The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-01-10
PREPARE BUTTER
BEFORE PACKING
Experimental Shipments Made of
Dairy Products by Use Of
Parcel Post.
PRE- COOLING IS ESSENTIAL
May Be Marketed Satisfactorily When
Extreme High Temperatures Are
Not Encountered---Fiow to
Pack for Safe Carriage.

Experimental shipments by the bu-,
reau Of markets, United States depart
ment OF agriculture, Indicate that we'll
made butter, thoroughly chilled before
shipping and packed in suitable con-
tnlners, may be marketed satisfactorily
by parcel post when extreme high tenn
peratures are not encountered.
Although many of the experimental
shipments were made during the heat
OF summer, only IA Of the 454 ship
ments, or 81 per cent, were received
in an unsatisfactory condition. These
results are attributed to care In prop
erly packing the butter In suitable ship
ping containers, and to the preceding
or thorough hardening of butter at the
creameries before shipment. The dis
tances travelled by the butter ranged
from lS7 TO $50 miles and the hours
In transit from IS to 90. Shipments
were made in al months of the year.
Condition Of Butter Important.
AS parcel post shipments of butter
are likely especially during the sum
mer to be subjected to conditions which
may cause deterioration and injure the
quality of the butter, 1t is highly de-
slrable that every possible precaution
be taken before shipment. Particular
ly is this true of farm-made butter, be-
cause conditions Affecting Its quality
and condition usually cannot be con-
trolled as easily on farms as In cream
cries. However, farm-made butter
should be marketed just as satisfac-
torily as creamery-made butter when
II Is properly made and properly pre-
pared for shipment.
II Is necessary to maintain proper
conditions In the care OF the milk and
cream and the making OF butter II
marketable product Is 10 be produced.
Too much Importance cannot be given
10 the maintaining Of clean condi-
tons In the stable and In other places
where the milk, cream, or butter are
produced or kept. for they absorb odors
and spoil very quickly II Is important.
too, that these products be kept In
cool place. High temperatures should
always be avoided. as heated cream or
butter produces a soft. oily condition
In the finished product which Is unde-
sirable. In manufacturing butter on
the farm or in factory the buttermilk
must be removed and washed out. and
the proper amount OF salt must be In
corporated evenly. For the satisfac-
ton OF customers II Il important that
good and uniform quality of butter be
produced.
Preparation for Parcel Post.
The methods used In preparing 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
and placed In cartons. should be chilled
or hardened thoroughly before II 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 21Sx2iax4ss
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
20 the carrying possibility Of the but