Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-08-24
RABBITS.
The Destruction Wrought I'm Aus.
t""iia-ls This Country I'm Danger
IN the Pestl


When James Anthony Froude travelled In
Australia three or four years ago, says Ches-
ter p. Dewey in the AgriculturiSt, he made
the remarkable discovery that the comp ANTS
in regard to the devastations committed by
the rabbits In those colonies were overweight
and that no more rabbits were observed dur
ing his stay than he could see about an Eng
lish warren on a moonlight evening. Mr..
froude is not very keen observer Of the
facts which pass under his own eyes, and the
people OF those distant colonies may be ex-
eused for doubling his word, aud for making
the extraordinary efforts that they do TO get
rid OF the rabbit pest, which has been SO iu =
furious TO their crops. 1t is officially reported
from New Zesnlad that in 1851 more than
200, 600 acres Of sheep-runs were abandoned
on account Of rabbits; that the loss In exports
was estimated at s., so, 900 per annum, and
that upward Of 10000 900 OF these animals
had been killed in three wears The money
expended has been something enormous. In
Victoria the parliament began In 1879 by appro-
prlating 81, 400, and gradually rose from year
TO year until IL 1854 the appropriation was
more than $1,000 New South Wales eX-
pended $40 600 per annum for five years. In
1856 the government Appropriation in South
Australia was Sis 00i. In New Zealand the
appropriation was 500 900 per annum. All
these sums are additional 10 private expendi-
lures, which have ueeu very large. The more
rabbits are Killed the more there seem to he,
and the trappers are suspected OF Introiuc-
Ing the rabbits into new districts while they
slaughter them In the old. Every possible
effort has been made 10 get rid OF these Great
ures. The mongoose has been imported from
India for their destruction, poison has been
employed, cunning has been lifted 10 place
among the useful arts aud has been popular
ICED 10 great extent IN the colony, and still
the animals increase and multiply beyond
anything that Is known almost in the whole
history Of the world.
NJ. Psstcur, the great French specialist, has
been called In, and II l. claimed that he has
discovered cure for this rabbit pest; this is
10 inoculste them with The germs OF certain
disease which proves ia tai 70 them, aud Is not
transferred 10 other animals. This disease is
not only infectious but contsg ious, and
spreads with great rapidity, SO that when one
rabbit has eaten the food containing the
germ It spreads within a very short time to
10 the other occupants OF the burros and car
ries them of with exceeding rapidly VI.
Pssteur claims that the germ OF this disease
which be impsrts TO the rabbit is easily null
tipled In any meat SOUP, lie also declared
that he has proved IL to be lnnocuous in the
case OF sheep cattle, horses aud dogs, which
are the domestic al mails most likely 10 share
his food with the rabbit Whether poultry Is
equally exempt or not he does not say. The
rabbit Is rather a dainty animal, and Is not
SeDtralIY kupDOStl 10 Dt UTOuEuN w Oh eOuf
or TO be fed with a spoon, and It is possible
that he might object TO taking his rations in
This manner, but at all events, so far as ex-
per!ments nave been tried, they have proved
successful. In New South Wales the people
have not ONLY taken an interest IN the Paste ur
remedy but the government has offered a re-
ward Of 500, 900 for any invention by which
this curse can be removed. The Anlericdi.
AgFicIl tltriSt las received many letters upon
tn subject, aud We have been quite interes L
cd In raa1i Inc Fl u
correspondents have presented. Some adven'
turous American hus already started for New
South Wales with remedy, which he keeps
secret and 10y the use OF which he proposes
10 win the reward offered by the COVE rnment
and 10 free the colony from these animals.
Experiments made in Victoria and Tasmania
in the ipoculatiOu OF rabbits with diseased
germs DESTROYED so Of the animals which
were confined in an Enclosure and which
gradually wasted away for seven teen days.
Other animals at the same time we're inocu-
lated with the same disease but exhibited no
sign or symptom Of illness, thus showing that
the disease was peculiar 10 the rabbit
The inocuatlug schemes IN australia have
been referred 10 a commission OF experts
chosen from all the colonies, who will ex-
anime and report upon the various methods
devised. In October Of last year experiment
was made upon rabbits in an area OF 5OO
acres, being one of the worst Infected runs Ia
New South Wales. The inoculated rabbits
were ear-marked and turned out among the
sheep and other domestic animals with re-
suits thai proved 10 bs fatal within three
weeks, IN that time destroying the greater
portion OF the rabbits. In similar Enclosure
IL was found that out OF 40 rabbits only
seven lived. and these were left an a decrepit
and Incapable condition. Some OF the farm
animals we're also inoculsted with the same
poison, and IL was proved satisfactorily that
they could not take the infection. Nor Is
there any danger TO human beings The ex-
perts who have handled the virus for months
together are unframed. The owners OF the
sheep runs in the districts occupied by the
rabbits have watched the operations by the
government officers with the greatest interest,
aud are satisfied that the remedy will prove
effectual, and In February and March the in
oculation was proceeded within a large mum
Ter OF districts.
In the Mackenzie country on the South
island OF New Zealand, and between latitude
10 and A., south an expedition was made
few weeks since by large party OF officials
and others, whose object was TO determine
the exact line upon which rabbit fence or
barrier should be erected across the island.
The minister Of lands, who headed the party,
after very careful examination concluded th
IL would be mpractcabe TO maintain, even
II once erected, rabbit proof fence, In 9
large portion OF that country. Beside, al
immence glacier which Law upon the mountain
slopes OF the southern Alps and which wa:
under constant motion, threatened any bar
rier that might be constructed. The object
OF tnlS Darrler was 10 prevent the raODlts
from migrating from one portion OF the colony
10 another. On the Tasman river which /:
in South Canterbury aud is near Mount Cook
there are several miles OF bank devoid oil
vegetation; the river being three miles wide
and flowing in numerous deep and rapid
channels. This land would be a barrier 10 tn,
advance of the long cared foe. The mInstel
concluded that II a fence was erected FOL
twenty miles on the east side Of the Tasmar
river the rabbits could not cross into South
Canterbury. Other fences will be erected a.
various points in that part OF the colony, anC
on the Waitaki river, where a bridge had AZ
forded the rabbits means OF crossing from
one side to the other, rabbit-proof gate wa
10 be erected, the gate To lie closed at night
and a similar gate vas TO lie placed at the
railroad bridge u pom the same river.
1t is almost laughsble to read these reports
as they appear III New leland journals, and
10 note the gravity and dignity with which
they are expressed. One would think the In
vasion of a human foe was TO be met, snt
that these prospecting officials were engaged
in laying out plan Of defense. On thu
whole 1t appears that the colonists In various
parts OF Australia are really In earnest II
their efforts for the destruction OF rabbits
The evil Is great and unmitigated. II rises II
yaster prorort ons there than IN any othe
country, and our farmers and orchardists vii