276 MANAGEMENT OF DAIRY PLANTS 



for print butter sold in Alaska. These barrels are of three sizes, 

 full barrels holding 180 pounds in two-pound prints, half barrels 

 holding 96 pounds in two-pound prints, and quarter barrels 

 holding 48 pounds in two-pound prints. 



These butter barrels are mostly made of spruce. They 

 have iron hoops. The barrel is prepared similar to the butter 

 tub. It is first washed in hot water and washing powder, then 

 soaked for twelve hours, steamed and paraffined. The barrel 

 is then lined with cheesecloth which is so folded on the bottom 

 and on the side that the cloth forms a bag in which the butter is 

 packed. After the prints, wrapped in parchment, have been 

 packed in the barrel, the cheesecloth is folded on top and 

 tied with a string in a similar manner as that of tying a bag. 

 The barrel is now fiUed with a concentrated solution of salt 

 brine. This is prepared by adding 35 parts of salt to 100 parts 

 of water at ordinary temperature. This is churned for about 

 thirty minutes. The brine thus prepared will contain about 

 26 per cent salt. After the barrel is partly filled with brine it is 

 headed up and is then completely filled with brine. 



Butter thus packed is often held for a year or more before it 

 is placed on the table and often left without refrigeration. The 

 brine preserves the butter reasonably well. Butter made for 

 that purpose should be from high-grade cream, churned at a low 

 degree of acidity, and should contain a low per cent of protein. 



Vni. Butter Tins. — Butter packed in tins is also marketed 

 on the Pacific coast and sold primarily in Alaska and in the 

 tropical countries. The print wrapped in parchment is placed 

 in a loosely fitting tin. On top of the butter is placed a small 

 square piece of wood large enough so it practically covers the 

 end of the print. The cover is now placed on the tin and fas- 

 tened in a crimping machine. It is then soldered. This is most 

 readily done by having a felt pad saturated with soldering 

 liquid and a bath with molten solder. The part to be soldered is 

 rubbed on the felt pad and the tin is then dipped in soldering 

 metal. The wood on top of the butter prevents the hot metal 

 from touching the butter during soldering. The cover of the 

 tin has two small holes, through one of them the tin is filled 



