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ENGLISH TRUFFLE HUNTING DOGS In the little village of Winterslow, near Salisbury. .England, a truffle hunting business has been handed down from father to son for the last two hundred years. The dogs used are of Spanish descent, apparently having a strain of poodle in them. Owing to the inbreeding, the race is now nearly extinct. Truffles are in season riWriug October, November, December and January; furiously enough, during the same time as game, for the seasoning of which these underground fungi are greatly sought. They will grow only in certain spots, which are invariably near to beech trees, it being thought that the loam made by the falling leaves specially suits, them. As soon as the truffle becomes ripe it gives off a scent, which especially trained dogs immediately detect, and when located they at once start to dig up the fungus. Once a dog starts to dig, it may be taken for granted that it is found; the dog never makes a mistake. After finding, the dog is given a small piece of bread as i reward, and it invariably looks for this. Truffles, ike mushrooms, need warm summer rain in order to Insure a good season.
