Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1893-04-01
A RABBIT DRIVE.
WAR ON THE PESTS EVERY YEAR
IN CALIFORNIA.

Farmers Forced to Kill Tiem 70 Pro-
tect Their Crops-How u Drive is
Conducted.
The valleys of Central aud Southern
California swarm with jack rabbits. fQy !
years they proved themselves a pest Of
the worst kind to farmers. They footed |
over the grain fields, and destroyed |
yy GrdnG sf them ssit fEe sfound with
their sharp teeth. Al sorts y schemes
were resorted to for The onnihilation OF
these creatures, but In spite of the poi
soned bats and the traps prepared for
them, they increased in numbers until
they threatened to destroy every crop OF
GRAIN that was planted, and every vine
and tree that was set out.
Five wears ago the farmers of Fresno
County resolved to rid the county OF
some of the animals, and they planned
rabbit drive. On a certain day the grain
and fruit growers for miles around as
sembled in the fields at the southeast of
France The country was virtually de-
serted, and the ranks of the farmers were
strengthened by men, women and chill
dren from the town who made sport of
what the farmers considered business.
First, corral was built of wire fencing
about four feet wide. This Enclosure
surrounding about an acre of land, and
in form representing Bartlett pear split
lengthwise. The entrance was at the
small end. Running out from each SIDE
of this gateway were wings OF wire
fencing extending nearly quarter OF a
mile each way. From the extremitles OF
these wings the people were arranged IN
line, spreading out as far into the held as
their number would permit without
breaking the rank, until they formed a
living circle around a tract of land twenty
acres in extent
The women and children were placed
nearest the fences, for in the field active
work was to be done. When the line
was completed and all things were IN
readiness the leader of the drive gave
the signal, and, yelling at the top o
their lungs and beating the ground witt
clubs the line closed slowly in
When the advance toward the cora
began. now and then the drivers, at SOM
point in the line, would be aroused to
manical by light brown hum
that rose from the ground and stretche
itself into dim streak that momentaril
heightened toward the opposite line
drivers. That was jack rabbit, starte
from his lair. As the lines of men DIRE
near each other the brown streak
doubled rapidly on themselves, and final
began to zig-zag wildly across the il
closure, as the frightened, long care
creatures ran hither and thither in scare
of an opening through which they migl
escape.
Gradually the animals were driven t.
ward the corral until finally the last OF
was in the inclosure, which was an u
dulating mass of hopping and skippin
Dummies completely at the mercy OF the
enemies. AS many of the men and DO.
as cared to do so entered the inclosur
and with clubs slew the rabbits, shal
crack on the skull being all that W
necessary to put permanent quletus
the animals. In about four hours tin
upward of 10000 rabbits were killed.
The undertaking was voted compile
success by the farmers, and from tn
day the rabbit drive has been an esta
lished thing in Southern and Cent?
California.
The most exciting and successful ra
bit drive ever held came off on the 10
of March, 1892, near Fresno. 1t W
the last day of encampment OF the Graz
Army of the Republic, which was bel
held in that city. A crowd OF peoI
numbering 5000, including war vetera
and visitors to the encampment, enc
cled vast territory 1t was disastro
day for rabbits, and also for a go
many of the drivers who, after the
was over, had picturesque assortmC
of bumps and bruises to exhih
as a result of wreckless use of the clu
An immense corral was built and af
few hours of enthusiastic labor it v
literally alive with rabbits. TweI
thousand is the estimate of the NUM-
of animals killed on that occasion. i
ground within the wire fence was heal
with the carcasses of the dead creatul
The months of March and April
the ones in which the farmers are
most anxious to exterminate the rabbi
for in May and June, and, in fl
through all the summer months, t
propagate and multiply at an alarm
rate. The farmer reckons that ey
rabbit that he kills in March and A
prevents the birth of fifty of its kind.
In the vineyards and orchards the I
bits are especially destructive. In
former, the animal watches for the bu
ing forth of the green shoot that, il
lowed to grow, would, in July and A
ust, bend under the weight of lusci
fruit. OF these tender and juicy sprC
the jack rabbit is very fond, and he
bles them off with great relish. In
stances where vineyards have just |
planted, the young vines are cater
close to the ground. The fact that Il
rabbits will go through n vinegar,
twenty acres in single night and 5
it of every vestige Of foliage, shows
great pest these animals are
York Times