98 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



Process, " by which fruit can be preserved from decay at one-eighth the cost of 

 the usual cold storage. 



We made enquiry at Rochester regarding the process, and were informed, 

 by Mr. Hale, that the patents protecting Dr. Perkins were not yet received — 

 and until that was completed, the process would not be available. 



The D^R^XTORs of the Grimsby Horticultural Society met on the 

 1 8th February, at the Mechanics' Institute Rooms. It was unanimously agreed 

 to give each member The Canadian Horticulturist, the Fruit Growers' 

 Report, and the following excellent list of bulbs, seeds and plants, viz.: Two 

 cannas, one named gladiolus, one named begonia, two named chrysanthemums, 

 and an ounce of Burpees' best mixed sweet peas. The ladies on the Board 

 were made a committee to prepare a programme for the next public meeting of 

 the Society, and the gentlemen agreed to give any needed assistance. At this 

 meeting choice house plants and art work will be shown ; an interesting pro- 

 gramme will be given, and the packages of plants distributed. 



Californian Pears reach England in good condition by cool chambers 

 on ships; why cannot Canadian pears be handled equally well? Speaking of 

 foreign fruits in Covent Garden, a writer in The Garden says : — Cool-chambered 

 ships and cool cars in trains bring such sorts as Bartlett, Beurre Hardy and 

 Doyenne du Cornice by thousands of cases in perfect condition from California, 

 and if it can be made to pay by reducing freight, the supply from there seems 

 enormous, and will run the French very close as well as the English. At pre- 

 sent the freight of a case weighing 40 lbs. fruit is over 4s., and unless temper- 

 ature is very carefully regulated, they turn very quickly when exposed, and do 

 not keep so long as the French. Some very fine plums have also come from 

 there in good condition. California has a great advantage over England in re- 

 gard to pears travelling, and that is, they seldom get rain while the fruit is ripen- 

 ing, and that of course is greatly in favor of any fruit standing a journey as well 

 as the hotter climate ripening them more thoroughly. Easter Beurrd com- 

 ing in winter does not need cool chambers, and therefore comes at a lower 

 freight. A great many peaches came from California this last autumn, but were 

 of very poor quality, being mostly clingstones and were only fit for costermongers. 

 In September this year there were weekly shipments received in our market of 

 about 6000 cases pears and peaches. At the present time the quantity is about 

 1000 weekly, principally Easter Beurr^. 



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