91 



flavouring sweetmeats, &c. It is recommended, however, CASE 

 that " they should be emploj^ed with caution, as on 47. 

 "account of their poisonous properties they may produce 

 *' injurious, or even fatal effects." The fruits are said to 

 be eaten in Imeritia, East of the Black Sea. 



Observe wood, bark, and gum, of the COMMON Cherry CASE 

 {Primus Gerasus^ L.). Also walking sticks and tobacco 48. 

 pipes made of cherry wood. Near these are fruits of 

 Prunus insititia, L., the officinal prune of India. 



No. 247. Plums, the fruits of Prunus clomestica, 

 L. The plum tree grows to 15 or 20 feet high. The 

 French or St. Julien Plum, or Prune, is the produce of 

 a variety, known as Juliana, grown in France, chiefly in 

 ih.Q valley of the Loire, " especially about Bourgueil, a 

 " small town lying between Tours and Angers." It is 

 also largely grown in S.W. France, especially in the 

 department of Indre-et-Loire and Lot-et-Garonne. The 

 fruit when thoroughly ripe is washed, exposed to the sun 

 and then subjected to three or even four cookings on trays 

 in immense ovens ; the cookings each last six hours, the 

 first is at a temperature of 50° C, the second of 70' C, 

 and the third of about 90^ C. After each cooking, the 

 prunes are exposed to the air, and then flattened between 

 two cylinders covered with india-rubber. Two claies or 

 drying trays are exhibited in this Case. An inferior kind 

 of dried prune is imported, Avhen French prunes are 

 scarce, from Germany. It is there known as Quetschen 

 or Zwetschen, and is the produce of Prunus domestica, 

 var. prunealina, DC. Another variety of Prune is largely 

 produced in Serbia and sent chiefly to Austria-Hungary 

 and Germany, to the value of about £250,000 per annum. 

 There is also an important Prune industry in California. 



Prunes are valued for their nutritious, demulcent, and 

 laxative properties. Amongst the other varieties of plums 

 exhibited are Carlsbad plums from Germany, Elva plums 

 from Portugal, Mirabelle Plums, and Greengages. 



No. 248. Peaches, the fruits of Prunus Persica, 

 Stokes, a small tree, supposed by some to be native of 

 Persia, but considered by De CandoUe to be probably a 

 native of China. Early introduced to and cultivated in 



