EUROPEAN TRUFFLES 



The parasitism of the truffle has been 

 much discussed and disputed, but the preva- 

 lent belief to-day is that truffles are to a con- 

 siderable extent, at least, dependent upon 

 the living roots of the plants with w^hich the 

 mycelium is associated for a portion of the 

 nourishment v^hich they require. Prof. 

 Mattirolo of Turin, w^ho has devoted as 

 much study to these plants as any other 

 botanist, is a strong supporter of this view. 

 It is possible, however, that the organic 

 matter of the soil also plays some part in the 

 nourishment of the mycelium, and certainly 

 the mycelium is found in some quantity at 

 considerable distances from living roots, in- 

 deed in close connection with decaying 

 leaves. Nevertheless, truffles are not found 

 in dense, moist woods, and the habitats of 

 mosses would never foster them. 



Botanically truffles have been recognized 

 since early in the i8th century, and the ma- 

 ture fruit body, or sporophore, of the 

 various species has been carefully studied. 

 Systematically they are to-day \wM known, 



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