Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1892-03-18
PIGS AS TRUFFLg HUNTERS.
They Have Vigorous Appctits for This
Subterranean Morsel.

1hey Htve u Wig orous Appctito iof Ihis
subterranean Morsel.
One of the most highly priced of
table delicacies is the tru fie-a sort of
round fungus resembling an oak ball
or nutgall. which grows on the roots
of oak trees, near the surface OF the
ground. In France. where the best
trutiles are produced they are sold at
retail for 81 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 truf1les are obtained for the
market in the Youths Companion.
The best truf1ies are found in oak
forests where the soil is very sterile.
In appearance they are about as large
as Il walnut with a rough, brown.
warty surface, closely akin to the
potato. The trutfie being somewhat
underneath the surface of the ground,
is not easily found by human lIeings.
1t is known that the pig has vig-
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 to his masters.
AS the scent of the fox leads hounds
to the trail, SO the odor of trutl,es at
tracts The porker to the cherished bed.
He shifts about until he locates the
trutfle, when he begins to root up the
earth. His MASTER armed with big
stick. watches him closely.
The pig uproots the truffie, 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 disappoint-
ment expectation and defeat
Recently dogs have been trained to
perform a similar service, but the pig
is still the most talented truffle-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
trufes 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 truffles are supposed to exist q
little tin dish of meat and tru1les.
covering the dish with few handfuls
of earth.
The dog is then brought out and
urged to hunt for the dish. goaded by
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 trufles as
well as for game. They hunt at night.
with dog or pig and are a great pest
to the landed propristors.
Trufiies grow in the United States.
but for the most part the pigs are left
to root them up, undisturbed by human
tormentors and monopolists.