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Show PREPARE BUTTER BEFORE PACKIWG Experimental Shipments Made of Dairy Products by Use of Parcel Post. PRE-COOLSMO IS. ESSENTIAL May Be Marketed Satisfactorily When Extreme High Temperatures Are Not Encountered How to Pack for Safe Carriage. Experimental shipments by the bureau bu-reau of markets, United States department depart-ment of agriculture, indicate that well-made well-made butter, thoroughly chilled before shipping and packed in suitable containers, con-tainers, may be marketed satisfactorily by parcel post when extreme high temperatures tem-peratures are not encountered. Although many of the experimental shipments were made during the heat of summer, only 14 of the 454 shipments, ship-ments, or 3.1 per cent, were received in an unsatisfactory condition. These results are attributed to care in properly prop-erly packing the butter in suitable shipping ship-ping containers, and to the pre-cooling or thorough hardening of butter at the creameries before shipment. The distances dis-tances traveled by the butter ranged from 1S7 to 536 miles and the hours in transit from 18 to 60. Shipments were made in all months of the year. Condition of Butter Important. . As parcel post shipments of butter are likely especially during the summer sum-mer to be subjected to conditions which may cause- deterioration and injure the quality of the. butter, it Is highly desirable de-sirable that every possible precaution be taken before shipment. Particularly Particular-ly is this true of farm-made butter, because be-cause conditions affecting its quality and condition usually cannot be controlled con-trolled as easily on farms as in creameries. cream-eries. However, farm-made butter should be marketed just as satisfactorily satisfac-torily as creamery-made butter when it is properly made and properly prepared pre-pared for shipment. It is necessary to maintain proper conditions in the care of the milk and cream and the making of butter if a marketable product Is to be produced. Too much importance cannot be given to the maintaining of clean conditions condi-tions in the stable and in other places where the milk, cream, or butter are produced or kept, for they absorb odors nnd spoil very quickly. It is important, too, that these products be kept in a cool place. High temperatures should always be avoided, asvheated cream or butter produces a soft, oily condition In the finished product which is undesirable. unde-sirable. In manufacturing butter on the farm or in a factory the buttermilk must be removed and washed out, and the proper amount of salt must be incorporated in-corporated evenly. For the satisfaction satisfac-tion of customers it is Important that a good nnd uniform quality of butter be produced. Preparation for Parcel Post. The methods used in preparing butter but-ter for parcel post shipping depend largely upon the local conditions and the style of package used. To insure delivery In the best possible condition, butter, after being packed or printed nnd placed in cartons, should be chilled or hardened thoroughly before it is shipped. One of the most satisfactory ways of preparing butter for shipment Is in the form of regular one-pound prints. The standard print measures 2Hx2'4x45s Inches. A hand butter printer or mold should be used in forming the prints. Each pound print should be neatly wrapped in regular butter parchment or paper. A second thickness of such paper has been found to add materially to the carrying possibility of the but ter. Waxed paper may be used for the second wrapping. As a further protection protec-tion to the print, it should he placed in heavy manila paraffined cartons, which may be obtained from folding paper box companies for about one-half one-half cent 'each when unprinted or at a slightly additional cost when printed as a stock carton or with a special private brand. Shipping Containers for Butter. Corrugated fiber board shipping containers con-tainers of various sizes may be obtain-' ed for shipping butter. These boxes or containers practically insulate the butter and furnish much protection against heat. Further protection pro-tection may be obtained by wrapping the container in stout wrapping paper. The whole should be tied securely with a strong cord.- Some persons ship butter by parcel post in improvised or "home-made" containers. con-tainers. Clean, discarded, corrugated paper-board cartons are obtained from the grocer or other merchant at small cost or frequently without cost. It is possible to cut a piece of paper board in such shape and size that when it is folded it will form a satisfactory carton. car-ton. The subject is discussed in detail in Farmers' Bulletin 930, "Marketing Butter and Cheese by Parcel Post," available for free distribution by the United States department of agriculture, agricul-ture, and suggestions regarding parcel post business methods are contained in the department's free bulletin No. 922, "Parcel Post Business Methods." |