PLUMS. 217 



prunes, are dried, and in this state may be long preserved ; 

 they are imported principally from Spain, Portugal, and 

 Marseilles. Prunes are deemed extremely wholesome food, 

 and possessed of considerable medicinal efficacy. In the 

 preparation of prunes, the perfectly ripe and sound fruit is 

 arranged singly, and without being allowed to touch each 

 other, on plates of tin or iron ; these are placed in an oven 

 after the bread is taken out, and they are occasionally 

 moved or turned. When taken from the oven, if not suf- 

 ficiently dry, they are exposed to the influence of the sun, 

 and when cold, they are packed in boxes. Prunes may be 

 made even of any kind of plum. Brignoles are prepared 

 in Provence from the Perdrigons, which possess a very 

 sweet taste. The skins being first separated by a momen- 

 tary immersion in boiling water, and the stones being ex- 

 tracted, they are afterwards dried and preserved in the same 

 manner as prunes. 



Ripe plums are deemed wholesome, if eaten in moderate 

 quantities; but unripe plums are extremely unwholesome, 

 more so, it is said, than any other kind of unripe fruit, pro- 

 ducing dysentery, &c. The plum is said also to be capable 

 of producing a good wine ; good brandy is also procured 

 from it by distillation. Plums and peaches, it is asserted, 

 may be preserved a year, by placing them in earthen ves- 

 sels as soon as gathered from the tree; equal parts of honey 

 and spring water, intimately incorporated, to be poured 

 over them, and the vessels closely covered. The wood of 

 this tree is beautifully veined ; it is therefore highly prized 

 by turners, cabinet-makers, and for making musical in- 

 struments. 



VARIETIES. 



1. APRICOT PLUM. 



PRUNE ABMCOTE, PRUNE ABRICOTEE DE TOURS 

 The fruit is large, globular, depressed, divided by a 

 deep suture; whitish yellow, but faint red next the sun, 

 and covered with bloom ; the flesh is firm, juicy, sweet, 

 musky, and excellent. It ripens in August. Branches 

 very downy. 



2. BANKER'S GAGE. Bud. 



This plum originated in New York. A fruit of fine 

 19 



