TRUFFLE. 307 



64. TRUFFLE. TUBERA 



The name of Truffle is derived from the Latin 

 tuber, or tuberculum. The ancients called it Ly- 

 coperdon. Tubera terra signifies the tubers of the 

 earth. 



The truffle is mentioned here merely as a memo- 

 randum, with the view of stimulating the horticul- 

 turist to its cultivation, which has hitherto been but 

 partially attempted. That it may be cultivated with 

 some success there is but little doubt ; but this can 

 only be done by taking the truffle from where it is 

 found growing, and laying it in a somewhat similar 

 situation. This was practised many years ago by 

 the Earl of Thanet's gardener, of whose success the 

 author was an eye witness. 



This highly-flavoured vegetable substance was 

 used in France much earlier than in England: 

 the use of truffles does not appear to have been 

 known to the English epicures in the time of Queen 

 Elizabeth. 



Truffles were formerly called swine's bread, as 

 these animals are exceedingly fond of them. In 

 Italy the usual method of finding truffles, called by 

 the Italians tartufoli^ is to tie a cord to the hind leg 

 of a pig, and thus drive him, observing where he 

 begins to root. 



The present method of obtaining truffles in Eng- 

 land is by small dogs of a peculiar breed, called 

 truffle dogs, who hunt them by their scent. 



Truffles are very nourishing, and are said to be 

 strong stimulants. They are often eaten, peeled 

 x 2 



