256 THE VEGETABLE WORLD. 
of the flavour of the mushroom. In Algeria 7. Jeonis occupies 
the place of all the truffles of Western Europe. The large trufile, 
Mylitta Australis, which attains a weight of more than two pounds, 
is known by the natives of those regions as native bread. 
The truffles especially affect a calcareous soil, or a mixture of 
clay and chalk. In France they abound in Poitou, Touraine, the 
Vivarais, the Comtat-Venaissin, Provence, at Brives and at Cahors. 
They require for their full development a shaded soil, rendered 
fertile by the decomposed leaves and fruit which annually fall from 
the sheltering trees; at the same time it must be separated from 
the subterranean network of the roots. The oak and elm are the 
trees most favourable to its growth. The truffle is sought for by 
hogs trained for the purpose, but it seems to be only out of obedi- 
ence to its master. Having indicated the spot by slightly scratch- 
ing it, it generally leaves to man the labour of digging it out of the 
earth; but if the soil is sufficiently permeable, it does not pause 
its scratching until it has seized the truffle. In Burgundy the 
sheep-dog, and in Italy the water-spaniel, is trained and employed 
for the purpose. But dogs only seem to hunt the truffle fom 
love of, or obedience to, man. The hog is more given to egolsiit 
he loves the truffle, and hunts it out for his own use. he train 
hog when on the traces of one, is immovable, with nose ics 
his prize, waiting till it is dug out. Nor does he wait long, bu’ 
seizes and devours the odorous prey himself, with the least 
possible delay. In Upper Provence a hog trained to t 
hunting is worth two hundred francs. 
The Morel, Morchella esculenta, like the truffle, belongs to the 
sub-order Ascomycetes. This fungus has a stalk from one to 
three inches long; a spherical hollow cap, the size of an Bye 
of a pale brown or even grey colour, and deep pitted oe : 
whole surface. It grows in orchards and woods, springing 
in early spring and summer, and is generally believed to abo ‘a 
in woods where fires have been made. The country an ai 
Germany were so persuaded of this, that they made 4 practs ze 
until the custom was put down by law, of firing the _ os 
order to obtain a cropof Morels. The plant has a slight sme 
an agreeable taste; it is employed for various purposes 
both fresh and dried. 
in cookery) a 
