Corrugated fiber board shipping containers of various sizes may be obtained for shipping 1-pound prints of butter. (See [fig. 2].)
These boxes or containers practically insulate the butter and furnish much protection against heat. Further protection may be obtained by wrapping the container in stout wrapping paper. The whole should be tied securely with a strong cord. In tying the twine, it should be drawn tightly around the package so as to insure its proper carriage. Not infrequently packages are broken open or otherwise damaged because they are insecurely tied. The corrugated containers are also useful for carrying shipments of butter put up in other styles.
Some persons ship butter by parcel post in improvised or “home-made” containers. Clean, discarded, corrugated paper-board cartons are obtained from the grocer or other merchant at small cost or frequently without cost. It is possible to cut a piece of paper board in such shape and size that when it is folded it will form a satisfactory carton. In [figure 3] is shown a piece of paper board that is cut so as to provide a carton for shipping 3 pounds of butter that is wrapped in parchment paper and several thicknesses of newspaper.
For this carton the paper board was so cut that it was 71⁄2 inches wide and 25 inches long with projections in the middle of the length which were 41⁄2 inches wide and extended 81⁄2 inches on each side. This provided a carton with dimensions, when folded, as shown in the illustration, of 41⁄2 by 6 by 71⁄2 inches.
Butter shipped in an improvised container should be wrapped in parchment paper and several thicknesses of newspaper and then should be securely tied with string. The package should then be inclosed in the piece of corrugated paper board with the projections of the paper board so folded as to form a container. The container should then be tied with twine, wrapped in heavy wrapping paper, and again tied securely with a strong twine.
Fig. 4.—Cheese for parcel-post mailing. In some of the important cheese-producing sections Swiss and other varieties of cheese are frequently cut into suitable blocks for parcel-post shipping.
If butter that is prepared for shipment in this manner is thoroughly chilled before being mailed, it should carry safely even in warm weather if it is not in transit over 24 to 36 hours.
Examples of Successful Marketing of Butter by Parcel Post
A few of the many instances which have come to the attention of the bureau will indicate with what success butter may be marketed by parcel post.