Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1892-03-18
PIGS AS TRUFFLe HUNTERS.
They III IVA vigorou, Appetite for This
subterranean Morsei.

They ii wa vigorou, Appetit, for This
subterrsnean Morsei.
One of the most highly priced OF
table delicacies is the tru LEA sort of
round fungus resembling an oak ball
or nutgall which grows on the roots
Of oak trees, near the sur ace OF the
ground. In France. where the best
trutiles are produced, they are sold at
retail for & a pond. They can not
be cultivated, and are supposed TO be
produced. AS oak balls are by the
sting or prick of an insect which
causes vegetable sugar to exude and
form in ball Mr.. Knowles the
United States consul at Bordeaux,
France. gives an account in one of his
reports of the singular manner in
which truiies are obtained for the
market in the Youths Companion.
The best tru lies are found in oak
forests whore the soil is very sterile.
In appearance they are about as large
as IA walnut with "A rough, brown,
warty surface, closely akin TO the
potato. The truRe, being somewhat
underneath the surface of the ground,
is not easily found by human eings.
1t is known that the pig has Wig
orous appetite for this subterranean
morsel. 1t is. in fact, a passion with
the race; so that as the day dawns.
the pig is led TO perform duty which,
though highly disappointing to him, Is
particularly lucrative 10 his masters.
AS the scent OF the fox leads hounds
to the trail. so the odor OF trul es at
tracts the porker TO the cherished bed.
He shifts about until he locates the
truf1le, when he begins to root up the
earth. His master, armed with a big
stick, watches him closely.
The pig uproots the trufie. but
scarcely has he seized it when down
upon his nose comes the stick in a
sharp blow. With loud squeal he
drops the moist fungus upon the
ground. and before he can pick it up
again it is bagged by the hunter
The beast nothing daunted. presses
on TO another spot where. hidden be-
low the surface of the ground, are
more of the epicurean dainties. Here
the performance is repeated.
After this has been done several
times the animal. thoroughly disap-
pointed gives up in disgust and sub
mits to being led back to his pen but
on the morrow thanks to his short
memory and his epicurean enthusiasm
! the pig is ready 10 be led forth again
and experiences once more the same
Joy and pain, hope and disappont-
ment expectation and defeat
Recently dogs have been trained to
perform similar service. but the pig
is still the most talented truale-hun-
ter. The training to which dogs are
sub ected to suit them to this purpose
is very interesting.
TO begin with. finely cut or sliced
trulfes are mixed daily with their food,
until at last they develop liking for
the delicacy. Afterward their owners
conceal in some portion OF field
where trufiles are supposed 10 exist q
little tin dish OF meat and tru'i'es,
covering the dish with few handfuls
of earth.
The dog is then brought out and
urged TO hunt for the dish. goaded 10y
an empty stomach. When at last he
finds it he is caressed and rewarded.
AT last he learns to hunt for the veg
etable itself.
There are poachers for tru1fes a:
well as for game. They hunt at night,
with dog or pig. and are great pest
to the landed proprietors.
Tru'iles grow in the United States,
but for the most part the pigs are lei'
to root them up undisturbed by human
tormentors and monopolists.