112 
efficacious matter is extracted (rom it, and communicated to the 
soil beneath. For this reason, a new cover must be laid upon 
it every autumn. Early in the following spring, the uppermost 
layer being exhausted by the air, is to be taken away; but the 
under and moist one lightly dug in, or, which is still better, ra- 
ked flat, lest tbe tender germs of the Truffles should be injured 
or destroyed ; but when the Truffle plantation is first made, the 
whole cover must be deeply dug down. Every j)revious pre- 
paration is thus made for the cultivation of Truffles. We now 
come to the mode of causing them to be produced. Since they 
are neither sown, nor, like animals, propagated by eggs and 
young ones, the only thing that remains for us to do is, to cause 
the soil to produce Truffles. If Truffles are to be transplanted 
from one situation to another, and to be promoted to be the an- 
cestors of their species, the greatest precautions must be taken 
lest they die on tlie journey, and become useless. This is the 
greatest difficulty to be encountered in the planting of Truffles, 
and thus the plantation may easily fail. Truffles, at their full 
growth, must not be chosen for transplanting: at that time their 
vital powers are too feeble ; they are then too near dying to 
cause the production of their species in their new situation. 
They are as little able to bear the violent removal from their 
ancient situation, and transplantation into a new one, as an old 
tree. Equally injurious is the planting of tender Truffle germs 
or very small Truffles. These also cannot be taken from their 
parental earth, and abandoned to their new situation, without 
being exposed to the hazard of dying. Let, therefore. Truffles 
of a middle size, and in the full possession of their vital pow ers 
be chosen for transplanting. They should be taken up on a 
showery day, or at least a cloudy one, in such a manner as that 
they may remain completely enveloped in a ball of earth, and 
be as little as possible exposed to the access of the air. If the 
earth is very loose, so as not to hold firmly together; or if, 
through previous drought, it had lost its natural viscidity, which 
it has not fully recovered again through the last rain ; the place 
where the Truffles are must have a great deal of water poured 
over it a few hours before they are taken up. The fungi then 
will be easily taken up, together with the earth about them, and 
put into a wooden case, which must be filled with moist wood 
earth, from the place of growth of the Truffles, and closely fas- 
