The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-08-17
State Brand for Butter.
lSt. Johnsbury Caledonian.)


State Commissioner of Agriculture
F. s. Brigham is much in earnest in
his efforts to have the farmers OF Yer
mont adopt a state brand for then
butter and we believe should be sup
ported in his efforts. Vermont If
the leading dairy state Of New Eng
land, it producing 20,227 49, pounds OF
creamery butter each year to S,0oU,000
hounds for all the rest of New England,
1t also makes more dairy butter than
the rest of New England, but the fig
urcs are not at hand. Mr.. Brigham
states that the dairy COWS OF Vermont
earn from $15, 100000 to @20,000,0et
per year. Assume that half way between
these figures is the correct amount and
it shows the Importance of the DAIRY
industry to the state.
The investigation by the Boston
Chamber of Commerce of the milk mar
ket for Vermont farmers has shown
that it is very unsatisfactory to the
producer OF milk and the only remedies
FOR this condition are so complex and
difficult there is little prospect OF imm2
date relief 1t would seem more prom
ising to attempt to improve the market
for butter rather than for milk. The
demand for good butter is strong and
seems likely to remain SO. The produc-
ton of good butter is not difficult il
seriously undertaken. Mr.. Brigham
proposes this plan for improving Yer
mont butter.
We can only improve conditions by
devising a system whereby those who
| participate in the production and manu-
| facture of butter, both farmers and
! r.
| for careful work. As solution Of this
| problem we should adopt brand, safe
guarded by legislation and bearing the
| seal of the state of Vermont, which
creameries complying with regulations
| prescribed by the commissioner of az
riculturo will be allowed to use.
/ Denmark and Holland have given
their dairy products a worldwide repu
tation by the adoption of a govern
ment brand. In this eOhntry the state
of Minnesota has adopted a brand, and
the states of Iowa and South Dakota
are about to do so. The requirement.
for the use of the brand are briefly as
follows:
l. Score of butter to be Of min,
times out of y ut n scoring conducted
by the state agricultural college
.. Score of butter never to be below
9S.
;. Factory to score 90 or better.
+. Farm dairies to score 60 points
according to score cards provided BY
the commissioner of agriculture.
:. Cream pasteurized in accordance
with directions.
G. Cream received must be sweet ant
shall not test over two per cent acid.
:. Neutralizers not allowed.
8. When license IS granted. list o
patrons must be furnished with ad
dress.
Q. Factory must report number @
pounds manufactured each month.
10. Brand to be used only at fac
tory.
IL \ representative of the commi:
sioncr of agriculture to be allowed az
cess to the creamery at any time fo
, purpose of inspection, supervision @
testing of cream or milk samples, c
/ examination OF accounts
o Compliance with these demands woul
undoubtedly add millions of do
lars to the farmers incomes and plac
Vermont even higher than it no
L ST nds among the dairying states {
e the Union. 1t is tenth today in the pr
l. duction of butter and cheese, but it ca
+ easily gain a higher place by maxim
its butter better and more profitabl
To make butter good enough for ii
Z state board would surely increase Il
l. demand and the profits on Vernon
butter.