"The plum is a nice fruit, makes most delicious preserves and jam."

But Doctor, A Good Many People Think Plums Very Unwholesome?

"Doubtless a good many disorders have been produced by the plum, because they are so often tough, acrid, and therefore unsuitable for food; but choice varieties of plums that have been ripened on the tree are both delicious and wholesome, provided of course, the tough skin is not swallowed."

How Do They Compare With Other Fruits?

"They are very similar to the peach, only as a rule they are more acid. They usually contain a little less sugar, and about the same amount of gum. The per cent, of acid in the plum is ordinarily about 1½ and nearly double that of the peach. Some varieties of the plum are quite astringent."

Are Not Prunes Some Variety Of Plums That Have Been Dried?

"Yes, the prune is really a plum, but a sweeter variety than the ordinary Damson or Green Gage plum."

What Value Has The Prune As A Food?

"The prune contains a large amount of sugar, and it is supposed to be very laxative, but it has been much overrated in this respect. It has no properties to cause it to be more laxative than most other fruits, and careful observation will show that it is not so in practice. Prunes should be very well stewed, as otherwise they are unfit to eat. The removal of the tough skin by straining the pulp adds greatly to their food value."