STORAGE 191 



Prolonged exposure to dampness, however, will dampen and 

 wrinkle the labels, rust the cans and invite the appearance of 

 rust and mold spots. 



Packing Condensed Milk for Export. In the case of con- 

 densed milk bought by the United States Government, the cans 

 are dipped in a solution of shellac before they are labeled, or the 

 tin plate or empty cans are bought by the manufacturer already 

 lacquered. Cans for export trade and in many instances for the 

 home market, are wrapped into heavy, soft paper, bearing on the 

 outside a copy of the respective brand. This wrapping paper 

 takes up the space beetween the cans and prevents the cans 

 from being damaged on their long journey and by rough usage. 

 This wrapping is usually done by hand. Some makes of label- 

 ing machines, however, have an attachment for wrapping the 

 cans so that when the cans leave the machine they are wrapped 

 as well as labeled. The cases are reinforced with a band of strap 

 iron around each end. Where the cases have to be loaded and 

 unloaded numerous times, as is the case \vith export shipments, 

 they are in danger of being torn' to pieces, unless such special 

 precautions are taken. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

 STORAGE. 



Purpose of Storing. The purpose of storing condensed milk 

 is largely the same as that of storing butter and other produce, 

 namely, to keep the product from the time of large supply and 

 low prices, to the time of small supply and high prices. In sum- 

 mer time, the market is usually flooded with condensed milk 

 throughout the country, the demand for it is at ebb tide and the 

 prices are low. In winter, there is usually a great shortage of 

 condensed milk, the demand far exceeds the supply and prices 

 soar high. The storing of summer milk may be necessary, also, 

 in order to enable the manufacturer to fill his contracts and sup- 

 ply his trade in winter. This is especially true where the fac- 

 tories of a concern are located in new territories where the pa- 

 trons produce an excessively small amount of winter milk. 



Plain condensed milk and concentrated milk which are not 

 sterile and contain no cane sugar to preserve them, keep but a 



