The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1889-07-11
WHAT ARE TRUFFLES?
SOMETHING ABOUT THE MUSh-
ROOMS UNDERGROUND COUSIN.


A Member of the Fungi Family That
Tckles the Palate Of the Epicure-How
They Grow and Are ''Caught"-Attempts
at Cultivation Unsuccessful.
Probably few of the thousands of ueo-
pie who have enjoyed these culinary
daintles are aware of the manner in
which they grow or the circunistancesi In
which they are obtained. Others, again,
who have perchance never encountered
truffies or met with them in the bill Of
fare or upon the menu of the dinner
table-for they are not sufficiently plenti-
full to be popular article of diet-will
have but confused idea as TO what de-
nomination they belong, such confusion
being heightened by reason Of the term
catching or "huntingn being used to
denote the means By which they are OBJ
tafned tbs, therefore, not UNNECESSARY
to explain that truf1ee are underground
fungi, those which are the subject of
commerce belonging to the genus ''tuber,"
whilst others which bear the name are
OF related though different genera. In
England they were formerly known as
"trhbbes, both names being doubtless
derived from the Latin terra tuber.
They are somewhat oblong or globose,
and vary IN weight from couple of
ounces to several pounds, according to
the species, locality and the circum-
stances in which they are grown They
vary somewhat in color; some are white,
but generally they are Of q black or dark
brown color, and of a rough exterior,
the skin being thickly covered with wart-
like protuberances When cut through
with knife, they present different ap-
pearance from that Of any other fungus.
Veins traverse the mass in all directions,
giving marbled character that is a dis
tinctive feature of the trufie. When
closely examined, minute sacs will be
noticed in the veins. These contain
spores, which are covered with spines.
DOGS AS TRUFFLE HUNTERS.
Not much is known of the early de-
velopment of the truf1e, owing princi-
pally to its popularity of growing under
ground, where it is free from observa-
ton; but when found in the mature
state, in which they are used for food,
they are altogether free from attach
ment, either to the ground or to any
other body. They are commonly, if not
invariably, found in woods, the pres
ence of oak or beech trees appearing to
favor their growth. From this fact it
has been inferred that they are of a para
sitical nature, and that at some stage of
their existence they derive their nutri-
ment from the roots of trees. Light
calcareous soils are those which most
frequently produce truf1es, and in Eng
land they are chiefly obtained from
the hill districts and chalky grounds
OF Hants and Willis. Those, however,
which chiefly supply the English mar
kets are brought from France or Algiers.
Turtles emit fragrant odor both dur
ing their growth and after they are
gathered. It is this characteristic which
favors their acquisition, as, being buried
out OF sight, some other faculty has to
be employed to discover their presence
For this purpose the keen sense of smell
in the dog is taken advantage of, and
dogs are systematically trained for the
purpose Of ''trufie hunting" This SER
vice Is sometimes performed by pigs on
the Continent. The dogs are trained by
the device of hiding a trufie and re-
warding the dog each time he discovers
its place of concealment. By degrees
the dog soon learns to search in the
woods, attracted by the perfume, and
scratches at the spot under which re-
poses the hidden fungus. he is then re-
warded by piece of bread, and the
trufde is carefully exhumed The
Catching" or hunting" of trufles is a
regular means of employment for men
and dogs in those districts in which the
fungi exist in sufficient quantities to rem
der the work remunerative.
HOW TO PREPARE THEM.
The attempts at artificial reproduction
or cultivation Of the truff1e have not been
successful, as mycelium or spawn, from
which other fungi (such as mushrooms
are readily produced, has not yet been
obtained. Success has occasionally at
tended the snrinklinrr Of eJ,itahla orn,,nd