Cultivation of Iriiffies, 425 



plantation in the succeeding year ; and, for this reason, at the 

 first planning, to divide the intended bed into two equal parts ; 

 and, in two consecutive years, to plant these fungi more towards 

 the middle than towards the ends. If in one year the planting 

 were to fail, the whole bed is not therefore quite uselessly pre- 

 pared, but is at least duly arranged on one side, by which 

 means it will be easy to furnish the second half in the same 

 way. 



Hitherto, the question has been only respecting wood soil. As 

 truffles are produced in this, so also they may be produced in 

 artificial woods, and in Enjilish shrubberies. These have also 

 commonly moist low situations, and oak trees also grow m them ; 

 but places free from trees, and the deep stratum of fruitful wood 

 soil which has arisen from decayed leaves, are wanting in them. 

 From the continual clearing of the plantations, the leaves that 

 fall in autumn are removed, and cannot be converted into that 

 fertile soil above mentionec^. Here, therefore, we must have 

 recourse to art. 



In such English plantations, a somewhat moist place must be 

 made choice of, in the vicinity, if possible, of a large oak, horn- 

 beam, Spanish chestnut, or other deciduous tree with spreading 

 boughs, which must be freed from the other trees and lofty 

 shrubs. In such plantations, open grass-plots in the neighbour- 

 hood of a lofty tree are the best calculated for the purpose. The 

 tree, however, must not be one whose large leaves prevent every 

 ray of the sun and current of air from penetrating, and which 

 form a connected roof, as the different kinds of maples, horse- 

 chestnuts, planes, and other trees do. A tall tree with small 

 leaves must be on the south side of the place destined for a 

 plantation of truffles, to screen it from the burning rays of the 

 southern sun. In a large plantation, a single tree is insufficient, 

 and more are requisite towards the south side ; which, however, 

 must stand so far apart as scarce to touch each other with the 

 extremities of their boughs. The natural soil which is found 

 upon this place must be dug out the depth before mentioned, 

 and carried away, as it has too litde resemblance to that of 

 ancient woods to be used in the mixture of new soil for the 

 truffles. If good wood earth of oaks can be had in the vicinity, 

 the filling of the pit is not at all different from that of lofty- 

 woods previously directed ; but very often there are no woods 

 in the neighbourhood, or, at least, no oak woods ; and, in that 

 case, soil produced from dung must be mixed with very rich 

 vegetable mould. This is found under groups of trees that 

 have stood a long time, upon places that have been long planted 

 with poplars, willows, or fruit trees, or even upon hills ; but not 

 in wet and marshy meadows and pastures. 



It often happens that this natural soil is too loose or too com- 



