VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES. 



abundance, nor do they attain to equal perfection, 

 with those which grow in some parts of the Con- 

 tinent, and especially in Italy. When of more than 

 three or four ounces in weight, they are considered 

 large, for the production of this country ; hut it is 

 said that, in Italy, some are occasionally found 

 weighing from eight to fourteen pounds. 



Since there is no appearance to indicate the par- 

 ticular spot where the truffles lie concealed, man 

 calls the sagacious dog to assist him in his search 

 after these subterraneous delicacies. With much 

 pains this animal has been trained to discover them 

 by the scent : if successful, he barks and scratches 

 the ground when tho- gatherer follows and digs up 

 the object of his pursuit. 



Truffles are used, like mushrooms, as an ingre- 

 dient in certain high seasoned dishes. They are es- 

 teemed the best of the fungi, but are confined in 

 their locality, and have not hitherto been distributed 

 by artificial culture. 



They are common on the downs of Wiltshire, 

 Hampshire, and Kent. 



The MOREL Phallus tsculenlus is a spheroid; 

 hollow within, reticulated with irregular sinuses on 

 the surface, and of a yellowish colour, standing on a 

 smooth white stalk, the whole rising to the height of 

 about four inches. The substance, when recent, is 

 wax- like and friable. It is used in the same manner 

 as truffles ; and, when gathered dry, will keep for 

 several months. The morel is a native of Britain, 

 growing in damp woods and moist pastures, and 

 coming to perfection in May or June. Gleditsch 

 mentions, that in some woods in Germany this 

 fungus had been found in the greatest perfection in 

 those parts where charcoal had been made. Acting 

 upon this hint, the morel gatherers were accustomed 

 to make fires in certain spots in the thicket ; but 



