ON UNBERGKOUND FUNGI. 



abundant supply. They, however, in general require a good deal of 

 diligence in research, and some tact in selecting the most fertile spots. 

 It was at one time doubted whether a single species were indigenous. 

 But in " Morton's History of Northamptonshire," published at the 

 beginning of the last century, Eushton Wilderness, formerly in posses- 

 sion of the Tresham family (too well known in history), is mentioned 

 as producing them, yet even then it was doubted whether they had 

 not been introduced with exotic shrubs ; but now more than forty 

 species have been found near Bath, and half that number in 

 Northamptonshire. As Truffles are always valuable in the London 

 market, though we do not possess the two species which are most 

 esteemed abroad, one of which is found, indeed, only in Italy, a 

 successful hunt would amply repay the labour of research, and it 

 becomes matter of interest to ascertain means by which they may be 

 found without waste of time and labour. In a particular parish in 

 Northamptonshire they were once so abundant that in a few minutes 

 I could collect as many pounds weight of truffles, some of them of 

 extraordinary size, but this is only the case in favoured spots. The 

 more common way is to train dogs for the purpose, which they answer 

 most effectively. In Germany, pigs are sometimes employed, and 

 there have been cases in which idiots, who could be employed to no 

 other useful pui'pose, have been found to be first-rate truffle-hunters. 

 The dogs belong to a peculiar breed, between a poodle and a turnspit, 

 and by hereditary descent acquire an especial faculty. They have been 

 trained to such a nicety that Vittadiui, who made truffles an especial 

 study, and published an excellent work on the subject, and, indeed, 

 was one of the first to call attention to their real structure, if he 

 wished to get additional specimens of any particular species, had 

 merely to show a specimen to his dogs, allowing them to sniff the 

 peculiar odour, and they would go off into the woods and bring back 

 that species, and that alone. Truffles in that country are a great 

 source of gain to poachers, who send their dogs into the proper locali- 

 ties, who hunt without making the slightest noise, and soon reward 

 their contraband masters. The mode of training is very simple. A 

 truffle is j)laced within a hollow ball, which is perforated in every 

 direction, and given as a plaything from the earliest age, the dogs thus 

 becoming completely familiar with the scent, which is peculiar, and, 

 as this is very penetrative, they readily detect the spot beneath which 

 a truffle is concealed. But in this country in general the dogs are not 

 so completely trained as to be trusted alone, for they are very fond of 

 the truffles, which they would at once devour. But to prevent this 

 the truffle-hunter carries biscuits, or something which the dog likes 

 better than truffles, and while a portion is thrown down the specimen 

 is secured. 



Truffles, as said before, arc produced principally in districts which 

 abound in lime. Many attempts have been made at their cultivation, 

 and it was once confidently announced that, like mushroom spawn, 

 truiHc spawn would in a few mouths be on sale. But it ended in utter 



