EUROPEAN TRUFFLES 



approximately the same, as there are many 

 soils in Northern Algeria which would be 

 considered truffle soils. In this connection 

 it is also noteworthy that the terf as of Africa 

 and Asia which correspond to the truffle of 

 Europe occur only in silicious soils. These 

 soils sometimes contain a considerable quan- 

 tity of clay, but often little else than sand can 

 be detected. However, it is claimed that 

 the sands of the Sahara contain a large pro- 

 portion of lime, and that therefore the dif- 

 ference between the silicious soils of the 

 northern Sahara and the calcareous soils 

 of France is largely chemical and not physi- 

 cal. 



Truffle culture and exploitation. Many 

 of the finest truffle areas of France were at 

 one time barren of these fungi, and it is 

 through the perseverance and intelligence 

 of the owners that truffle production has 

 been made possible in them. The trees 

 known to shelter truffles were planted, drain- 

 age provided for, and predatory animals 

 shut out. Frequently soil from truffle re- 



203 



