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90
percentage of adulterated (8.4 per cent.) is considerably lower this
year than in former years. The Analysts have graded the samples
submitted to them into four groups:—Good quality, in which the
fat was over 3.8 per cent.; fair quality, in which the fat was between
3.3 and 3.8 per cent.; and poor or inferior quality, in which the
fat was between 3 per cent. (the official standard) and 3'3 per cent.,
or in which the non-fatty solids were between 8.5 and 8.6 (if the
fat was also below 3-8).
Adulterated are those below the official
standard of 3 per cent. for fat and 8.5 for solids not fat.

Although the amount of legal adulteration is less than that of
former years, the quality of the milk samples generally is not so good.
The amount of "Poor" quality milk is in excess of last year; the dry
summer and the difficulty of finding food for the cattle had the effect
of reducing the quantity of milk (the quality remains the same). In
view of the temptation to increase the quantity at the expense of its
quality, the figures given above may be regarded as fairly satisfactory.
Forty-two prosecutions were taken with regard to adulteration—
25 for fat abstracted, 16 for added water, and 1 for both fat abstracted
and added water. Twenty cautions were given to sellers whose milk
contained less than 5 per cent, of added water, or had less than 5 per
cent, of fat abstracted. Warranties were set up as a defence in
20 instances, 3 cases were withdrawn, 2 on account of insufficient time
allowance between service of summons and the hearing, and 1 on
account of wrong name being given to inspector who issued the
summons.
Sunday Samples.—116 of the samples of milk were taken on 13
Sundays during the year; 14 (12 per cent.) were found to be
adulterated. In the five previous years the figures were 91, 10.6, 11.0,
10'5 and 8.6 per cent. respectively.