7 
informed me that he had critically watched and examined Dr. 
Perkins’ process, and was so perfectly satisfied of its success that 
he was making every effort to have it utilized for the transporta- 
tion of Californian fruit east, and also to London. He had just 
a week or two previous to my interview with him sent several 
ear loads ‘of fruit across the continent to New York, and thence 
shipped to London. Although the fruit arrived in fair condition 
and sold well, yet the great charges for refrigeration on the rail- 
road prevented any profit being realized. 
The refrigerator cars weigh 21 tons each, and carry from 10 to 
12 tons of fruit, and use 15 tons of ice in crossing the continent 
from Sacramento to New York. The freight on the car load for 
this distance is 360 dols., or £75, and, in addition, 190 dols., or 
£39 11s. 9d., has to be paid for refrigeration. From Sacramento 
to Chicago the freight on a car of fruit is 300 dols., and refrigerator 
charges 125 dols. This will show that fair prices have to be 
realized in the eastern states to give the Californian grower any 
margin of profit. By adopting the Perkins process it was 
claimed that the car used would be at least 7 tons lighter than a 
refrigerator one, and carry the same quantity of fruit, also: that 
the cost of and haulage of 15 tons of ice would be dispensed with. 
This would allow a material reduction in freight to be made. In 
addition to all this, came in the better preservation of fruit, and 
its being retained at its terminal market (in event of not being 
disposed of on arrival) in chambers fitted up for the purpose, and 
so kept in a fresh condition. By this means more even distribu- 
tion and glutted markets unavoidable where large quantities of 
perishable ripe fruit, which must be sold on arriving, would be 
obviated. : 
I will here give a copy of the report of Professors Hilgard and 
Smith, who were appointed a sub-committee by the State Horti- 
cultural Board to report on the Perkins process :— 
Report of Professors Hilgard and Smith, acting as a 
sub-committee. 
“ 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 65° 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 approximate means 
not involving 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 regards the results must rely on 
the statements of Dr. Perkins (the correctness of which we 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 
