Plums
A plum or gage is a stone fruit tree in the genus Prunus, subgenus Prunus. The subgenus is distinguished from other subgenera (peaches, cherries, bird cherries, etc.) in the shoots having a terminal bud and the side buds solitary (not clustered), the pit.
Mature plum fruit may have a dusty-white coating that gives them a glaucous appearance and is easily rubbed off. This is an epicuticular wax coating and is known as “wax bloom”. Dried plum fruits are called dried plums or prunes, although prunes are a distinct type of plum, and may have predated the fruits now commonly known as plums.
Plum fruit tastes sweet and/or tart; the skin may be particularly tart. It is juicy and can be eaten fresh or used in jam -making or other recipes. Plum juice can be fermented into plum wine; when distilled, this produces a brandy known in Eastern Europe as Slivovitz, Rakia, Ţuică or Palinka. Dried plums (or prunes) are also sweet and juicy and contain several antioxidants.
For more information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plum
http://www.saskfruit.com/studentwebsites/Plums%20Owain/ProducerWebSite/index.html
http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/treefrt/homegdn/plums.htm
http://www.growvideos.com/video/1959/Growing-Plum-Trees-How-to-Prune-a-Plum-Tree