122 THE ELOEAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 



TRUFFLES. 



f]HE truffle is a vegetable entirely destitute of roots. It 

 is a rounded subterraneous body, absorbing nourish- 

 ment upon every part of its surface ; and its reproduc- 

 tion is dependent upon bodies generated within its 

 substance. The truffle is composed of globular vesicles, 

 destined for the reproduction of the vegetable, and short and barren 

 filaments, called by M. Turpin, tigellules. The whole forms a sub- 

 stance at first white, but which becomes brown by age, with the 

 exception of particular white veins. This change of colour is depen- 

 dent upon the presence of the reproductive bodies or truffenelles. 

 Each globular vesicle is fitted to give birth, in its internal surface, 

 to a multitude of these truffenelles ; but there are only a few of 

 them which perfect the young vegetable. These dilate considerably, 

 and produce internally other smaller vesicles, of which two, three, 

 or four, increase in size, become brown, are beset, with small points 

 on their interior surface, and fill the interior of the large vesicles. 

 The small masses thus formed are the truffenelles, and become 

 truffles after the death of their parent. Thus the brown parts of 

 the truffle are those which contain truffenelles, and the interposing 

 white veins are the parts which are destitute of truffenelles. The 

 parent truffle having accomplished its growth, and the formation of 

 the reproductive bodies within, gradually dissolves and supplies 

 that aliment to the young vegetables which is proper for them. — 

 Revue Encyc. 



THE HOLLYHOCK. 



lO grow the Hollyhock in the garden border is a simple 

 business enough, but to do it well the soil should be 

 deep and rich and damp, the situation open, and the 

 climate gentle. It will grow well, however, on poor 

 dry soils, if aided with a good preparation in the first 

 instance, and plentiful supplies of good manure afterwards. Sewage 

 in a very weak state suits it admirably. Partial shade it bears well, 

 but in a deep shade it scarcely thrives. When standing on a damp 

 soil, and especially in a cold locality, a severe winter is death to it, 

 but under moderately favourable circumstances the plant is quite 

 hardy, and, if allowed to stand for a few years, acquires a buxom 

 character, with its large cluster of spikes, far to be preferred to the 

 single spikes from young plants which content the florist. In 

 making a plantation, secure pot plants of named varieties, the best 

 of which are cheap enough for the humblest amateur. Plant in 

 March or April, at three feet apart every way, arranging the plants, 

 if possible, in accordance with their respective heights and colours. 

 In a kindly season they will flower well if planted as late as May. 

 They should be staked at the time of planting, or soon after, and be 



