Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-03-24
Mink Culture.

1ill'iI- tilt nov cl l'itLtl'S Oh lllc "A OInN
County Ear IS The mlnkery exhibited bv
Mir. ii. Re>Srqnr, of Verona, Onei,l;, Co.
y. Y. Seven wears ago he c me in pos
session Of 4 wild minis, and through her
pr".rny, his stock, ut some periods during
this time, has numbered ninety individuals.
besides many specimens disposed OF
hr"u- -hout the different states of the
Union.
Mr.. Ees>equr'S home yards contain
twelve stalls. each twelve feet square; the
soil Is stale. ANA around the outside of the
ward a trench is ,ug fifteen inches deep.
..nd 4 plank fifteen inches wide is laid on
t.lc bottom. close to an upright plank nail
r,l upon III t,,ncc-pO>t rs Il base. The
dirt is thrn filled in, and the fence is COM
posed of upright rulyh boards. six feet
n height with L cup projecting over the
yard. III order 10 prevent the mink from
climbing aside. In each sail is placed
4 dry goods box. which j. inlllbiJed by "A
ir!na.c. IhI- box has two op, .n.nr, oppp-
ste each other. tur ingrc-s and r.re>s, with
I door on top to :.l!oS Inspection and
cir-ulnr>S.
Mu4k~ rrc not barrow iny animals when
II Il state OF II turr, but freely avail them
>.lVc> of iii" burrows of the mtl.krat. or
some other vrrmin. They cannot climb a
-muuth >u.i..rr. bat when there is enough
roA1hne-~ t'r nfll-hpld, ascend easily. In
he mInAcry The made and female are not
allowed tu rln together, cNccp: during the
mon II Of Maich.
In his ylr,i> they are ftl exclusively on
sound II >l me Il. lAcN do not relish
,uni'd Il n II feed, them once each
I'N III t't SUMMER h.li III cold weather
ne l'"d ! lhI0WA t. Them III quantities.
'ni allowed To if"rz". :" that they can
nrIr IIem At p4e:'~,W"- During the
nl"Hlh 90 f''I-H"N' >h"ri allowance OF
'"'d = thrn gwen them, To get them i'll
condition for breeding. When runnin.
All iv"d 1T TINS season is scarce with
ihrn. MI. fr~~"iur. IN managing them.
attempts a>lenl' IL possible to initiate
nat 'Ir' an ne >"E~ th't thi> comparative
mo makes them much more lively and
= ayLu'.
Ihev are readily tame'l when taken in
II thd when Their eyes are beginning to
open; ihey should then not be allowed the
society Of their mo her or the rest OF the
.t'tr, l'y constant prttlng and handling.
lh"y hcr"me Ilk" domestic kittens. and eX-
mont al tlr PLAYFUL antics OF the feline
Nlbe. hrE can then b" handled without
fear "i I"nE bitten by them, bat they
are frlf'>Fntrd u beng exceedingly mis-
'ill'N"uS; tAr't c\rttulhEiN sharp scent
Will enable them to lInd food which was
not intended tor th'n - ':tt. lhelr font
ness loT water ANA bathing Will prompt
them to 90 INTO IN open tc:,-kettlc, or any
open vessel filled with water. and while
wet VIII roll ana dry themselves IN a
cl"ihe>-ht> KIT OF freshly lronrd clothes, or
on a lndy'> dress. In this way they are
troublesome pets.
Mr.. krs>ciur. 1t several fairs, has been
IN the habit OF exhibiting two female tame
mink> To the hv>iandcr> thronTlng his
cage. which he hands to the promls"uous
crowd t" be carc>>"d and pettrd. They
woull allow themselves To be handed from
person To person. but II was Il noticeable
fact that their eyes were constantly on the
! keeper, and when they came within reach
they would extend their paws TO him like
child wishing to return.
Some mimk> make excellent ratters. and
hunt with vlgor, and speedily cXtcrminate
these troublesome pests. The Eats will
immediately flee froh them when they
scent them. and they are so bcwlldcred in
flight that they never give battle. but yield
II once. and :" swift does the mink cut the
main arteries OF the rltS neck, that IN
observer would scarcely think the deed