The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1904-08-11
CALIFORNIA is a land of
plenty. Nature has dlstrlb-
h uted her bounty with alavish

noted tor her scenery, neI giant
trees. her unexcelled climate, her
fruit and wines and the richness
of her mineral deposits. These
things California has in abundance:
but Providence in it's wisdom has
tempered it's blessings with several
affections, of which the long cared
lack rabbit is by no means the
least. The great stretches of un-
fenced and desert land in the GEN.
trail and southern parts of Califor-
MIA are literally alive with : this
obnoxious pest, and the fruit
growers are constantly warning
: against the troublesome jacks.
The rabbit drive is one of the
methods used in keeping the long
cared population from increasing
too rapidly. Rabbit, drives are
INDUCED in to some extent in other
parts of this country, but Califor-
MIA probably carries out the drives
on a grander scale than any OF her
neighbors. Preparations are be-
gun weeks in advance The towns
for miles around join in making
the event success. Spring is the
time usually chosen, and the entire
affair is arranged and carried out
with as much attention to detail
as would be given to an: engage
ment in actual warfare. The first
thing to be done is. to build the
pen. A spot is chosen on some
large barren piece Of ground and
circular pen of rabbit prooffenc-
ing is constructed. A "slloot," or
runway, is built leading into this
pen and line Of fence is extended
from each side of the runway for
several miles. The whole affair
forms huge trap in the shape of
d triangle, with the base open. and
che pen at the apex.
Then comes the first drive. A
few men, perhaps fifty, form line
several miles away from the base
of the trap, and armed with shot
guns, they advance slowly towards
the pen driving the rabbits before
them. This shotgun drive is for
the purpose of punching as many
rabbits as possible in the territory
to be gone over by the real drive,
which takes place the following
day. The day Of the real drive is
an exciting one. Carriages and
wagons of all descriptions drive
wildly about the streets; hotel vans,
stages and hayracks display ban
ners informing the public that
they carry passengers to the scene
of operations; while others have
bundles of small baseball bats,
also for sale. No guns are allowed
at this drive; the club is the sole
weapon.
The last drive l attended oc-
Cured in the San Joaquin valley.
Armed with two stout clubs, prop
erly balanced that they might be
easily thrown, [ took my seat in a
hotel bus, which for the sum of
one dollar was to carry me to the
drive and back. There were eigh-
teen of us in the rig, and with one
exception each carried club. The
exception was very dignified old
gentleman with very large. waist
band and beautiful high hat
He was tourist and came only to
look on. We drove ten or twelve
miles over hard, level roads and
finally reached our position. Car
riages on all sides of us formed a
ten-mile line extending in a semi
circle from one wing of the trap
to the other. All we're waiting
for the word to start. At last it
came. A mounted patrole galloped
along the line waving us forward,
and we we're off. The men and