use strict;
use warnings;
my $tree = {
    'Stuff1' => 'Data Stuff',
    'ImportantStuff' => {
      'MoreStuff' => {

      },
      'VeryImportantStuff' => {
         'Item1' => {
            'Description' => 'Need To Know',
            'Date' => '20040101',
         },
         'Item2' => {

         },
         'Item3' => {

         },
      },
   },
};

warn $tree->{ImportantStuff}{VeryImportantStuff}{Item1}{Description},$/;
die $tree->{ImportantStuff}->{VeryImportantStuff}->{Item1}->{Description},$/;
__END__
Need To Know
Need To Know