JULY commenced wet, the weather cool and comfortable. The supply of milk from the country was sufficient for all demands. Towards the middle and latter part of the month, however, the supply gradually decreased, while the warm, dry weather greatly increased the demand. The milk agents were compelled to extend their routes to a greater distance in the country, and procure a portion of their supply in places hitherto unvisited.

Many times during this month the milk depots were visited for the inspection of the milk on its arrival from the country, and before its removal from the cars by the milkmen. It was found that, in a number of cans from different dairies, the milk was largely extended by water. Samples of this were analyzed by the chemist, and his certificate confirming the adulteration given to the milk agent, who, thus equipped, in many cases compelled the guilty parties to make a corresponding deduction in the amount of his bill.

AUGUST. The first part of this month was cool, with an occasional rain storm.

The customary absence from the city of many families lessened the demand for milk, so that the supply and demand continued favorable through the middle and towards the latter part of the month, when a few days wrought a great change in our milk trade, the supply from the country becoming less every day in consequence of the drought, the pastures affording but little nourishment to cattle.

This scarcity of milk greatly affected our trade, as a large portion of our supply is from that section of the country which suffered the most by the hot, dry weather. Those dealers, however, who obtained their supply within a few miles of this city were not pressed for milk as were those dependent on more distant parts of the country; hence they had a surplus to dispose of to their brother milkmen, at a handsome profit.

SEPTEMBER. The first few days of this month were changable until the eighth, a day which will not soon be forgotten. At about four o'clock, P. M., commenced a violent storm of rain and wind from the southeast, which soon changed to the south and southwest, and continued very violent until seven o'clock, demolishing many large buildings, uprooting large trees, destroying chimneys, etc.

The middle and latter part of the month were fine, with pleasant, cool weather, with few exceptions.

The supply of milk during the month was very limited. Many of the milkmen could leave only a small quantity for their customers, every other day. Some were obliged to abandon them altogether.

During this period, the only available remedy for the deficiency was found in the use of the condensed milk, with the right proportion of water restored; and for a time, there was increased demand for the condensed milk, which, for the time being, seemed to serve the purpose.

OCTOBER. On the first of this month, the winter contracts commenced at the following prices, being about the same as last year, viz: from forty to fifty cents per can at the farmer's door; at the cars in this city, from fifty to sixty cents; delivered to stores and shops, from sixty-two to seventy cents; and retailed to families at nine cents per quart.

By the middle of the month, the supply was equal to the demand, the advance in the price assisted in increasing the quantity. The weather was cool and pleasant throughout the month, with the exception of Monday the fourth, and Saturday the sixteenth.

The general inspection of milk this month was in the stores and shops at the south part of the city proper, and at South Boston. In the latter, the milk has always been found less

adulterated, and of a quality superior to that in any of the other wards.

NOVEMBER, with the exception of a few days in the middle and about the close of the month, was moderate and pleasant; the pastures and fields afforded food and nourishment for cows nearly equal to the amount in the summer months.

The annual Thanksgiving served to increase the demand. The dealers, however, had taken the precaution to secure an abundant supply.

The general inspection of milk in stores and shops, this month, was at South and East Boston.

DECEMBER. The first part of this month, excepting Monday the sixth, was cool and pleasant; the middle was mild, with an occasional cool day; the latter part was unusually warm, fine weather.

The supply of milk fully equalled the demand, and but few complaints were made in regard to the quality. The time had not quite arrived for the milk to be retained until it became old, either by the producer or the milkmen, as is often the case during the winter months.

In January, February, and March, there is little demand for an extra quantity of milk, and the remarkably open and warm winter has been favorable to a larger supply than usual.

There have been but few complaints of adulteration during the winter; but many, that it was old and often skimmed when received. This is accounted for by many of our citizens purchasing cream, which evidently must have been taken from milk sold to others, who would feel better satisfied to do their own skimming. The sale of cream is all very well; but the skimmed milk should be sold as skimmed milk at a proportionably reduced price.

Any other course is dishonest and criminal.

Consumers often complain of the high price of milk, without considering the great advance in the value of cows, the cost of food and labor, the collecting of milk at various points, and its transportation long distances. The producers, on the other hand, feel that they are poorly paid, the middlemen, who collect, transport, and deliver to consumers, usually making the largest profit.

The same difficulty applies with equal force to all articles obtained from a distance.

It is believed by many honest and intelligent persons in this community that milk is manufactured to a considerable extent, and supplied to our citizens for family use. It is difficult to understand what is really meant by the term, manufactured milk. If they mean that a portion of our milk is extended by the addition of water, and sometimes a little burnt sugar or China Soy to restore the color, and a little common salt to bring up the specifie gravity to the normal standard, all which can be easily detected, they are right. As to any other manufactured or adulterated milk, sold or used in this community, we have the testimony of our ablest chemists, who have analyzed between two and three hundred samples of milk for the City of Boston, and their testimony is unanimous and conclusive to the fact that no other foreign deleterious substances are, or can be successfully, or even profitably, used for this purpose.

Our State has enacted laws covering the whole ground; laws amply competent to ensure to every family absolute purity, and a high standard quality of milk. In accordance with these laws, and to carry out their benign and healthful provisions, the city has placed within reach of every householder, free of expense, the amplest means of testing, daily, the quality

of the milk delivered, and of exposing and punishing the offender. Still, many families are so indifferent to this, one of the primary conditions of health and life, that the shrewd and artful dealer soon learns where good milk is required, and where the adulterated and spurious article will pass without complaint. Some are negligent as to the quality of their milk; some, knowing its quality to be poor, dislike to complain; while others, after calling the inspector, and finding it impure, are unwilling to testify in court.

Now all these difficulties can be prevented by the purchasers taking care to look after the quality of their milk, and discharging the milkman, whose milk is poor, for one more honest.

If this were done, it would operate as a check on the dealer so effectively as to prevent the evil and secure the desired object. But the fact is, milk-and-water people will have milk and water for pure milk.

The following valuable information in regard to milk and its adulteration has been received from James F. Babcock, Esq., Professor of Chemistry in the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy: He says:

"In accordance with your request, I send you a tabular statement of the results of the analyses of milk which I have made from samples furnished by you, commencing April 22d, 1869.