STANDARD BUTTER BOX.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4991, 23 June 1926, Page 3

STANDARD BUTTER BOX.

IMPROVED TYPE CHOSEN.

TESTS BY FOREST SERVICE. A standard butter-box for the export trade has been recommended by the State Forest Service. The recommendation is the outcome of exhaustive tests 'for the purpose of determining the best type, of box as far as strength, freight space, cost, and appearance a.re concerned. The box recommended consists of one-piece ends five-eighths of an inch thick if of white nine, or haff an inch thick if of silver beech; one-piece sides, top, and bottom, three-eighths of an inch thick if df white pine, 5-16 of a,n inch if of silver beech ; six cement-covered nails for nailing edge df white pine and four for silver beech. In addition, the box is to be bound with one centrally located galvanised strop of hard metal, half an inch wide by .018 of an inch thick. It has been proved by experiment that this box is approximately fourteen times stronger than the present standard unstropped box, occupies 3 per cent, less space, and is from Id to l'%d cheaper. It is a,lso a highly attractive package. Full details of the tests carried out with various types df boxes are given in an article in the last issue of the Journal of Agriculture.

The object of the investigations, which were made at the request of the dairy division of the Department of Agriculture, was the Improvement of the serviceability of the buttffiboxes now used in the export tradq. Tha.t the request was well timed and the work thoroughly justified is indicated by the results.

The tests reveal that, then sc of cemejit coated nails is essential, and adequate nailing is of the utmost importance. Of timbers deemed suitable for butter-boxes, silver beech ranks first, white pine second, and spruce last, as far as carrying qualities are concerned. The one piece side box is remarkably superior to the two piece side box, and flat strapping or wire binding or un-annealed metal is of great value, as a reinforcement on all boxes. Decreasing the thickness of sides, top, and bottom of white pine boxes below three-eighths ct an inch results in a marked reduction in strength.