480. Hints for Improvements. • — Feltoniana. 



Art. X. Hints for Improvements. 



CULTURE of the Truffle, Tuber cibdrium. — We were in hopes from some 

 hints which appeared in a former Number (Vol.1, p. 520.), that we should 

 have heard before this time of some attempts having been made to subject 

 this fungus to culture, in the manner of the mushroom. Since the hint 

 has not been sufficient, we must now call upon such of our readers as live in 

 the neighbourhood of where Truffles grow naturally, to make some trials. 

 As to the success, we see no reason why it should not be as great with the 

 Truffle as with the mushroom, and there can be little doubt that, if their 

 artificial culture was once established, there would be a great and regular 

 demand for them in the London market. The first attempt should be to 

 imitate their native soil and circumstances, and to ascertain how they may 

 be propagated ; afterwards they might be tried in garden soil, or in their 

 natural soil more abundantly supplied with manure ; and lastly, they might 

 be forced in beds, or ridges (p. 406.), in the manner of mushrooms. We 

 have looked over Bornholz's pamphlet with a view to select any useful 

 hints for a beginner in England; but that author confines himself to direc- 

 tions for imitating nature in the soil and shadiness of the situation. It ap- 

 pears that in Germany Truffles grow chiefly in forests, and therefore M. Born- 

 holz cultivated them artificially under trees. But, if the natural soil were 

 correctly imitated, the natural shade might be given by litter, furze, leaves, 

 wicker hurdles, boards, or other means suitable to a kitchen-garden. The 

 chief difficulty in the imitation will be the quality of the soil, and its de- 

 gree of compression and of moisture, and these a gardener can better do 

 from his own observation of the habitat from which he may have procured 

 the Truffles, than from any suggestions which we could give without seeing 

 the habitat. Bornholz observes, that small or young tubercles are more 

 likely to remove with success, than large or full-grown ones. But, we repeat, 

 no instructions that we could give, either from Bornholz, or our own con- 

 sideration of the subject, will be of so much use to the gardener, as the in- 

 spection of the soils and situations where Truffles are found. In England 

 these are not many ; we know of a few in Kent, Hampshire, and Oxford- 

 shire, and we trust to the gardeners in the neighbourhood of these for an 

 attempt. 



The Baltimore Blackbird, Oriolus Baliimorus, might be easily introduced 

 into this country and naturalised. It is beautiful in colour, black and 

 brilliant orange, sings delightfully, lives on insects, and is fond of building 

 near houses. We have introduced gold and silver fish into our gardens, 

 and why not beautiful birds ? The one above mentioned and another 

 we should have no difficulty in raising even in flights, if we could preserve 

 them from being stolen by bird-catchers ; namely, the canary : it will en- 

 dure our hardest. winters, and live with the green-finch, to my certain 

 knowledge. Two or three pair, turned out in some nobleman's garden in 

 the spring of the year, would build and breed directly ; and, if fed, would not 

 leave the spot. (Rusticus in Urbe.) 



Art. XI. Feltoniana. 



Our correspondent, Mr.Felton, author of Miscellanies on Ancient and 

 Modem Gardening, 8vo, 1795,' and other works, one of the most enthu- 

 siastic and extraordinary men in the gardening way, whom we have ever' 

 met with, has furnished us with a large stock of gardening scraps and ariec- 



