Sept., 1909.] A STUDY OP FARM BUTTER-MAKING. 273 



mark on a butter package, as besides making it more attractive 

 this also gives the butter individuality and helps the seller to 

 find a permanent market. Too much carving of the mould is, 

 however, undesirable as it makes the mould difficult to clean and 

 also less durable. These objections can be avoided if instead of 

 carving the mould, a neat design is printed on the wrapping 

 paper which will have the same general effect and be more 

 attractive. 



In several places the butter was rolled into balls and pressed 

 into the mould with the bare hands. The only reason given for 

 this method of procedure was that it was quicker and easier than 

 to handle the butter with ladles. If a person has never used 

 ladles for packing, it may at first seem awkward, but with a little 

 practice it soon becomes as easy and is much to be preferred to 

 using the hands, the objections to which have already been given 

 under "Working of Butter." 



It was found that cakes which were sold for a pound in some 

 cases weighed less and in others more, the variation being as 

 much as two ounces. It is unlawful to sell fourteen ounces for 

 a pound and it is poor business management to give eighteen 

 ounces when sixteen is asked for. On one farm selling an aver- 

 age of fifty-six pounds per week the farmer was giving away 

 seven pounds per week, which at thirty cents amounted to $2.10, 

 or $109.20 for the year. When packing butter in moulds the 

 prints should therefore be weighed occasionally to assure a 

 standard weight. This is especially necessary when a new mould 

 is put into use, as this will expand in boiling water and the com- 

 position of the butter to be packed may vary from that from 

 which the mould was standardized. 



There are four distinct markets for dairy butter in this state, 

 which rank in importance in order mentioned. 



1. Private customers. 



2. Local stores. 



3. City markets. 



4. Commission houses. 



^lany farmers located near a town or city are able to find 

 private customers for their butter as well as other farm products. 

 The advantage of the special market is that a higher price as a 



