IN BXTKA-TItOPICAL COUNTRIES. 537 



British Truffle, Chairomyces meandriformis (Vitt.), though 

 large, is valued less. In the Department Vaucluse (Fi'anee) 

 alone about 60,000 lbs. of Truffles are collected annually at 

 a value of about £4,000. Many other kinds of Truffles are 

 in use. The Australian Truffle, Mylitta Australis (Berk.), 

 or Notiohydnum Australe, attains sometimes the size of the 

 Cocos-nut, and is also a fair esculent. It seems also quite 

 feasible to naturalise the best of edible fungi of other genera, 

 although such may not be amenable to regular culture. And 

 efforts should be made for the introduction of all the best 

 kinds of Truffles, as an insight into the manner in which 

 vegetables of the fungus species can be transferred to wide 

 distances has gradually been obtained. The total value of the 

 export of Truffles from Prance in 1877 amounted to 13,567,000 

 francs (Simmonds) , the total production in that year being valued 

 at 20 millions of francs. The annual revenue of the Truffle 

 ground of Carpentras is, according to Simmonds, £80,000. The 

 great White North American Truffle (Tuber album) is as 

 white as snow and as tender as curds (Millington). 



Tuber albidmn, Fries. 



Occurs with T. aestivum, but is smaller and less agreeable in 

 taste. The means of transferring Truffles and any other 

 edible fungi from one country to another require yet to be 

 further studied and finally devised, but they appear quite 

 feasible. 



Tuber cibarium, Sibthorp. 



Middle and South Europe. The Black Truffle. Like all others 

 growing underground, and generally found in forest soil of 

 limestone formations. It attains a weight over one pound. 

 Experiments for naturalisation may be effected with every 

 prospect of success by conveying the Truffle in its native soil 

 and locating it in calcareous places of forest regions. As a 

 condiment, or merely in a roasted state, it affords an aromatic 

 food. The famous Quercy or Perigord Truffle is derived from 

 this species. T. melanosporum (Vitt.), from France, Germany, 

 and Italy, is of a still more exquisite taste than T. cibarium^ 

 indeed, of strawberry flavour. 



Tuber magnatum, Pico. 



Grey Truffle. South Europe. One of the most esteemed 

 Truffles, with some garlic flavour. Hymenogaster BuUiardi 

 (Vitt.) and Melanogaster variegatus (Tulasne) of South Europe 

 are also excellent Truffles. 



