DOMESTIC CULTIVATED PLUM-TREE. 249 



solar heat; but in cold climates, artificial heat is employed; the fruit being 

 exposed to the heat of an oven, and to that of the sun, on alternate days. Table 

 prunes are prepared from the larger kinds of plums, as the green Gage, and Ste. 

 Catherine; those employed in medicine from the Ste. Julienne. The former 

 have a very sweet and agreeable taste ; and the latter are somewhat austere. 

 Fresh, ripe plums, taken in moderate quantities, are regarded as nutritive and 

 wholesome; but in large quantities, they readily disorder the bowels; and when 

 immature, they still more easily excite ill eflects. The medicinal prunes are 

 employed as an agreeable, mild laxative for children, and are given during 

 convalescence from febrile and inflammatory disorders in adults. 

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