4 BULLETIN 1889, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
OUTLINE OF INVESTIGATION 
For the purpose of the investigation here reported, samples of chlo- 
rinated lime were collected at the packers’ plants. Packers buy 
their chlorinated lime from manufacturers in drums containing about 
700 pounds and repack it into packages ranging usually from 5 ounces 
to 10 pounds in weight. 
At each plant the contents of an unopened drum recently received 
was thoroughly mixed by shoveling. The bleaching powder was then 
repacked, either by hand or by machinery, according to the com- 
mercial method of the packer, into small containers. Available 
chlorine was determined on the original material at the plant at the 
time of packing. . 
The packages of each commercial size thus prepared were shipped 
to Wushitie fon: where a complete analysis was made of the contents 
of one package of each size. The other packages were stored in a 
warehouse. Weekly ranges of temperature were recorded. Deter- 
minations of available chlorine were made at the end of 2, 4, 6, and 8 
weeks, and monthly thereafter, a newly opened package being used 
for the analysis in every case. At the end of the period complete’ | 
analysis was made of a sample from a ees of each size. Two 
series of tests were conducted—one on chlorinated lime made during 
the summer and one on that made during the winter. Im all, the 
products of three manufacturers and five packers were tested. 
In addition to the samples packed at the plants, several 10-pound 
samples from each manufacturer were mixed and subsampled into 
glass bottles, which were closed with paraffined cork stoppers. Some 
of these were stored in a dark closet and others in the light. At 
monthly intervals they were tested for their available chlorine content. 
An imported sample of chlorinated lime, testing 35.9 per cent avail- 
able chlorine when received (February 15, 1923), was subsampled into 
5-ounce cardboard (paraffined) containers with metal tops, of the 
type used in commercial practice. ‘These were tested at monthly 
intervals. Another imported sample, testing 34.7 per cent available 
chlorine, was packed into glass bottles with paraffined cork stoppers, 
stored in the dark, and tested monthly. 
CONTAINERS USED 
Realizing that the type of container used by the packer would 
robably be one of the factors influencing the deterioration of chlor- 
inated lime, the investigators endeavored to obtain a representative 
assortment of containers of the various common types and sizes. 
The chlorinated lime manufactured in the summer was packed in 
containers of the following types. Packer A: 12-ounce size, paraffined 
fiber container with lacquered metal ends; 10-pound size, lacquered 
metal can with acanpad top. Packer B: 12-ounce size, paraffined 
fiber container with top glued on; 10-pound size, lacquered metal can 
with crimped top. Packer C: 12-ounce size, paraffined fiber con- 
tainer with top of same material glued on; 5-pound size, paraffined 
fiber container with top of same material glued on. Packer D: 
5 and 12 ounce sizes, paraffined fiber container with lacquered 
metal ends; 5-pound size, paraffined fiber container with top of 
same material glued on; 10-pound size, lacquered metal can with 
crimped top. Packer EK: 10-pound size, lacquered metal can with — 
. crimped top, with a layer of lime placed on top of the chlorinated — 
