The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-02-13
CLOSE WATCH BEING KEPT ON
THE FOOD SUPPLY IN THIS STATE
tors Alert tn Protect HeRfsh
of Public.

sioner in Virginia 27.1s5 pounds of
human foodstuffs and 4,os1.5s4 pounds
of stock feeds and 2o.170 packages of
stock aud poultry powders. which had
not been prepared in accordance with
the law. would have been used in this
State last year. This 10 shown by the
report of the state Dairy and Food
Commissioner Benjamin L. Purcell for
the fiscal year.
These figures show of what ire
mendous Importance the department
Ia to the State at large. Insisting on
q rigid inspection of all food and dairy
stuffs the department makes some
enemies among those who do not put
the public interest before their own.
but for every one OF such II makes
a host OF friends among the thousands
who are benefited by the department s
work.
Investigate Ali Foodstuffs.
The inspectors duties require them
to investigate all foods offered or ex-
posed for SALE" says the report, and
especially such foods as are susptecte ed
OF being mfsbranded or aduiterated; to
inspect establishments where foods are
prepared. and to withdraw from sale
such foods az do not conform to the
requirements of the law. Within the
period covered by this report (12
months) 1878 visits to as many towns
and communities were made.
The inspectors sent in 1,047 samples
Of stock feed and human food. of
which number 500 were examined
While this department spares no pains
to bring about a strict compliance with
the law, there Is an earnest effort to
consider the interests of such dealers
with duA rA1ard for n
have ignorantly neglected proper pre-
cautions. The spirit of the office Is
educational. as well as corrective, con-
seQuently abundant opportunities to re-
form are given TO persons found guilty
OF having unwittinsIy in their posses
sion adulterated or misbranded foods,
or such as have neglected proper san
itary precautions in their factories
Within the year 1913 such cases have
been heard; nifty nine of these were
reported to the Commonwealth's At
torney for prosecution, seven were
brought TO trial by the inspectors be-
fore magistrates and hnes imposed .
the remaining cases were dismissed
efter explaining the laws requirements
and warning the interested parties.
@'Prior to December /. 1914 the work
Of the dairy division was not reported
in detail. 80 that the figures covering
this department are only available
since that date. The program planned
for these instructors OF the division
is. as their title suggests. largely edu
cationaL The idea conveyed by read
ing the tabulated report of their work
does not give an adequate account OF
the valuable assistance these men are
rendering TO the dairymen of Virginia.
Interest In Dairy Farming.
They have been largely instrumental
In creating new interest IN dairy farm
ing. as evidenced by the erection of
new barns, silos and cream cries In the
State. They 60 from farm to farm and
10 the various creameries, discuss with
the farmers the difficult problems con-
frontly them, and assist In their solu-
tion. They advise concerning the Sc
lection OF herds and their intelligent
breeding. their care and handling, and
the details, often complex. of the mar
keting OF their product The prepsra-
ton of feeds. compromising of suitable
rations, and statement of their seien-
tinc values the raising of calves.
building Of harnR milk houses and ST.
los and the general conduct of a dairy
farm. are all subjects upon which our
Instructors are prepared TO give expert
advice and practical instruction. That
they have made themselves acceptable
and useful to the farmers Is evidences
BY repeated requests for their SER
vices. and am satisfied that the yalu-
able assistance given by these men to
the farmers OF the State has added ma
tertalty to the development OF the
dairy industry. -..
/ am pleased TO report substantial
increase in the number of eresmsries
and their output OF dairy products, and
that these factories. with one or two
huN nj
business much larger than was done in
the corresponding periods of previous
years.
The returns from the creameries
have been more satisfactory to the pa
irons than in former years, and this
has resulted In not only a larger busi-
ness to the creameries. but has also
brought about a cordial and sattsfae-
tory cooperation between the dairy
farmer and the creamery owners. Bet
ter prices to the dairies supplying the
creameries with their milk and cream
has been one result of these condi-
tons. and this additional income has
enabled a great many of the creamery
patrons to increase their herds. Tho
interdependence Of all of these agencies
IL thus forcibiy brough home to our
farmers, and spirit of readiness TO
accent suggestions with increasing
ability to discriminate shows the prac-
tfcal value of our methods. Six cream
cries and cheese factories have been
started during the year. located re-
spectfvely at Fredericksburg. Danville,
Charlottesville, -Pafeeiiville. Cripple
Creek and Burkeville. The dairy and
creamery instructors have attended the
meetings OF the farmers clubs and
farmers organizations throughout the
year and they report = much moro sat
tsfactory condition existing on the
dairy farms at present than has been
tho case In the past. Our dairymen
have come to a realization of the pos
sibi1ities for dairy farming and the
unsurpassed facilities that the soil and
climate Of Virginia offer to this indus
try, and recognizing the fact that
through dairy farming their soil fer
tility may be best conserved. and the
farm brought to a higher state OF Gull
tiyation at a smaller cost than can be
attained through other lines OF ag-
rfcuftural endeavor. they are turning
from the old line Of farming. consist
ing of the annual and single money
crop. to dairying and diversified farm
,rr with n prevailing spirit Of opti-