The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-12-04
WHAT ARE TRuFFLEs2

1.-The importation of triiilcs to this
country is on the increase" said Jacob
Meyer. who, until recently, was en-
gagged in raising them in Germany, near
Hanover. They are looked upon rs a
great luxury in Europe, and have Oft
en- wondered why they were not more
used here"
What are truffles?'
"l'hey are fungus growth, similar
To the mushroom. and are found gem
orally in soil impregnated with lime,
and always in the neighborhood Of oak
or Lccch trees. They are found under
the ground, at distance varying from
an inch to n foot, and are supposed TO
be y parasite living in their early stage
upon the roots of trees. They are OBJ
long or spherical, and vary from the
size of an English walnut 10 that of a
large potato. Quite frequently have
known them 10 weigh two pounds, and
once found one that weighed three
aud half pounds. Some are Of dull
white color, but the black or brown
truille has the finest flavor and brings
the best price. Their surface is rough,
and covered with excrescenccs resem-
bling warts. and Judging from the ex-
terror they would not be selected rs an
article of food. Internally they resemble
4 dark-colored marble, and are different
from other known forms of fungi.
But little is known about their prop
agation and growth The reproductive
portion is found in minute sacs, which
contain II number of spores. and are
thickly scattered throughout the num-
berlcss small veins that traverse the
mass in every direction In growing
they are not attached 10 any other
body, and lie loosely imbedded in the
earth.
I'm what localities are tr1Ifies found?"
." They are found in the greatest
proiusion in Southern France, and
these arc also of the StGualiy. They
also grow in some parts Of England,
Germany, Italy. Australia and Africa.
i have never heard of any being dis
covered in this country. My expert
cncc here. where have cndcavorcd to
transplant them. a. well a, IN Ger
many. where ! spent MANY Years in
futile efforts to cultivate them artifi-
cialiy, has led me to approve the COM
mon opinion of trutiie-hunters, that n
iruilie Is the most contrary thing in the
world. When forced or coaXed. not
onr will appear; and frequently field
will be Unexpectedly filled. No one
knows where they come from. | have
taken a small trutlie out of the ground.
filled MP the hole, and the next day
taken a larger one from exactly The
same spot. Removing this second one,
1 have taken u third and still larger
one from the same spot ON the next
day. Then for five days not a sign of
Il tiriflle could be seen. On the sixth
day small truffle would be found in
exactly the same spot. and the others
would be found rs before They would
alternately appear and disappear in this
manner for about three months, and
then tiinai}y disappear altogether. At
time, they grow so quickly as to awaken
establishment, and again will increase
III size with the SlowneSs of a century
plant.
II have had some success in raising
them by taking the water in which the
pairing of truiiieS had been stepped and
sprinkling ii over Il trIifile bed that had
been worked out. In some parts of
France acornS sowed upon calcareous
soil have yielded truflles after the sap
iings had attained three or four wears
growth. but attempts 10 raise them in
large quantities will surely fail AIuSh-
rooms are cultivated with good results,
because the yegetative portion of the
'plant j. easily obtained for planting.
Ihe yegetativo portion Of ruttles has
not get been obtained, and consequent
ly MI experiments with them have been
futile.
The odor Of the tlufle is aromatic,
peculiar to itself, and will soon pene-
trate every room in house. it pro-
du1cs nausea in some people and in
others sense of light neadednes,.
is there any particular way of find
iDg them?"
Yes. In England and Germany dogs
are trained to find them. generally poo
di,'e or Spitz dogs. 4 t,'utile is given TO
one of these dogs TO play with, and
thea is taken IHto field and planted in
sight of the oog. When feeding time
comes, the dog is taken TO where the
trui'le is buried. and he is given to UNI
der9tand that his getting food depends
upon finding the truiile Some dogs
are remarkably apt, and will catherine
idea in y few trials. while others will
never comprehend your meanina As
s0On as they are trained they are turned
loose IN truille-bed and will move rap
Idly around with noses close TO the
ground until they scent the peculiar
truille odor. They will then begin to
scratch up the soil, and care must be
taken 10 stop them or they will tear the
trutIle 70 pieces. A good dog, however,
viii stop scratching as soon as the truf-
lie comes in view Sometimes they are
buried 80 deeply that the dogs can not
reach them. They will then lie down
by tlie hole and patiently wait for help.
IN the southern part of France and tia
~, sows. which are pasSionatcly fond
~ ii-itlles. take the place of dogs. and
search for them rs an article of food.
Hunters follow the sows around ard
gather the truiiles as soon as The sows
begin TO root.
The trutfle bed ] had in Germany
COST me for rent, ] think. 5000. | sold
the trufiles in Hanover for $3.50 n
pound, and made considerable money.
They will average about four to the