The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-10-20
HIS LORDSHIP THE
BELGIAN HARE.
By
A. ]. ALLARD.
(Written for The Times.)

The iittle red Belgian hare as a fancy
pet animal has apparently come to stay.
This conclusion is based upon the growth
Of the many hundreds OF fins rabbitries in
almost every section of America. 1t has
been wondered and repea tedly asked why
many prominent business men, who We're
never known to exhibit any admiration
for other hobbies, are now ardent adj
mirers OF the Belgian hare. The reason
is easy to explain in that the hobby is
one of a quiet nature, and can be main
tanned in the carriage house or in any
small SPACE about the abode Of man or
women whose residences are usually To-
Gated in the midst of populate ted districts
where almost any other hobby would De
excluded.
Then, again, the lover Of rabbits thor
oughiy understands what the excellence
of form of the true Belgian should be,
and appreciates the same difference OF
quality as do lovers of the pure-bred
fowl, horse, CT dog.
1t requires but a few minutes time IN
caring for the RABBITS, and the expense
for fe II is not large, making good deal
to their credit as fancy
The advancement made by the Belgian
over the other variety of rabbits is IN the
advantage of pedigree breeding. One can
watch the DEVELOPMENT of various quail
ties from the progeny of known ancestry
with intense interest, and n1uch pleasure
is also had in keeping the line breeding
true to name and strain.
One big Chicago packer is said to nave
stated that he is ready to begin canning
Belgian hare meat just as soon as he
can see a supply of meat stock sufficient
~ large enough to keep his plant running.
In Europe tons of Belgian hare meat Is
canned annually, and finds a ready sale.
Ask a French chef in any American hotel
about the Belgian hare abroad. and he
will tell you at once that it Is an extreme
ly popular article of diet across the big
pond.
The exploitation OF the Belgian hare by
men of capital and energy is something
upon which the small breeder may con-
graduate himself. for ne viii get the
benefit Of the big concerns advertising
A new food product is one of the hardest
things to introduce. but once its popu-
larty is achieved it becomes one OF the
BEST sources of income.
People who get taste of the Belgian
hare demand It constantly. The capital-
lists will get the public to eating the meat
Cat great expense in advertising and
sampling n necessary. and the small
breeder will get the benefit Of the demand
that VIII thus be created. Almost any
small breeder can find a market for the
meat now if he will but do a little judi
cious samplins among the people he wants
to reach.
81 breeders get culs ont of their stock
that are not up to the mark of f.'ncv breed
ing. High grade Ee'e.ans make the best
meat stock. h.t rcints ate vafueiess, Of
course. With t.,s high Grade animals
the ZONES are smaller and the meat bet
ter. More pounds Of meat for tho same
Z cost can be secured than with scrubs
DO not get the words cul1s and scrubs
mixed. The former means the product
Of fine pedigreed animals. weak on points
The latter means the product of big
honed. run down stock. Scrubs are the
kind you don't want. even for meat breed
Ing.