Amci'ican Butter Fadoi-ies. 
sold with the butter, but are to be returned to the factory after 
the purchaser has taken out the butter. They hold about GO lbs. 
of butter, are of white oak, nicely made, and strongly hooped 
with heavy band-iron. They have movable covers that fit 
closely, and arc fastened with wooden bolts or metallic clasps. 
Th(^ firkins are also made of white oak, heavily hooped, and the 
sides neatly turned. 
The greatest attention is paid to have the packages perfectly 
tight, so as not to permit the least leakage. White oak is regarded 
as the best material for packages, and the butter factories use 
no other. The firkins hold about 100 lbs. each. The half- 
firkin is simply the firkin sawed in two, and provided with an 
oak head, which is nailed on the top of the package after it is 
filled. Figs. 11 and 12 show the form of these packages. 
Fig. 12. — Bcfurti BuUer-^MiIs. 
The firkin is prepared for use by soaking in cold water, after 
that in scalding water, and then again in cold water. It is then 
either filled with brine and soaked twenty-four hours, or the 
inside is thoroughly rubbed with dry salt, and left to stand for a 
short time, when it is considered ready for use. 
In packing the butter it is pressed together as solidly "as 
may be, and when the firkin is filled it is immediately headed 
up, and a strong brine poured through a hole in the top head, 
to fill all the intervening spaces. The orifice is then closed, 
and the firkin is set in a cool cellar until it is ready to be sent to 
market. When the half-firkin is filled, a dry cloth, cut so as 
to entirely cover the butter, is spread over it, and covered with a 
thin layer of salt. The cover is then fastened on, and the package 
is set away in a dry cool place until it is taken to market. 
C 2 
