382 PACKING BUTTER 



are tongued and grooved, but their greater expense causes their 

 use to be limited. The usual weight -of the lumber used for 

 wooden boxes is one-half inch for the sides, top and bottom 

 and three-fourths inch for the ends. For large creameries the 

 assembling of the boxes by the use of nailing machines is 

 most economical. Of late, wire-bound boxes have come into 

 use for packing and shipping prints. These boxes, while 

 they are light, are stronger than the nailed boxes, their initial 

 cost is slightly lower and the expense of assembling them is 

 smaller, requiring less labor and fewer and smaller nails. 

 Wire-bound boxes have the further advantage that they are 

 practically burglar proof, avoiding loss of prints due to removal 

 in transit. The correct size of boxes for standard size one pound 

 prints is 13 x 13 x 10 inches for 50 pound boxes. 



Too little attention has been paid by many creameries to 

 the quality and neatness of these shipping boxes and to the 

 manner of packing itself. Poor material, shiftless nailing and 

 the use of second hand boxes should be avoided. The boxes 

 should be of the proper size, so that they can be filled full with 

 prints. The packing of 10 prints into a thirty pound box and 

 filling in with diverse refuse material, such as paper, straw, etc., 

 is a poor policy which often results in mutilation of the prints 

 and unsightly appearance. Too large boxes also involve exces- 

 sive expense of transportation. Most boxes see rough handling 

 in transit and unless they are strongly constructed and properly 

 packed they are apt to reach their destination in damaged con- 

 dition. This is especially the case with long-distance shipments 

 and with export shipments. ' 



Advantage of Selling in Consumer's Packages. It is obvious 

 that the expense of the package and of packing is greater in the 

 case of prints than in the case of tubs, boxes or cubes. The 

 difference in cost, including package and labor, averages from 

 one-half to one and one-half cent. This extra expense is borne 

 by the consumer; print butter averages usually about one cent 

 more than tub butter, at the sales end. The consumer's package 

 has several distinct advantages. The butter when sealed in 

 the consumer's package at the creamery or in the wholesale deal- 

 er's establishment, is effectively protected against further agencies 



