14 
and if we can ship grapes, peaches, apricots, strawberries, and other 
fruits successfully to arrive in good condition on the London or 
continental city markets during a period when they are almost 
unobtainable from elsewhere, it would simply mean the opening 
of a new era of wealth to the colony. 
If this is possible, and under the process just referred to there 
seems little doubt of it, our butter industry, great as it is, would 
soon have a greater rival in contributing to the wealth and pros- 
perity of the colony. We have a very large area of land under 
orchards and vineyards, and magnificent fruit can be produced 
over the greater portion of Victoria. Each district from the sea 
to the Murray River is suitable for the especial production of 
some class of fruit. In addition to fruit, the utility of the pro- 
cess, according to the experiments made by Dr. Perkins, can be: 
extended to the preservation of vegetables, where our opposite 
season to that of the northern one might possibly be of advantage: 
also. 
For internal car service in the colony, where perishable products 
have to be carried during the hot summer months, the Perkins 
car and service, if superior to the refrigerator ones in use in 
America, would prove equally so here where artificial ice has to: 
be used. 
On arriving in London, on my way home from South America,. 
in the latter end of March, grapes were selling at from 1s. 6d. to 
4s. 6d. per lb., the latter price for the best hot-house ones. Our 
early grape crop is ready in January and February, and if they 
could be shipped would arrive there in March. There is a cer- 
tainty, if good table grapes were landed then in first-class condi- 
tion, that they would give our growers a handsome profit. 
I have written fully on this matter, because from what I saw 
personally, and from the evidence and proof given, I am perfectly 
satisfied that Dr. Perkins’ system of fruit preservation is a success, 
and appears to be equally well applicable to ocean as to railroad 
service I therefore desire to place all information obtained about 
it before the fruit-growers of the colony, commending it to their 
earnest consideration. 
By Authority: Rozr. S. Brain, Government Printer, Melbourne. 
