THE NEW HYBRID SAND CHERRY. 133 



fruit buds. The leaves are aomewhat similar, but finely and evenly 

 serrated, larj^er, more widened, but not so troujjfh-Iike as those of 

 the Miner plum. The form or shape of fruit is its own; skin very 

 thin and free from all of the unpleasantness found in some of our 

 other stone fruits, and the fruit can be used for most purposes for 

 which our other stone fruits are used and will, no doubt, find ready 

 sale in any fruit market, being- an amber colored, even sized f ruit , 

 about one inch in diameter, more or less. 



The tree is not aflfected by our hot, cold, wet or dry seasons, 

 neither by the sudden changes, but is well adapted to our climate 

 and will grow where others fail. The fruit this year ripened nearly 

 a week earlier than last year, coloring up the latter part of July. I 

 picked ripe fruit the second or third of August, 1895. I had girdled 

 a couple of small limbs to see its effect, and the fruit on these rip- 

 ened about a week earlier, the last picking being on the 15th or 16th 

 of AugHsL The tree being shaded on the south and southwest by 

 taller trees close by was the reason for the fruit not ripening up 

 all at the same time. 



I have sent out saitiples of the fruit this year (1895) to several 

 parties to get their opinion of it. The original tree (for certain rea- 

 sons) is about six feet high now, is without thorns, is easily propa- 

 gated by budding or grafting and unites well with the stocks of our 

 native plums, possibly with other stone fruit stocks, and maj' pos- 

 sibly be grown from cuttings in a moist soil. 



The original tree may be seen on my grounds: all are welcome to 

 see it, and I will be pleased to show it. To those who may wish to 

 know all the facts and full information regarding this my "Hybrid 

 Sand Cherry," I will upon application for same explain it if the party 

 is willing to pay postage on same, as this paper does not mention 

 all the important points which would make the paper complete. 



THE PERKINS PROCESS OF PRESERVING FRUITS. 



REPORT OF PROFESSORS HILGARD AND SMITH. 

 (Made to the California Fruit Growers' Convention.) 



The process embraces two main points, to-wit: 



First— The longer preservation of the fruit by the effect of a slow 

 current of air having a minimum temperature of 55^ to a maximum 

 of 6.") Fahr. passing continuously over it. 



Second — The maintenance of this temperature at all times in the 

 hot desert as well as in cold winters by appropriate means not in- 

 volving the use of ice, the refrigeration being accomplished by the 

 expansion of compressed air. 



The committee have not had the opportunity of witnessing the 

 process in operation, and as regard.s the results must rely upon the 

 statements of Dr. Perkins (the correctness of which they have no 

 reason to doubt) and the testimony of one of their number. Professor 

 Smith. The efficacy of a current of reasonably dry air in promoting 

 the conservation of fruit so as to insure its arrival in good condition, 

 even after a considerably longer transit than now commonly occurs, 

 seems thus to be placed beyond doubt. Fruit thus conserved has 



