Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-08-06
Dairy Inspector
Barbour Presents
Two Years Report
Of Accomplishments

Is becoming more in evidence in milk
inspection work." says State Dairy
inspector Forrest a. Barbour in his
report just presented for the two
years ending July LIST, 1924.
The dairy bureau in many cases"
he continues, has been seriously
handicapped because until recently
there has been no meteorological ap-
paratus available. This apparatus
has now been purchased and INSTALL
ed.
There is a growing tendency on
the part of producers Of milk to cut
the counts can be ascertained. Some
labels are being used such as Grade
A In the absence OF any low de-
fning Grade A." it is believed milk
dealers are justified in using this
label unless their product can be
proven TO be inferior to the popu-
lar opinion of Grade A" milk. This
Is usually impossible to determine
in the absence of a means of taking
bacteria count.
Five milk dealers meetings were
held with an attendance varying from
eight to over 100. 1t is believed that
much good has come from these
meetings and more are being plan
ned for 1924.
I'm 1928 there were 43 milk inspec-
tors appointed by their respective
towns and conducting milk and dairy
inspection work to a greater or less
degree. There is, however, only a
very loose connection between NUM-
cipal and state inspectors. In 1924,
eight additional towns have appoint
ed milk inspectors.
"A circular letter to local milk in
1922. These letters which cover cur
rent topics, are designed to keep in
spectors in closer touch with one
another and to create II greater inter
est in milk inspection work. The
letters are sent out Tie fifteenth of
each month.
Milk license plates We're first issu-
ed in 1923. 1t was believed that be-
sides being more convenient to deal
ers there would be a tendency to
comply moro strictly with Section 5
of Chapter 66, requiring the posting
of license numbers on milk vehicles.
There is still some laXity in this
respect.
Creamery. Milk Inspection
seventy different ice cream fac
tories, receiving and shipping sta
lions were visited. several of these
were visited second or third time
for various reasons. Recommends
lions for Improvement in sanitary
conditions and efficiency were made
at many Creameries. One creamery
was condemned on account of I'M
satisfactory sewage disposal. A pro-
per sewer was installed at once. Part
ocular care was taken to investigate
methods of applying the BabCock
test.
"At the beginning Of the year 1922
n hearing was hello before the Com
missioner of Agriculture at which
several CreameriCs We're represented,
for the purpose of preventing milk
and cream excluded from the Boston
market being dumped on the Maine
markets. AS n result, wherever eX-
illusions have been made. creameries
have been requested not to accept
their product. These requests have
been complied with in most cases. a
few instances have been reported
where an excluded patrons product
has been received, however.
zone hundred and sixty two eX-
illusions were made during the past
year by the Boston Board of Health,
sixty of which have been reinStated.
Many of these reinStatementS have
been brought about through the eff
forts of the Dairy Bureau. Accord
ing to the Boston Board of Health
the percentage of diaries excluded to
the number of inspections made in
Maine is very small compared with
exclusions in other states supplying
the Boston market. This speaks
well for the sanitary conditions of
Maine dairies.
foonNfnCr INiCfllrn f1oonhinn c
purchased during the summer of
1923 with films on the proper meth
eds of production and food value of
milk. Approximately 1900 farmers
and their families have been reached
at 40 different showings. 1t is be-
lieved that these pictures have had n
beneficial result in the production of
better milk. &.
Miscellaneous Activities
THE lack of dairy exhibits at the
various fairs in 1922 and 1923 was
to be deplored. In the fall of 1928
an experiment to determine a salts
factory method of arousing interest
in competitive milk exhibits was
tried at the Somerset Agricultural
Association Fair. Previous to 1923,
no milk or cream had been exhibited
as no premiums were offered.
l-tiltiS were Sent 10 retail milk
dealers of Somerset county who were
elegible-about so in number. As Il
result II contestants were entered.
Ten exhibits scored better than 90
points.
On account of the demand, educa-
t!onal work relative to the food val
ue of milk and in the absence of any
other agency some exhibits and
programs have been presented adj
Yertising the food value of dairy
products. Puppies raised on milk
vs.. puppies raised on puppy bread
were exhibited at several fairs, talks
were given to the Parent-Teacher
Associations and moving pictures to
5000 school children were shown.
Market Milk Inspection
During 1923. 592 recorded in
spections of diaries where Maine
market milk is produced was made
by the State Dairy Inspector and his
assistant. This does not include re-
inspections. of which several were
made and in some cases two and
three times. nor does it include in
spection of diaries belonging to
creamery patrons.
Whenever possible, inspections
were made with the local milk in
spector of the town where the pro-
ducers' products was sold. Con-
structive criticism was made where
ever opportunity afforded and,
believe, to good effect.
In "a cases a time limit for re-
Quired changes was set and a rein
spection made. Three producers
failed to make required changes and
after a hearing their licenses were
revoked: of these, two dealers were
reinstated later. they having COM
piled with the requirements made.