The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1910-08-05

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~ ONSIDERING the immense
81 quantities of foreign and colo
NAL rabbits which find their
VA y way to our markets, no doubt
need exist that well-managed
rabbit warren can be made to
pay. Whatever the number of con-
signments, the Dummies" are sold at
the wholesale markets, although glut
occurs sometimes, of course. On the
whole, rabbit flesh is sure to find Gus
toners; it is cheap, nutritious, recon-
mended by the faculty for invalids, for
broths, and rabbit cream takes good
ly number in its preparation. Ostend
rabbits are suggestive of cats. at least
to country people, and when game
keeper visits large town the rabbits
which hang outside the poulterers'
shops look very different animals from
the clean-killed ones which he is ac-
customed to handle. The writer has
often heard, and seen in the sporting
papers, queries as to whether war
rem pays. 1t does, and pays well, if
| the lessee, or owner, will look after it
himself
| 1t is When a man or men are hired,
and the labor bill has to be added to
the amount, that profits are lessened.
Taken it as proven that rabbits are
saleable articles, especially in manu-
featuring town, the proper method is
to hire piece of land, the sander
| the better-moorlands and rough grass
lands are best for the purpose-and
the house if possible in the middle
of it. The entire place should be sur
! rounded by five-foot wirework (the
outlay for the wirework is the great
drawback),) sunk eight inches in the
ground. This should be supported by
strong, square posts, to which the wire
should be fastened by staples. The
iron standards sold by all dealers in
wirework should be put in midway be-
tween each two posts, and to these the
wirework should be fastened by wire
ties twisted up neatly with pincers. OF
course, a warren can be made without
the wire; If the rabbits run out over
| the boundary others may also run in.
| 1t cuts both ways; but, if a lease is
| taken, put the wirework down. 1t will
pay in the long run. 1t may be as
sumed that stock of rabbits already
exists on the ground; these will form
| the nucleus Of the prospective rabbit
farm. The new owner had better make
up his mind to cultivate a central piece
of ground. The ordinary farmer al
ways grumbles at the harm rabbits do
| to ordinary crops, but in this case
they pay for the damage by their own
value. Lay out one plot for carrots, Of
which they are extremely fond, and
which add to their health and weight
considerably. Too many turnips are
| apt to cause pot-bellies, If on a small
! ground. The warrener grows for his
rabbits, but he will find that what they
leave him will be sufficient to pay for
seed, labor and leave a balance to
credit. Now let him procure some
young Belgian hare bucks; when
turne- down they need not be much
larger than the ordinary wild comics;
but they soon outgrow them, and it
must be a sine qua non that these i'm
ported animals are for stock, not sale,
and must be left for that purpose two
years at least. The mixed offspring
will show a marked increase of size
and weight, and this is where the wire
work round the border proves itself
profitable. It is no part Of the warren
er's plan to add bulk to his neighbours
rabbits, and this is what he would
most assuredly do if the boundary was
not so protected. One of the most i'm
portant things to note is not to kill
early rabbits-that would be killing
| the goose which lays the golden eggs"
and rabbits do not touch their highest
price until October 1.
The natural increase of rabbits
when protected reminds one of the old
puzzling problem of the horseshoe
nails, the first one at farthing, then
double as you go. One of the principal
tasks on the rabbit farm is the trap
ing of stoats and weasels; 4h-inch
drain pipes are best for this purpose,
placed where rabbits are not able to
run in; these runs are most successful
near water courses and must be ex-
amined every day. A good plan for