St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-01-31
OUR PECKS OF DIRT
Which the Food Commission
Is Employed to Gradually
Reduce.
The Annual Report Of the
Commission Showing What
1t Is Doing.
Butter, Vinegar and Lard
Seem Most Freely Adult
tepated.
Scope Should Be Extended to
Include Honey, Coffee
and Spice.

year to year. The advance sheets are
devoted exclusively to authorizations,
and, beginning with milk, the report
proceeds:
Milk cannot be legally sold upon the
markets of the state that contains less
than 50 per cent Of butter fats. The
law also requires that all vendors or
milk shall pay the small sum Of 81 to
the state dairy and food department,
and procure a license for the sale OF the
same, III all cities of over 1000 lnhab-
itants. This is not done for the pur-
pose of deriving revenue, but more
for the purpose of securing the name
and location of the milkmen, so that
ther premises may be more readily
found by our inspectors, and the true
condition ascertained of the stock and
barns. with reference to health and
sanitary environments.
Milk Is Improving
Owing to the strict surveillance of the
work in this direction, the standard Of
the milk throughout the state has been
steadily improving in quality. and each
succeeding year notes marked change
for the better. Our inspectors visit the
cheese factories and creamerles through
out the state. and collect samples OF
milk delivered at those places, for
analysis, which method has been attend
ed with good results.
The only true method for the cream
cries and cheese factories to adopt, in
order to get value received, is to buy
their milk on the test plan; that is, to
submit each patrons milk to test. and
pay for it in accordance with its value
in fats. taking the state standard of
three and one-halT per cent for basis.
For instance, it patron furnishes milk
that tests above the standard established
by law, he should receive correspond
ingly more for his produce. and vice
versa. If this plan was strictly adhered
to it would result in the farmer dlspos-
ing of his poor cows and replacing them
with higher type Of dairy stock, and
much higher grade of dairy products
would naturally follow.
The subject of butter is CLOSED over
with a sharp essay on the value of the
industry as farm adjunct, and the re-
mark that the state laws make no dis
elimination with regard to the different
qualities of butter found upon our mar
ket, and the commissioner cannot con-
denim an article of butter, no matter
how vile and rank, if it is proven to be
made from pure cream, and that no adul-
teration whatever has entered into its
compositions: therefore the consumer
must Judge of its quality and the quality
governs the price.
Minnesota Cheese.
Since the cheese industry has been
recognized by our state legislature, and
protection vouchSafed it by the enact
ment of stringent laws prohibiting the
sale Of low-grade and filled cheese of
other states within our borders, the
cheese. industry of this state has re-
ceived an impetus which has resulted in
placing it in an enviable position, and
today cheese bearing the brand Min
nesota State Full Cream Cheese" de-
mands good price on our markets, and
its brand is sufficient guarantee of its
purity and excellence.
This department has taken deep in
terest in the prosperity Of this branch
of MinnesOta's material welfare, and
proffers it all the announcement and
assistance consistent with the existing
laws governing the same.
Our inspectors visit all cheese facto-
ries and creameries at stated periods,
and take samples for analysis of all
| milk delivered by the patrons, as it is
| delivered. The patron furnishing
skinned or watered milk is at once
notified by the department.; a second
offenSe means prosecution, hence the
first notice is usually sufficient. There
fore when the factories receive milk in
its natural purity, the product OF the
same must necessarily be uniform, with
reference to richness.
Heretofore the factory cheese Of this
state has not been of a uniform texture,
while it has been perfectly satisfactory
with reference TO its other qualities. yet
its keeping qualities varied with its
r.. Il tad
that the only way of overcoming this
serious defect, and placing Minnesota
| cheese Oh an equal footing with the
product of other states, would be
| to appoint competent per
sou, one thoroughly informed regarding
| the latest and most approved methods
| of making cheese, to visit the various
factories throughout the state and in
| Struct the cheese makers IN the matter.
L accordingly did so, and added TO my
office force, that of cheese instructor,
who is engaged for the period of five
months each year (or during the cheese
making season.. The result has been
very gratifying, and has greatly passed
my expectations. The department has
received communications from the fac
tories through the state, highly com
mending my action in the matter, and
| report very tlattering results; and the
| product Of the factories bear very con-
! Nincng evidence of the efficiency of the
| work in this direction.
Legal Requirements.
The law requires that all cheese must
! contain not less than 40 per cnt of fats to
total solidS,in order to pass as full cream
cheese. in order to be eligible to bear
the state brand, and the law specifically
| stipuIates that all cream cheese must be
branded Estate Of Minnesota Full
| Cream Cheese" All cheese containing
less than 40 per cent of fats to total
! solids will be aduiterated. and parties
using the Minnesota brand on such
| product will be liable to prosecution.
| Since the cheese industry has received
! the encouragement and protection our
state legislature has given it. very
marked improvement has been made,
and the samples of Minnesota cheese
submitted to our chemists for analysis
! of fats to total solids, intead of 40 per
cent, the minimum required by law,
and today there is good demand for
| the product of our creamerieS and
| cheese factories in all parts of the
country. 1t has gained name, and
! that name has found for it a market.
| The condition of things | attribute to
| wise legislation. While our laws have
done much for the encouragement of
this industry, there yet remains much
more to be done before the good work
will be satisfactorily completed.
The dairy interests of this state are
rapidly forging to the front, and the
time is near at hand when it will be the
leading industry. Wheat raising will
gradually decrease, and diversified farm
ing will take its place. The especial
adaptation of the state of Minnesota to
this branch of business reduces the
matter to a certainty.
Bogus Butter.
The report leaps upon oleomargarine
with both feet, and Says the sale of this
villainous compound i'll the state of Min
nesota is at the present time very linn
tied, and lis sale is confined to the lu m
Der and mining camps at the extreme