Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-04-21

What would suggest is that public opln-
ion should compel every farmer and setter
the rabbit-infested areas to
keep couple of hounds mot dogs, and least
of al! fysts), the presence of which ami
mails on ranch is the surest way OF exter-
nl;nating the rabbit pest that / know OF.
la 1882, when General McComb assumed
control of the State Prison here, several
thousand vines were put out as an expert
ment to see whether the soil on the State
domain was adapted for the growth OF
grapes. Fer while the experiment prom
ised well, bot as soon as the young vines |
exhibited any leaf, they were Immediately |
bounced en- by the rabbits and inssspite of |
every p-ccaution taken to guard the young |
shoots, the latter, one and all, become the
prey Of the velvet-toed vermin. Shortly
after this General McComb and Captain
Chambers bethought themselves of the
plan of introducing hounds about the
place, and this was done with such good
effect that
TIE RABBITS ALL DISAPPEARED AS IF
BY MAGIC.
Since the introduction of hounds here (the
Class we particularly favor and End most
j Useful is cross between the English fox
hound or beagle and the Siberian houndA
we have never been troubled With rabbits,
and believe our isamunity from this
scourge to be entirely due to the presence
amongst US of members of the particular
breeds of dogs here Indicted. Swift of
foot the beagle bloodhound IS not, but With
grayhounds as allies no rabbits will will
ingly make their homes where both types
of canine are to be found.
The chief merit of the former sort is that
he is of nocturnal habits, and as it is at
night much more than in the daytime that
the rabbits do the greatest amount of mis-
chief it is here that the habits of the
heavier class of hound are of most service
to is owner. | would recommend that
, public opinion coeree every farmer and
settler in the rabbit infected districts into
KEEPING HOUND Or TWO
, OF each type | have described, for | am
convinced that if the practice were uni
yersally adopted both rabbits and coyotes
-aFwould disappear. Lurchers, FISTS and
2 mougrels are no use and are reflection on
the taste Of those who keep such beasts,
but good hounds not only pay for their
f keep, but are an ornament and safeguard
2 to the homestead as well. In the matter
y Vi uilNto IL Will NC oCcl 1T q
! glance how the presence of well-trained
: hounds at every homestead and farm
: building would contribute to the success
7 of the former. 1t should be matter Of
t pride to every farmer to have his dogs as
: clever as possible, for which purpose his
: sons should be pressed into the service as
/ trainers an occupation far more whole
J, some and inexpensive for young men than
loufprr o-n,1,,1 co1po,,s A i,l,if- l-iNr
D instead of being as it is now, an incident
of uncommon occurrence, could be organ
| lied fortnightly Or monthly, and might be
: made the occasion of lot of innocent fun
and merry making. The success of these
drives depends of course in great measure
r, on the number of hounds that can be col
!, to take part in them, and where two OIL
p, three of these animals are to be found al
! every farmhouse, the hunters might take
. the field with pack four or five hundred
+ strong.
n NATIONAL. PASTIME.
q Thus would be initiated a national pas
a time, healthy in its pursuit. moral in it
: lessons, and utilitarian its ends. That the
Y rabbit plague is a serious menace to oul
a prosperity, is admitted on all hands, but i
: we want to be delivered from its conse
q quences, something more is demanded o
4 us than merely sitting down and contemp
f lating its extension with supine wonder
e am well assured that the evil can be sue
: cessfully combatted at the present stage 0
e its growth, and if what l have here ad
e vanced will provoke communications Oh
the subject, shall not regret the tim
f which | have given to the compilation Q
this article. r. j. NJ.
For coNr a,r;I 10 1900