Committee in asking 
the Legislature for an appropriation of .‘^8.500 for the 
study of bean diseases, insect troubles and the im¬ 
provement of this crop by .selection, and be it further 
‘‘RESOLVED, that at the proper time a committee 
from this society send favorable resolutions to the 
Governor, the Commissioner of Agriculture and the 
members of the State Legislature, endor.sing the pro¬ 
posed bill.” 
‘‘WHERE.-VS, Ave hold it unjust to require farmers, 
fiuiit groAvers and other land oAvners to post notices 
around their lands not more than forty rods apart in 
order to protect them from trespass, and 
“WHEREAS, hunters and other trespassers Inn’e 
in many ca.ses dug holes in our meadows dangerous to 
cattle and horses, hav'e loosened and destroyed stone 
fences, left bars and gates open, trampled doAvn gra.ss 
and grain, picked or destroyed vegetables and fruit, 
killed poultry and Avounded domestic animals, there¬ 
fore, be it 
“RESOLVED, that the Ncav Y'ork State Agricul¬ 
tural Society request the Legislature so to amend the 
laAV as to extend the protection noAv given posted prem¬ 
ises to Jill farm lands Avhether posted or not and make 
trespassing on fruit and farm lands without permis¬ 
sion of the oAvner a misdemeanor, the trespasser in ad¬ 
dition to be liable for all damage that is the result of 
his or their Avrongful entry.” 
“RESOLVED, that the State Agricultural Society 
record its approval of the i)roposition to create a board 
of agriculture or board of agricultural regents, which 
shall elect a commi.ssioner of agriculture to .serve dur¬ 
ing good Ix'havior in order that there may be .secur(>d 
the continuity of .service on the part of this official so 
e.ssential to an intelligent and efficient admini.stration 
of the State department of agriculture and further 
that a special committee be appointed to urge this mat¬ 
ter on the attention of the Govfu-nor and the Legisla¬ 
ture.” 
“WISEREAS, the rural sections of the State are 
not adequately protecttul and rural crime by reason of 
defective and inadequate machinery is not" prevented, 
detected or punished Avith the certainty and efficiency 
Avhich the safety of our people demand.s and 
“WHEREAS, the improving of our highAvays and 
the increasing common use of the automobile "are to¬ 
gether making even our remote' country di.stricts easily 
acces.sible to the criminal cla.sses of the city and 
“IVHERE.YS, petty thieving and hiAvle.ssness are 
steadily increasing in the rural di.stricts and 
“WHEREAS, the safety of users of our higlnvays 
is increasingly menaced by reckle.ss motorists, speed 
fiends, intoxicated drivers and drivers Avithout lights 
and 
“WHEREAS, there is before the Legislature a 
measui-e for the better policing of the rural districts 
and higliAvays through the creation of a State con¬ 
stabulary like Pennsylvania’s, therefore be it 
“RESOIA'ED. that avc the officers and members of 
the Ncav Y'ork State Agricultural Society in our an¬ 
nual meeting assembled, do heartily endorse the estab¬ 
lishment of such a force and urge upon the Legislature 
its enactment of an appropriate statute, and further 
“RE.SOLVED, that the secretary of the society be 
instructed to forward a copy of the.se resolutions to 
the officers of the Legislature and the memb<>ri of the 
Seiiiite Finance and .\ssembly W.-iys and Means Com¬ 
mittee.” 
12t 
Notes from Department of Foods and 
Markets 
204 Franklin St., New York City 
Eggs. Arrivals from Tennessee and Texas are in¬ 
creasing, Avith several carloads from the I’acific Coast. 
These California eggs are Avhite. taking the place of the 
nearby white hennery. Fancy AA'hite Inmnery eggs aver- 
aging over tAvo ounces each brought 6()c; average run, 
.jOc to .54e; broAvn hennery, 53c to 55c; gathered State, 
51e to 5.3c; California whites, .53c to .5.5c. Southern 
<‘ggs. 48e to .50c; storage eggs, scarce; finest. 4()<s 
.seconds, 37c to 3Sc. 
Butter. —Prices one cent loAA'er. Finest Western 
creamery, 40c; commercial grades, 37c to 30c; finest 
State dairy, 38c; mixed packages, 33c to 37c. 
Chee.se. —Holdings are nearly as large as a year ago, 
but a great deal is for export. Prices are 24tAc on 
fancy colored; Avhite is 23%c to 24%; fancy Avhite 
Avould bring 24%c; part skims, 17 to 20c. 
Live Sheep a.xp Lambs. —Market advanced .$14.,50 to 
.>lo per 100 lbs. on prime lambs; sheep, .$6 to .$0. 
Cor.xTRY Dressed Pork. —Prime SO-pound hogs, 14e 
to 15c; over 200 lbs.. 12c to 1.3c; su<*k]ing pigs, 18c to 
20c; roasters, 15c to 16c. One shipment to Europe this 
week of .30.000 frozen hogs. 
Apples. ^larket 50c per barrel lower, oAving to 
holders of barreled apples forcing the fruit into con¬ 
sumptive channels at profit. Boxed apples Aveak. Bald¬ 
wins .sold at .'?4..50 on grade “A”; ungraded, .$3.50 to 
.$4. (freemngs declined to .$4.50 to .$5 on 2% inch; 
3 inch up to .$6. Spitzenburg. $5.50 to $6; choice Spy, 
.$o.o0; ungraded fruit, .$2..50 to .$3.50; Virginia Y'ork 
ImperiaLs, .$4.25 to .$4..50; fancy Winesap, .$5; Ben 
Davis, .$2,75 to .$4. 
Potatoes. —C’on.sumptive demand is light, but there 
IS heavy buying for seed purposes from the South, and 
market is firm at .$.5..50 on best IMaine and some better 
grad_es State and Western. Sales in bulk, $1.85 to 
$1.05 per bu.; Southern .second crop. $5 to $5.25 per 
barrel. 
Dressed Poth.try.—FoavIs and roasting chickens, one 
cent per lb. higher; turkeys, unimproved; dry-picked 
fowls. 22c to 24c; corn-fed roasting chickens, 2.5c to 
26c; milk-fed,-270 to 2Sc. Old roosters .selling at 27%c. 
the highest price ever knoAvn. Capons arriving sparingly 
and selling at .35c to .38c, Avith slips at .32c to .34e. 
Heavy young tom turkey, 3.3c to .3.3%c; hen.s, .31c to 
; sc^f^e. 2()c to 24c; young guincii hens, 
$1.2.'> to .$1..50; Avhite .squabs, from 7 to 10 lbs., per 
dozen, .$4.50 to .$6. 
Live Poultry.— Market firm. Fat fowls. 21%c to 
; \yhite J-oghorns, 20c to 21c; Leghorn chickeni^, 
18c to 20c, only broiler sizes bring higher prices; ducks-, 
22c to 24c; geese. 19c to 22c; pigeons. 2.5c pair; 
guinea foAvls, 60c pair; Belgian hare.s. ISc to 20c lb. 
Live Calves. —Choice veals .sold readily at 16c per 
pound; common, 14c to 1.5c; heavy Western calves, 
to 10c. 
DIiessed Calves. —Choice heavy veals brought 23c, 
the highest price ever knoAvu ; good cah-es, 21c to 22c; 
light. I7c ti> 18c per pound. 
Dressed Hothouse I^ambs. —Market firm at $1.3 to 
$14 on fancy Aveighing 33 to 35 lbs.; light, at .'pll to 
$12 each. 
Nu^ts. —Hickory nutj5^ slow at $2 to $2.25 per bu.shel 
of 60 lbs.; bull nut.s, 7.5c to .$1 per bu.; black walnuts 
shov at 7.5c per bu. 
Honey. —Fancy cloA’er comb, 14c to 1.5c; most sales 
at 11c to 1.3c per pound. 
The T’’nited States Department of Agriculture has 
issued the folloAving notice to shippers of Huits and 
vegetables: 
“'i'he officials in charge of the enforcement of the 
Food and Drugs Act report that inspectors have found 
several interstate shipments of packages of fruits and 
A’egetables, such as grapes, tomatoes and berries, which 
contain no statement on the packages as to the quantity 
of contents. ’Phe net weight amendment to the Federal 
Food and Drugs Act requires that all packages of foods 
Avhich are shipped into interstate or foreign commerce 
must be marked plainly and conspicuously Avith a state¬ 
ment of the quantity of the net contents, either by 
Aveight or measure. Shippers Avho violate the hiAV by 
failing to mark the (luantity of the contents of each 
package of fruits and vegetables they ship into inter¬ 
state commerce are liable to criminal prosecution. Sev¬ 
eral shippers have already been cited to hearings under 
the Food and Drugs Act for violating its provisions in 
this respect.” 
Summary of sales of mi.scellaneous farm products 
during the Aveek ending .Tanuary 17th. 1917: 
1 case . 
EGGS. 
so 6.q 
1(S fMSDS.. 
.5 cases. 
91/, ca.ses. 
29% cases . ... 
. 
. 
.57 
25% cases. 
24% cases. 
. 
. 
..5.3 
5 oases . 
■3 cases. 
1 case . 
.. . . 47 
lbs. 
164 chickens . 
297 ^'hickens . 
poultry. 
. 
_.‘fO .2314 
160 chickens . 
141 chickens . 
5 pairs chickens . 
lbs. 
14 foAvl . 
75 fowl . 
338 fowl . 
FOAVL. 
.‘20 
.22% 
o»> 
67 fowl . 
.... ’ll 
25.3 fowl . 
.... 20 
Ill foAvl . 
.. .. IS 
‘27 turkeys . 
.54 old cocks. 
36 old cocks . 
1 pkg. .sciuabs . . . 
lbs. 
146 butter . 
174 butter . 
butter. 
.16 
_ 36 
.3.5 butter . 
.... .35 
62 butter . 
(Continued on Page 125.) 
