THE GARRYA FAMILY. 317 



supposed : indeed, Mr C. E. Broome, an eminent authority, has 

 decided that such is not the case, seeing that in Italy he had 

 observed specimens dug from bare hillsides. Calcareous soils 

 or calcareous clays on a cool bottom of marl or marly clay 

 seem to suit the requirements of these Fungi best ; while the 

 reason of their being so often found under trees appears to be 

 that the partial shade of overhanging branches prevents the 

 soil drying too much, as is the case in more exposed positions. 

 Truffles may be propagated by planting the tubers or portions 

 of tubers which produce mycelium or spawn in suitable situa- 

 tions, analogous to that of Mushrooms. At Loudun, Poitou, 

 and Bouardeline, a system of partial culture which may 

 be described as an intelligent improvement of existing 

 advantages, has proved highly remunerative, the production 

 of Truffles on some lands otherwise worthless (except for tim- 

 ber) being worth from 10 to 20 per acre. Wiltshire and 

 Hampshire are the two counties whence the principal home- 

 grown supply is drawn for Covent Garden ; and it is a singular 

 fact that while on the chalk districts of Salisbury Plain, Truffles 

 invariably appear on the ground being planted with Beech and 

 Fir trees, no systematic attempts appear to have been made to 

 propagate the best Continental summer and winter species, or 

 even to augment the supply of our native kinds, by planting- 

 tubers at regular intervals apart, so as to increase the crop. 

 The market value (retail) of Truffles varies from 23. 6d. to i6s. 

 per lb., according to the season and the variety, some being 

 esteemed more highly by epicures than others. Those inter- 

 ested in Truffle - culture should read a valuable paper on 

 " Truffles and Truffle-Culture," by C. E. Broome, Esq., in the 

 ' Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society ' (new series), p. 

 15-21; and " The Truffle, Oak, and Truffles'," in the ' Garden,' 

 vol. vii. p. 347. Valuable papers, also, by the Rev. M. J. 

 Berkeley, will be found in the 'Gardeners' Chronicle,' 1845, 

 p. 239 et seq. 



THE GARRYA FAMILY (Garry acea). 



This is one of the smallest of all natural orders, and was 

 formerly referred to the Nettleworts. Nearly all the species 

 are natives of North America; and Garrya elliptica that is to 

 say, the male form of it is the best-known representative in 

 our gardens. Layering is the most practicable method. G. 

 elliptica was introduced from California in 1 8 1 8 by Douglas ; 

 and it would be interesting to know if native-grown seeds or 



