VOLUME VARIATION OF BOTTLED FOODS. 19 
height of fill to meet the variations equivalent to the calculated maxi- 
mum variations. The calculated maximum variations average about 
the same as the space in the bottle from the aim to the top, in the 
case of cylindrical-neck bottles and 0.8 in the conical-neck bottles 
(Table 8). Accordingly there is sufficient room in the bottles to 
permit changes from the usual height of fill to the limits of the cal- 
culated maximum variations. 
The unit of change in declaration is of concern to the bottler when 
he receives bottles short of the capacity which he expects. It is the 
custom to declare the quantity of contents on bottled foods in whole 
units. In a survey of the bottling of flavoring extracts and similar 
products it was found that the prevalent sizes of bottles were 1, 2, 4, 
8, and 12 ounces, 1 pint, 1 quart, \ gallon, and 1 gallon. In bottles 
containing less than 2 ounces some of the declarations varied by 
^-ounce units ; in sizes from 2 to 8 ounces, some of the declarations 
varied by J-ounce units ; and in sizes above 8 ounces, some varied by 
^-ounce units. The calculated maximum variations for 2 ounce, 8 
ounce, and 1 pint capacities are 0.19, 0.29, and 0.39 ounce, respec- 
tively, which are approximately equivalent to the usual units of dec- 
laration for these sizes of bottles. The bottler would therefore meet 
the variations equivalent to the calculated maximum variations if 
he made the usual changes in his units of declaration. It follows that 
the bottler's usual temporary methods of meeting the proper declared 
volume can be governed by the calculated maximum variations as 
found in this bulletin. 
PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF RESULTS. 
The bottler will be able to apply the results of this investigation 
as outlined in Table 9 to guide him in making tests on bottles re- 
ceived. If the capacities of the bottles at his usual filling point vary 
from the capacity ordered by amounts greater than the results given 
in Table 9, he will necessarily feel that some further steps should 
be taken to meet properly the requirements of the law that the 
volume of food declared on the labels be correct. The bottle manu- 
facturer will be able to use the results in Table 9 to guide him in 
determining whether or not any shortage found in the volume of 
bottled food may be clue to unavoidable difficulties in the manu- 
facturing or filling of the bottles. 
SUMMARY. 
Good commercial practice in bottling foods has been considered 
in this bulletin to be the attainment of conditions in the bottler's 
state of business in which he (a) includes in his orders for bottles 
the specifications, as to capacity when filled to a specified height. 
