580 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The other box, containing the same fruit &c. (with the exception of 

 the Peach), was retained at the Society's office, Victoria Street, where it 

 was opened on October 13, and the condition of the contents duly noted. 

 After the packing the Secretary and Superintendent made the following 

 written note : — 



"We wish to put it on record : 



(1) That no thoroughly ripe Peach or Nectarine could under any 

 conditions yet known (save by refrigeration) remain in good condition 

 for from sixteen to twenty-one days. 



(2) Refrigeration of ripe fruit deprives it of a very large proportion 

 of its flavour. 



(3) That the Apples and Pears packed were so far removed from 

 ripeness that they would under any circumstances keep good from sixteen 

 to twenty-one days or even longer. 



" Therefore, if the Peach and Nectarine sent to Barbados should be 

 found good on arrival, they will prove that a wonderful power of pre- 

 servation is to be attributed to the packing material. If they should also 

 have preserved their flavour it will, in our opinion, demonstrate the very 

 great value of the material. 



" But if Peach and Nectarine are found rotten and the other things 

 sound, the trial will not in our opinion have proved very much, as we 

 believe the Apples and Pears would have kept good under any system of 

 packing. 



"We should add that each fruit was wrapped in tissue paper and 

 firmly embedded in the packing material in an ordinary wooden box." 



When the box kept at the Society's office was opened on October 13, 

 it was found that the 



Peach \ 



In the absence of Sir Daniel Morris from Barbados, Professor de 

 Albuquerque kindly sent the following report : — 



" Barbados, September 30, 1903. 



" I hereby certify that I was to-day present at the opening of a small 

 case, sealed with four (4) seals of the Royal Horticultural Society. 



" The contents were arranged in two layers ; the upper layer apparently 

 consisted of the remains of fruit &c. that were completely decayed ; they 

 could not be identified, but, judging from the rest of the contents of the 

 case, they corresponded with the following articles on the list :— 



•were absolutely rotten, whereas the 



Pear 1 Clairgeau ' ) 



Apples \ 



Pear 1 Fondante d'Automne ' .were quite sound. 



Lily bulb ) 



1 Peach 

 1 Nectarine 

 1 Cucumber 

 8 Runner Beans. 



