EUROPEAN TRUFFLES 



without reward. In regions where truffles 

 are abundant, a single pig has been known 

 to net ten kilo of truffles in one day. This 

 refers to the black or winter truffle, for pigs 

 are not so successful during the summer 

 months. Whether the pig or the dog is 

 used, the weather is an important factor in 

 the yield. It is said that during very dry 

 weather or during a drizzling rain fewer 

 can be found ; whereas, if the soil is merely 

 moist, conditions are most favorable for 

 their detection. 



(3) The third method is of much less 

 importance, yet it is one which must be used 

 when one has neither trained dog nor pig. 

 There is a species of fiy prevalent in the 

 Mediterranean region which uses the truf- 

 fle as a medium in which to deposit its eggs 

 in order that its larvae may be well nour- 

 ished. At the time when the perfume of 

 the truffle becomes pronounced, several of 

 these flies alight upon the ground where the 

 attractive odor is perceived, any may thus 

 mark the exact location of the truffle. In 



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