USEFUL WILD PLANTS 



came long ago one of his important food sources; 

 though it was not the pulp but the apparently hope- 

 less pit that was turned to principal account. Gath- 

 ering the plums in late suromer, the Indians would 



I SLAY 



(Prunus ilicifolia) 



spread them in the sun until thoroughly dry, when 

 the stones would be cracked and the kernels ex- 

 tracted. These, are bitter and astringent like acorns, 

 and at first blush as unpromising as the uncracked 

 pits themselves. When rid of that deleterious prin- 

 ciple, however, the kernels are nutritious and diges- 



58 



