$db->{test} = {};
$db->{test}->{fred} = [ 1 .. 10 ];
$db->{test}->{bill} = [ 'a' .. 'z' ];

# if the above doesn't work either, try the
# following ridiculous snippet:
$db->{test} = {};
$db->{test}->{fred} = [];
push( @{ $db->{test}->{fred} }, $_ ) for ( 1 .. 10 );
$db->{test}->{bill} = [];
push( @{ $db->{test}->{bill} }, $_ ) for ( 'a' .. 'z' );