110 GARDEN PLANTS. PART IL 



cow, and sheep-dung, old lime or mortar and Deodar sawdust, 

 the uppermost layer being of loam. He beats or treads down 

 the whole firmly ; covers the bed during the day and in wet 

 weather, and leaves it open on fine nights. In about two 

 months the bed, he says, will be found to be a mass of spawn, 

 and a few weak or spurious Mushrooms will sprout up, at which 

 time give a gentle watering every morning, and leave it open 

 during fine weather. In a few days good Mushrooms will 

 appear. " When you collect the crop," he adds, " do not 

 disturb the root, but cut off the top carefully ; as at the root 

 of each will be found a few young ones, or tubercles, like small 

 Potatoes, which, if not disturbed, will give a succession of 

 Mushrooms." * 



Morchella esculenta. 

 MOREL. 

 Khumb. 



An edible fungus, well known in Europe, and produced in 

 the greatest abundance in Kashmir. Dr. Henderson states that 

 at Shahpoor and most other districts, where there is Kuller in 

 the soil, it is very plentiful in August and September after the 

 Eains. Mr. Pannel says also that it is to be found in Lahore 

 in considerable quantities.! 



Mr. Berkely states that it is grown much in Germany, and 

 that it is particularly partial to a burnt soil. 



Tuber. Sp. var. 



TRUFFLE. 



Until the successful attempt made by M. Auguste Kousseau, 

 of Carpentras, some years ago, the Truffle had not been made 

 subject to the control of the gardener. In this country it is 

 not likely that it will ever be had but by seeking it in those 

 spots where it is produced spontaneously. There are several 

 edible species, but it has not been till lately that any have been 

 known to be natives of India. Colonel Elphinston pronounces 

 a certain fungus found in the Kangra Valley to be a true 

 Truffle; and describes it as a "round rootless tuber with a 



* ' Proceedings of the Agri-Hort. Soc. of the Punjab.' Dec. 1865, p. 10. 

 t Ibid., p. 11. 



