The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1905-01-15

were nearly three times the amount
manufactured in our state during the
period from November 1, 1903, to No
vember l., 1904, the latter being only
5000 pounds, a decrease of 7,250
pounds from the amount made the
year previous.
A very little study of these figures
will show that there is no prospect of
an overproduction of butter or cheese
during the next ten years, especially
when it is taken into consideration
that the increase of the population of
the state keeps pace with the pro-
duction. The opportunity for making
money out of the dairy business is
great, but to successfully meet the
competition from eastern factories,
Washington must produce a better
grade of butter. Eastern butter finds
greater demand from the Alaska
trade than does our own, owing to the
fact that it does not deteriorate SO
rapidly. Commissioner Mcdonald says
the deterioration in the quality of the
Washington product in the last few
years is due to the general intro
duction of the hand separator among
the farmers He characterizes this as
going back to the old system where
cream was bought by the inch, the
gatherer measuring it off in the deep
setting cans at the farmers milk shed.
The hand separator has created new
condition-one which the lawmakers
of the state must meet by creating the
office of state dairy and creamery in
spector and giving him power to con-
denim every can of cream that is not
up to standard when reaching the
factory. Attention is called in Mr.. Nc
Donald'S report to the fact that the
eastern creameries maintain the high
est standard through having inspectors
in every district, and he is positive
that the same methods can be success
fully carried out in Washington, with
the result that the quality OF our but
ter will improve He wants the present
law so amended as to give the state
dairy commissioner larger powers in
these premises, also to allow him depu-
ties in various sections, whose duty it
shall be to inspect the dairy stables,
creameries, etc., and to enforce the
highest order of sanitation in every
case. He also proposes to make it in
cumbent upon these deputies to in
struct the dairy farmers in the proper
care of the milk from the time it
leaves the cow until it arrives at the
creamery.
The Vigor with which the dairy COM
missioner has enforced the laws relat-
ing to the standard of milk has re-
suited in keeping the milk up to the
3 per cent. mark, there being very few
cases where the quality has fallen be-
low the standard There has been a
growing conviction among certain of
our people that the standard should
be raised to 31a per cent, but Com
missioner Mcdonald does not believe
this advisable. He explains that
per cent. milk taken from the bottom
of the can will generally test 31a and
even per cent. when the entire guam
tity in the pan is thoroughly mixed.
He argues that if the legal standard
is raised the price to the consumer
will be raised also. There should be
no difficulty for the consumer to OBJ
tain milk of a higher standard by
agreeing with the dealer to pay lit
tie more for it. Instead of raising the
standard the laws on sanitary condi-
lions at the dairy barns and against
the use of preservatives of any kind
in the milk should be enlarged upon
90 4 h - L..