9 
hours, and after the moisture appears it soon causes a spot of 
brown to appear on the grape. This would be obviated by carry- 
ing the fruit at a temperature so nearly the one in which it is to 
be marketed that it would remain dry. In his speech he also 
referred to the important fact that fruit, on arriving at its destina- 
tion, if prices were unsuitable, could he held over to wait on the 
market. 
At the time of my visit the fruit harvest was in full swing, 
and large quantities were being sent to the eastern States. Trains 
wholly laden with this product were being despatched daily from 
the fruit districts of California. ‘The great commercial depression 
in eastern cities had, however, restricted the consumption of fruit 
if sold over certain values, so that a fall in prices took place. 
The result of this was that many growers in California, on receiv- 
ing their account sales, found that when freight and refrigerator 
charges were deducted they had either made no margin of profit 
on the transaction or were debited with a loss. The consequence 
was a strong feeling was being expressed everywhere that unless 
something could be done in the way of reducing transit charges, 
fruit-growing in California would receive a great check, and 
probably retrograde. The refrigeration and railway companies 
both began to see this, because just previous to my last interview 
with Dr. Perkins, in September, he had been interviewed: by a 
representative of one of the former to ascertain whether he would 
sell them the whole and sole right to the process which the 
doctor had secured by patent rights. This he refused todo. A 
company was also in projection, when I felt California, to get 
trucks built and storage warehouses erected to be worked on the 
Perkins principle. The Southern Pacific Railway Company also 
deputed one of its best engineers to examine the process and all 
apparatus required in working it. I left California for Utah 
before the results of this examination were made known. Before 
going away, however—recognising the great advantages possessed: 
by the process for Victorian fruit-growers, if it proved to be so 
successful as all experiments and evidence seemed to warrant it 
would—I asked Dr. Perkins specially about its adaptation for the 
chambers of ocean steamers. He stated that it could be applied 
more readily to fruit shipment in the chambers of a steamer than 
to railway cars, there being less difficulties to contend with in 
this direction. I further asked him what he would require for 
the use of his system by us. His reply was of the most fair and 
reasonable character. He stated that he had no desire to make 
his discovery (which is, as stated, covered by patent rights) the 
means of exacting a large sum of money for its use and adoption, 
and he was determined that it should not pass from his hands so 
as to become the cause of monopoly and exaction. 
If required to do so, he would come to Victoria, and personally 
superintend the fitting of either cars or a vessel’s chamber for 
the use of his process. provided the Government of the colony 
