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of a latter-day Marco Polo. Finally a formal
presentation was made and Dr. Minter received a
'Golden Truffle' awarded to the B.M.S. in
commemoration of the visit.
The last destination was Borgo Val di Toro
which meant a long journey crossing from the
geographical 'calf of Italy on the Adriatic
side, to the 'upper thigh' region of Emilia on
the other, where winding hilly roads led to the
Centre for Mediterranean Floristic Studies.
Next day a 6.30 a.m. start was scheduled for
the final truffle hunt with local mycologists
and dogs in hillside chestnut woods. Few
truffles were found on this occasion, but there
was an abundance of other edible fungi to be
collected -for the pot and served with the
evening meal.
There had been a steady accumulation of
truffles from the previous forays and some of
these had become extremely ripe and smelly; so
much so that there was a mixed response to the
idea of a share—out.
However, a great deal had been learnt about
this peculiar subterranean fungi, so well known
to the ancient Greeks and Romans. Could Pliny
be wrong? He thought truffles were amongst
the most wonderful of all natural things in
springing up and living without a root. At
least half of the British mycologists had come
to realise that whilst they might share Pliny's
wonder at the phenomenon, they in no way shared
his gastronomic lust for them!
LEN KIRBY