Truffle-Huiitmg 'with Dogs, 4^05 



more than two dogs at a time; and with these, in districts that 

 are rich in truffles, he will have his hands full, and not be able 

 to drive his work quick enough forward. In searching, he pro- 

 ceeds in the same way that has been already mentioned in the 

 training. He encourages his dogs by whistling, and mildly 

 speaking to them. He redoubles the last when the dog finds a 

 truffle, and points it out. In this case, he lastly calls him, and 

 immediately gives him a suitable piece of bread. By often giving 

 them bread (which, with respect to dogs that are used in the 

 chase of animals, is neither so necessary, nor so carefully ob- 

 served), truffle dogs are prevented from eating the sound truffles. 

 If the truffle is not yet visible, it is scratched out and raised 

 with the instrument described in section 12., in the manner 

 there directed. When a truffle is taken out and examined by 

 its smell, it is advisable to search the place further ; to scratch 

 away the soil with the hoe part of the instrument, or to dig it 

 up : there are often found in it more truffles, some ripe, and 

 some unripe, as is mentioned in section 5. These the truffle- 

 hunter takes along with him also ; for a few unripe or scentless 

 truffles make, in a large quantitj^, no great difference, and do no 

 harm* It is besides advisable, in such a place, to look carefully 

 about, especially when it is perceived to be a good, fertile, and 

 moist vegetable soil ; as then, even with the naked eye, fine 

 truffles are often discovered only half-hidden in the earth, though 

 they have not the ripe smell that is peculiar to truffles, and have, 

 consequently, not been earlier found by the dog. He that 

 chooses to have no truffles but ripe ones, may mark those 

 which he has discovered by the eye, and in a fortnight or three 

 weeks afterwards may seek them out, when they will be ripe, and 

 may be had, if no animals have previously grubbed them up. 



The search is proceeded in in the manner directed; but since 

 the truffle dog does not so easily, and from such a distance, scent 

 the truffle which is concealed in the earth, and dififuses an earthy 

 smell around, as a hound scents game in a good wind, a person 

 must go much more accurately to work in searching a district 

 that produces truffles, that in seeking for game, and not be 

 impatient at going through a place twice, and even three times, 

 and at remaining a long time upon a small spot. The trouble is 

 often richly rewarded, by the frequent finding of the dogs. 

 Although truffles ripen and may be sought for the whole year, 

 yet the time preferably made choice of is from July to Novem- 

 ber, when the frosts set in, in which time the greatest number of 

 truffles ripen. The months which yield the most are September 

 and October ; nevertheless, good truffles are found after the frost 

 has commenced, if it be not too severe. 



It frequently happens that the indication of the dog is decep- 

 tive, and that nothing is found at the place pointed out. In such 



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