Greene, Me., 1894... 16.7 17.2 17.5 17.6 18.317.6 17. 16.4 18.4 17.2

Composition of the Milk of three Cows at the Maine Experiment Station. Averages for half Periods of five days each.

These figures above given afford an important study to creamery men and patrons alike. In them there is much to show that under tests critically made the variations in milk from month to month are not wide, and where found are such as are already understood and accounted for by observing dairymen. A jump occurs occasionally, however, that needs confirmation, especially in the cream.

Having thus shown the situation in which the producers of the milk find themselves placed in the associated work as now conducted, and the effect it is having on the individual dairyman and on the business at large, it becomes in order to inquire whether anything can be done to correct the defects of the system and thereby remove the obstacles to its further extension. A fault finder becomes a cynic unless in place of the defects he stigmatizes he can suggest something better to take their place. In our present dairy work, as in much else around us, it is easier to point out defects than it is to remedy them. I am willing to admit here and now that though I am one of the subjects of the defects embarrassing our associated work in dairying as now carried on, and though I have given attentive consideration to the unprotected position in which the producers of the milk stand, yet the full solution of this important problem is not yet entirely clear to me. The best that can now be done is to consult together over the matter, possibly suggest improvements, and await the dawning of further light to guide in the completion of the work.

Total Solids.

*9VI

THE BABCOCK TEST.

In so far as the apparatus known as the Babcock Test is concerned, or any other appliance for measuring the butter-fat value of milk pooled in associated work, I drafted a bill, and was instrumental in securing its passage by the legislature of Maine at its last winter's session, which throws the protection of law over the use of such appliance, thereby giving the dairymen a measure of protection against defective or incompetent work. The following is a copy of the law as it now standing an our statute.

AN ACT for the protection of Dairymen.

SECTION 1. All bottles, pipetts or other measuring glasses used by any person, firm or corporation, or their agents or employes, at any creamery, butter factory, cheese factory or condensed milk factory or elsewhere in the state, in determining by the Babcock test, or by any other test, the value of milk or cream received from different persons or parties at such creameries or factories, shall before such use be tested for accuracy of measurement and for accuracy of the per cent scale marked thereon. Such bottles, pipetts or measuring glasses shall bear in marks or characters ineffaceable the evidence that such test has been made by the authority named in section two of this act. And no inaccurate bottles, pipetts or other glasses shall bear such marks or characters.

SECTION 2. It is hereby made the duty of the director of the state college experiment station, or other competent person designated by him, to test the accuracy of all bottles, pipetts or other measuring glasses used by persons, firms or corporations in this state buying or pooling milk or cream, or apportioning butter or cheese made from the same, by the contents of butter fat contained therein. The director of the experiment station, or the person designated by him, shall mark such bottles, pipetts or other measuring glasses as are found correct, in marks or characters which cannot be erased, and which marks or characters shall stand as proof that they have been so tested. The director of the experiment station shall receive for such service the actual cost incurred, and no more, the same to be paid by the persons or corporations for whom it is done.

SECTION 3. Any person either for himself or in the employ of any other person, firm or corporation, who manipulates the Babcock test or any other test, whether mechanical or chemical, for the purpose of measuring the contents of butter fat in milk or cream for a basis of apportioning the value of such milk or cream, or the butter or cheese made from the same, shall secure a certificate from the superintendent of the dairy school at the state college of agriculture and mechanic arts that he or she is competent and well qualified to perform such work. The rules and regulations in the application for

such certificate and in the granting of the same shall be such as the superintendent of that school may arrange, and the fee for issuing a certificate shall in no case exceed one dollar, the same to be paid by the applicant.

SECTION 4. Whoever uses, or has in his possession with intent to use, at any creamery, butter factory, cheese factory or condensed milk factory, any sulphuric acid of less than one and eighty-two hundredths of specific gravity, in the process known as the Babcock test or any other test for determining the butter-fat contents of milk or cream, shall on conviction pay a fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars for the first offence, and for a second offence a sum not exceeding fifty dollars. Any person, firm or corporation violating the provisions of section one of this act, shall on conviction pay a fine not exceeding fifty dollars for the first offence, and for a second offence a sum not exceeding one hundred dollars; and any person violating section three of this act shall on conviction pay a fine not exceeding ten dollars. And it shall be the duty of every inspector of milk, sheriff, deputy sheriff and constable to institute complaint against any person or persons violating the within named provisions of this act, and on conviction one-half of the fines shall go to complainant and the balance to the state.

SECTION 5. This act shall take effect in six months from the date of its approval.

It is believed this law is a step in the right direction and the first step called for. It gives the dairymen protection against fraudulent instruments and incompetent operators. It does not, however, afford full protection against intentional fraud, nor does it in any way provide for the correct sampling of the milk or cream.

A state dairy commissioner should be provided in every state having large dairy interests. I will not undertake to define in full the duties of the office. He should of course have general oversight of all dairy interests and see that the laws, such as we have, are enforced. I suggest also that testing milk and cream samples in associated work at creameries, over which there is now so much uncertainty, could be so arranged as to be made a part of his duties, to be made by himself or by deputies under his control, and possibly at the expense of the creamery where the work is done. This would insure patrons against any possible cheats in this part of the work. He should also look after the enforcement of the anti-oleo laws, and the milk inspection laws of cities, and especially with a view to the purity and healthfulness of the milk sold. If these duties thus roughly defined were not enough he could then be made an itinerant instructor in all these lines of dairy work, commissioned to put in his labors where most needed and where they would do most good. I earnestly urge your attention to this particular suggestion, believing