The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-08-21
WOMEN GREAT FACTOR
ENFORCEMENT Of LAW
Aro Great Assistants to Dairy and
Food DiviAon Of Agricultural
Department
DAIRY INDUSTRY GROWING
Moro Than Fifty Per Cent Increase Is
Shown in the Manufacture Of But
ter in State During Past Year, Says
Commissioned Purcell.

commissioner Benjamin L. ToFeea'
Of the dairy and food division OF the
Department of Agriculture. has just is
sued his annual report of the work
of his division for the year ending
March /. 1916.
Chief among the excellent results
Of the years activities Is the enforce
tnent of tho sanitation laws in regard
to the handling and distribution OF
foods and the remarkable development
OF the dairy industry. The valuable
aid Of women's organizations in fur
thering and assisting the work of the
dairy and food division 10 recognized
BY Commissioner Purcell in mis- report.
IN which he states that IL IS hopsd that
every city and town will have its wo-
mems clubs, which will appoint In
spectors to visit stores to see that mer-
chants constantly maintain sanitary
conditions.
General Observance of Law.
"A general observance of the laws
for the protection of the food supply
has been secured with comparatively
little friction" the report reads in ref
erence to sanitation, land the good re-
suits thus obtained mean that the I'M
provement will be lasting. AS result
of the effective and intelligent work OF
the inspectors, there has been a mark
ed Improvement In the sanitary sur
roundings of the food distributing
places Of the State where foods are
manufactured. sold or stored pending
their sale. This improvement is espe-
ciaIly noticeable in the bakeries. oyster
packing and shocking plants. retail
grocery stores and markets.
The inspectors OF the department.
visited 1880 towns during the year
inspecting 70.ss4 manufacturing ana
distributing plants. which resulted in
the withdrawal from sale OF s.ssz
pounds, OF stock and poultry powders
and 4sstoss pounds OF stock feed.
The inspection Of human foods result
Cd in the destruction of 2e4.sl4 pounds
as being UNIT for consumption
Increase In Dairy Industry.
Regarding the dairy industry. the re-
port states that In the last two years
there has been an increase OF 3s "a
per cent for the industry as whole.
There has been an increase OF SO per
cent In the amount OF butter MADE IN
Virginia creameries In 1915 over the
production for the year 1914, and by
the large number OF farmers who have
taken up dairy farming exclusively or
as a part OF the operation OF their
farm there Is an indication that our
people are realizing the great possi-
'ilities of this industry.
Recognizing the advantages dairyfng
offers with our especially adapted ell
mate and soil. over the cid system OF
annual or single crop farming. the
farmers are optimistieally turning to
this branch o. Virginia agriculture.
and are reapinx satisfactory returns
from the start
MANY farmers from the North and
West are investigating our conditions
sone Of these men have recently been
attracted to the State and have taken
up their residence on Virginia dairy
farms All of them appear to be
pleased. and they are writing to their
former homes to induce others to fol-
low.
Value Of wsmen's Help.
On the work of womens organixa-
lions in assisting the work of the
dairy and food division. Commissioners
Purcell says In his report that it has
been OF material advantage. The fact
that SO per cent of our income is Spent
in foods. the report continues. and
that the women OF the household make
Ytne-tenths of the purchases of fam
lily supplies gives them a right to de-
mand that the dealer who distributes
their food shall observe cleanliness and
care In supplying their wants In sew
erat large cities leagues or clubs send
cut women inspectors, who visit the
stores every few days. and unless the
merchant constantly maintains SAM
tary conditions. he will not be placed
on a list of approved stores. The clubs
maintain a list of approved inspected
places for the beneft OF the club mem
hers and the merchants with rare ex-
ceptions, eagerly seek a place on these
lists
Advancement in the work Of eradi-
eating bovine tuberculosis from the
herds Of the state, the protection OF
tho oyster industry and the super
vision Of the mixing and preparation
OF stock and poultry feeds is also re-
ported by the commissioner to be sat