3l6 GENERAL REVIEW. 



be gathered ; they spring up amidst the debris accumulated 

 along the wall, and even in the crannies between the boards of 

 the floor. 



The artificial propagation and intelligent culture of the 

 species of Tuber or Truffles is well worth again attempting 

 by horticulturists, notwithstanding that the experiments made 

 by the Royal Horticultural Society a few years ago failed to 

 produce any useful results. Mr Tillery succeeded in the arti- 

 ficial culture of Truffles at Welbeck some years ago, and thus 

 relates his experience: "In 1843 I commenced here an ex- 

 periment of trying to induce Truffles to grow in a young Oak 

 plantation near the lake, by getting all the parings and over- 

 ripe ones from the kitchen, and planting them in it. The soil 

 of this Oak plantation had originally come from the bed of 

 the lake, and was full of the shells of small fresh -water 

 molluscs, so that it was of a calcareous nature. Wherever 

 the old Truffles were planted I took great care that the Oak- 

 leaves should not be disturbed in the autumn or winter, in 

 order that they might form a frost-proof shelter for the young 

 Truffles when growing. The first indication of the success of 

 my venture was the fact of ripe Truffles being found in the 

 places where the old ones had been planted, by the squirrels 

 scenting them out and scratching them up to eat. I forwarded 

 a fine specimen, weighing more than ^ Ib. after having a 

 piece cut off the top by the scythe of a mower, to the late 

 Prof. Lindley, who pronounced it to be a veritable ripe Truffle. 

 This plantation was afterwards protected and well attended to, 

 and sometimes as many as from 2 Ib. to 3 Ib. of Truffles 

 were dug up at a time, when wanted for the kitchen. In 

 digging for them there was, however, a great loss, for many of 

 the small unripe tubers were destroyed by the spade, from not 

 having Truffle-dogs to sent out those only that were ripe. 

 Afterwards, from alterations in the grounds, this Truffle-pro- 

 ducing plantation was destroyed, and there was an end of the 

 crop, for the ground they grew on was raised 4 ft. higher. 

 Where young Oak plantations are growing on calcareous soils, 

 there is therefore little doubt but that the artificial cultivation 

 of Truffles may be successfully tried in this country." We have 

 two or three British species, and if the conditions necessary to 

 the development of these could be definitely ascertained and 

 imitated in our gardens or plantations, a new food-producing 

 branch of industry, and a most lucrative one, would be the 

 result. Although Truffles are generally found in open Beech, 

 Fir, or Oak woods, it seems to be a matter of doubt whether 

 they are really parasitical on the roots of such trees, as has been 



