Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-06-21
BELGIAN HARE FARM
A Novel and Extensive Industry In
Ottumwa.
HAVE OVER 400 HARES IN STOCK

AoV1 Vv1A wv AuNIO NV O1VVH
Brief History of the Little Animal
Whose PROPAGATION Has Become
Fad-Extent of Indus.
try In Ottumwa.
One Of the novel sights in WapelIo
county and one of which very little ie
generally known, is the Belgian hare
farm owned by Mrs. e. i. Philpott,
known as the old Erbacher place
in the northeast part OF the
city. Here there are over four
hundred hares of various ages
and sizes, quartered in modern
hutches and systematically cared for.
Many of the inhabitants of this little
settlement are Of the finest specie
known to the Belgian hare fancier. A
number of these are imported stock
and cost up in the thousands of dollars.
An agent for Mrs, Z. E. Philpott who
visited England recently, together with
England's celebrated hare Judge, select
ed about fifty hares from the prize
winning strains of England. This was
the largest importation ever shipped
from England at any one time. Besides
these Mrs. Philpott also has large
number of pedigreed native stock,
among which are some which will, it
is believed, score as high as any Bel
The belgian Hare.
The Belgian hare is supposed TO be
a cross between the original Belgian
hare and the English rabbit, bred up
to the present state of perfection by
pet fanciers in England, This now
popular little animal first came into
prominence in England in 1912, since
which time it has steadily grown in ia
vor until at the preent time it forms
one of the greatest commercial indus,
tries in England. 1t has been their
custom since the introduction of the
Belgian hare in England to give prize
shows at different times during the
year. AT such times the high bred
animals have brought their owners
prizes to the extent of several thousand
pounds each.
The industry has become contagious,
and has communicated itself to differ
eht parts of the world, California be-
ing perhaps more extensively engaged
in this pursuit than any other state
in this country. The Belgian hare was
introduced there about four years ago,
and today there are hundreds of rab-
bitries in the state, and it is estimated
that there are over six hundred people
in the city of Los Angeles, alone, en-
gagged in the raising of Belgian hares.
The basis OF. the Belgian hare traffic
is the meat, which is considered by epi-
cureans to be the finest in the world.
1t must not be- COMPOUNDED with the
common rabbit, as it. has none of the
strong rank tastet characteristic of the
native rabbit. The meat is snowy
white, delicately favored and very ten
der and is rapidly filling place in the
menues of the most fashionable hotels
and cafes. In England no banquet is
complete without the Belgian nare.
Fo, years the meat has been canned in
England and finds ready sale in this
form. A company is now being formed
in Chicago for furthering this feature
of the Belgian hare traffic.
The meat OF the Belgian hare sells
at; from rs to 40 cents per pound, and
finds very ready sale at that. The.pelts
are used for making what is known as
electric seal fur, and also for manufac-
turing hats, the pelts being So cents
each on the market. \.
Care of the Hare.
The Belgian hare is a very hardy lit
tie animal, and one very economically
kept. A small handful of oats morn
ing and night with a wisp of hay ateach
feed, with plenty of fresh water, is all
that is necessary for their mainten-
ance. The hutches in which they arc
raised are usually two and one-half
feet high, three feet long and two Feet
wide. Cleanliness is one feature of
success in the Belgian hare industry.
The hare is naturally a clean animal,
and with a very little care on the part
of his keeper is, maintained with less
trouble and work than almost any
other kind of meat producer. They
prefer to stay in their hutches which
should be properly screened, thus af-
foIding them sufficient light and air.
They are. very prolific and one doe will
raise on an average of SO per year. In
q properly regulated rabbitry the. hut
ches in which the mother doe is QUAR-
tered is provided with nests and il
not disturbed, the progress of the Little
ones is remarkable.
Ouumwn Belgian Hare Farm.
Mrs, Philpott first engaged in the
business about six months ago On a
very small scale, having purchased
some well bred does from different
parts of the United States. So rap
idly did the stock increase that it soon
became necessary to move to new
quarters where more room could be
secured for the proper care of the
har,ss. The 0ttumwa Belgian hare
farm now consists of four buildings,
each quartering over 100 hares. Each
building is provided with numerous
hutches all constructed on modern
and scientific plans for the best and
proper care of their occupants.
A Courier reporter visited the farm
one day this week, and was indeed
surprised at the extent to which this
business has grown in Ottumwa in
such short time. Some of the hares
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