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CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. [Proc. 3D Ser. 



As to the economic value of the Hypogasi of Cahfornia: 

 so far, we have found none of the edible varieties of the 

 Continent of Europe, although Tuber Calif ornica is nearly 

 identical with an edible species found in Italy. All of the 

 Californian species are, however, edible, and no doubt 

 would be greatly esteemed as a luxury were it not for the 

 fact that they are so rare as to practically prohibit their use 

 as food. The writer has but recently discovered reliable 

 traces of a variety which, if found in quantity, is certain to 

 take its place as a table luxury, although as yet he has not 

 been able to obtain a single specimen. 



Some years ago the citizens of Marysville discovered 

 large quantities of an earth fungus which was growing in the 

 vicinity of the city and which was freely eaten by those 

 who were so fortunate as to be aware of its value. In that 

 city they were known as the potato mushroom. A trust- 

 worthy gentleman states that they never appeared upon the 

 surface of the ground, but that the search for them was a 

 comparatively easy matter. The first noticeable sign of 

 their presence was a circular space a foot or more in diam- 

 eter, which was free or nearly so from vegetation. A more 

 careful examination showed minute cracks or fissures upon 

 the surface of the ground, and a moment's work with trowel 

 or hoe sufficed to unearth a number of white, globose 

 fungi, varying in size from an English walnut to that of a 

 small orange. My informant states that they were gathered 

 with the greatest facility. Another gentleman states that 

 they were found by himself and friends in the vicinity of 

 Sacramento, where they were highly esteemed as a deli- 

 cacy. His description of the method pursued in their col- 

 lection and of the surface indications marking their pres- 

 ence was identical with that of the observer above men- 

 tioned. Neither of the gentlemen could say positively in 

 what month the fungus was found, but both agreed that it 

 was late in the winter or early spring. 



This will undoubtedly prove to be a Terfezta, a variety 

 of which is found in northern Africa and also in great 

 abundance in Arabia, being sold in the markets of Bagdad 



