The truffle dog is a delicate animal to rear, and a choice feeder. Being continually propagated from one stock, he has become peculiarly susceptible of all dog diseases, and when that fatal year comes round which desolates the kennel in his quarter, many truffle hunters are left destitute of dogs, and consequently short of bread; for they will not believe (as we believe) that any dog with a keen nose and lively temper can be taught to hunt and find truffles.

The education of the dog commences when he is about three months old. At first he is taught to fetch a truffle, and when he does this well and cheerfully his master places it on the ground, and slightly covers it with earth, selecting one of peculiar fragrance for the purpose. As the dog becomes more expert and keen for the amusement, he buries the truffle deeper, and rewards him in proportion to his progress. He then takes him where he knows truffles to be abundant, or where they have been previously found by a well-broken animal, and marked. Thus he gradually learns his trade, and becomes (as his forefathers have been for many generations) the bread-winner for his master and his master's family; unless he is so fortunate as to become attache to some lordly mansion, or possibly to a royal palace, in which case he is a fortunate dog indeed.

The supply of truffles is uncertain, and the price varies from tenpence to thirty shillings a pound.

In the summer months we have found them, not with a dog, for at this season they have little smell, but from a peculiar cracking of the ground. We have more than once marked the place with a stick, and examined the specimen from time to time. On one occasion we left a truffle from July to November, and could discover no perceptible alteration in its size. Frost destroys those exposed to its influence, and the very old, or very large, or frosted truffles are frequently infested by small brown insects. We have given the result of our inquiries and experience. We must refer our readers for further information to a work of which we have heard, although we have not been able to procure it, "Badham's Esculent Fungi".