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"following recommendations have been drawn up for the guidance of the
"local officials employed in this work:—
"1. The quantity to be purchased should not be less than one pint, except
"that it may be expedient to purchase only half-a-pint in cases where there is
"reason to believe that the object of the purchase would be defeated if a greater
"quantity were demanded.
"2. The division of the sample under Section 14 of the Act of 1875, as
"amended by Section 13 of the Act of 1899, should be made as equally as
"possible, so that the portion reserved by the purchaser may be not less than
"one-third of the whole.
"3. The bottle used for each divided part should have a narrow neck, and be
"of such capacity that the milk may nearly or quite fill it. The shape of bottle
"known as 'Winchester' is strongly recommended, but in any case the bottles
"should have rounded sides in order to give security to the sample during transit
"by post or otherwise.
"4. Corks only should be used, and these should always be new and sound,
"and fitting so tightly as to secure the contents without any aid from the wax
"which is subsequently used for sealing the sample. It is most desirable that
"the sealing should be carried out in such a way as to prevent any attempt to
"remove the cork. It is, therefore, recommended that the cork should be slit
"down to one-fourth of its length and the string drawn through and securely
"fastened round the neck, the ends being afterwards carried to the top of the
"cork and sealed thereon.
"5. Special attention should be given that the reserved portion of milk be
"kept in as equable and cool a temperature as possible, pending its production in
"Court in instances where proceedings are taken ; and if directed by the
"Justices to be referred to the Government Laboratory, it should be carefully
"packed so as to secure its safe transmission.
"The Board would be obliged if you would take steps to bring this
"Circular under the notice of your Local Authority, and they will be glad to
"forward you additional copies for distribution amongst the members of your
"Local Authority and the officers concerned, upon being informed of the
"number you require."
BUTTER.
Under Section 4 of the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts, 1875-1899, the
Board of Agriculture was empowered to appoint a Committee to determine
what deficiency in any of the normal constituents of butter shall, for the
purpose of the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts, raise a presumption, until the
contrary be proved, that the butter is not genuine.
A Departmental Committee to enquire and report as to what regulations, if
any, should be adopted, was appointed upon the 3rd July, 1901, and reported
as follows:—