into cold water, as your prick them, and when all are done, set them over a very slow fire, and scald them with the utmost care you can, nothing being so subject to break, and if the skin flies they are worth nothing; when they are tender, take them off the fire, and set them by in the same water for two or three days; when they become sour, and begin to fret on the top of the water, be careful to drain them very well, and put them in single rows in your preserving-pan; put to them as much thin sugar as will cover them, that is, one part sugar and two parts water; set them over the fire, and by degrees warm them, till you perceive the sourness to be gone, and the plumbs are sunk to the bottom; then set them by, and the day after throw away that syrup, and put to them a fresh sugar, of one part sugar and one part water; in this sugar give them several heats, but not to boil, lest you hurt them; cover them and set them in a warm stove, that they may suck in what sugar they can; the next day drain the sugar, and boil it till it becomes smooth, adding some more fresh sugar; pour this sugar on them, return them into the stove, and the day after boil the sugar to become very smooth; pour it upon the plumbs, and give all a gentle boil; scum it and put them into the stove; the day following drain them out of the syrup, and boil some fresh sugar, as much as you judge will cover them very smooth; put it to your plumbs, and give all a very good covered boiling; then take off the scum, cover them, and let them stand in the stove two days; then drain and lay them out to dry, dusting them very well.
