Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1869-12-16
From Prairie Farmer.
Getting II Reputation for Butter.

OCtlIuss IL kttVNsdtaOss aOA A1~~ssS.
One reason why farmers, who make
really choice butter, do not get the
price for it that it is really worth, is
that by the present method OF market
ing it, it is ordinarily mixed with but
ter of an inferior quality, which is made
by other parties. The country mer-
chant often takes all the lots that come
in during the day, packs IN a tirkin and
sends them to market. 1t is plain that
by this practice the lot, if sold on its
merits, would bring the price OF the
mixed butter-good, bad and inditfer-
ent-but which is principally ofthe two
latter kinds.
OF course, by this method of doing
business, there is very little by way OF
incentive to induce any one to make a
really prime article; since, unless all his
neighbors take equal pans and under
stand their arts equally well, the butter
will bring no more money than the vile
substance which SO many are content
to make and put on the market. Alb
stract ideas OF honesty and fair dealing
will have some influence in causing peo-
pie TO make good butter, as it does IN
doing other things well, but it is plain
that most persons work either tor mon
ey or reputation. The manufacture OF
DAIRY products is no exception to the
general rule.
No housewife would exert herself to
make fine iellies, biscuits or pastry it
she knew they were to pass as the pro.
auctions Of some one else. As the
butter business Is now managed it is
plain that there is little chance to gain
either money or reputation by making
very choice article. The reputation
of the manufacturer of any first class
production is not only pleasant thing
to enjoy of itself, but it is q matter Ct
dollars and cents. If we knew who
made the luscious, golden ball that we
sometimes buy, we should purchase OF
that brand thereafter, at the prlceasked,
without asking any questions.
We have long thought that an I'M.
provement might be made in the hand
ling OF butter by means OF which each
manufacturer might enjoy the reputa.
ton and have the pecuniary benefit OF
making good butter; while an equal
amount Of good might be effected tor
the consumer. This may be done in
having butter marketed in small pack
agesthat could be sold along with their
contents. This has lately been tho
case in the marketing of small fruits
and every one is pleased with the plan.
There is no trouble in weighing or
measuring the fruit, no expense tor
something to put it IN tor the purpose
of taking it home.
1t butter could be packed in nice
little vessels containing two, three, or
five pounds, they could DO got to the
consumer through one less set OF deal
ers than is now the case, and there
would be so much saved in expense
The boxes must be made of some cheap
material, SO that they can be given
away, and by so doing, but little be
added to the price of the butter
These boxes could be marked with the
makers name and place OF residence
by means of stencil plate or printed
label. Other neat devices could also
be added if desired. The packages
would Of course cost something, but as
they would save paying return freight
on the tubs, crooks or tirklns that are
now used they would make little addi'
tional expense.
by means of these packages the bar
ter trade IN butter would be mostly
stopped; since the butter makers could
keep their packages till they got q sui
ficient number to send them direct TO o
city market. Butter in this shape
would always be bought in preference
to that sent to market in bulk, because
the customers would know whose but.
ter they are buying, and for the addi-
tlonal reason that it.would be in such
excellent shape to be carried about
It would be desirable thing if por-
ton of the package could be seen from
the outside, and better still it it could
be opened SO as to enable customers
to examine the contents.