The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-07-11
Rabbits Of Australia.

to Australia and turned loose on
farm about 80 miles from Melbourne.
n an incredibly short time they mul
tiplicd to such an extent that they
became pest. The rabbits spread in
millions over the western and north
crn areas Of Victoria. They invaded
New South Wales and pressed on, still
increasing, !, 900 miles northward into
Qccnsland
The western part of Victoria, once
called Australia Felix, embraces some
Of the richest soil on earth. It was a
paradise for the rabbits, who soon
made it desert. The grass began to
disappear. Every green blade and
shrub was swcps away as by fire. The
settlers SAN their cattle and sleep
starving, but were helpless. The sub
etantial stone fences around the farms
were harbors for the imported plague,
and they were reluctantly torn down.
Wire fencing, with rabbit proof net
ting carried we'll below the ground,
was substituted. Then this innocent
creature took to climbing the fences
al displayed marvellous gymnastic
ability in its endeavors to get at the
crops.
All means of destroying the rabbits
proved Intellectual Shooting only
served to make them flourish, as it
killed out enough Of the colonies to
leave more food for the remainder.
Dogs and beaters were tired. Rabbit
drives were instituted. Thousands
were killed in every battle, but still
the rabbits increased. Poisoned
wheat served for time, but led by
instinct the rabbits at last refused the
doctored grain. Poisoned carrots
could not be resisted until wisdom
again taught the rabbit that to eat was
to die. Then nothing would induce
him to look at carrot Arsenic and
apples brought like experience.
Yet despite their cunning instinct
and experience the rabbits were slow
ly beaten back from point to point.
Every hole and crevice that could
offer the least shelter was constantly
guarded. Men and dogs were every
where on the watch to hunt to death
every stray rabbit. So bitter was the
fight that the rabbit came to be re-
garded with feeling Of greater horor
than those with which the average
Australian now regards the bubonic
plague.
Beaten in the west, the rabbits in
vaded the north and northeast. Here
they found country suited to their
habits. They increased and multi
piled until they came to hold men,
dogs and guns in contempt. Some
times the trains we're delayed through
having run into hordes of the vermin.
Desparing and beaten. the settlers in
voked the aid of the State. Mean
while the rabbits had swept on to the
Male country, the home of the dingo
and >outlawed cattle. It's sandy soil
and dry, warm climate suited the bun
MES. They ate it bare. It was
! possible se travel hundreds OF miles
with ,ut seeing blade Of grass.
Here they ruled % lords until Mr..
Lascelles, one Of the owners Of this
tract, discovered that it wcaid grow
wheat. He determined 60 do so.
His first step was crusade against
the rabbits. Inclosing an enormous
space with rabbit-preof and cattle
proof netting, hs begaD war on the
rabbits that ended in their destruction.
Poisoned water was one OF bis favorite
anu most successful agents. All the
tanks ana water holes in his dry land
are fenced like fortresses with the
strongest OF wire nettings and barbs.
The wild cattle, when summer has
dried up the natural sources Of sup
ply, drop dead around them in their
frantic efforts to reach the precious
water, the rabbits fall by thousands
at the baise Of the impregvable bar
riers.
The poisoned troughs are then re-
sorted to, and the number of rabbits
destroyed in this way is alnsost in
credible. Frcm one eoleny to another
the pest spread. The NEST rigorous
laws were enacted against it, and ulti-
mately it's numbers were reduced TO
reasonable limits. Now she refriger-
ator and the preserving can are in use
and the shipment Of rabbits to Eng
land every year by these means has
attained enormous proportions. Last
Joss 3,2! q! ,aaG aaGG rabbits were shipped.
Pho nanh rofnHna ruo.o c&11 Az