Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1910-08-11

II Its inspectors saw what the WrlteT
has seen in his time, this cruelty would
be put an immediate stop to. The
keeper has to trap In the runs made
for stoats, weasels and rats; but all
these marauders will bite flercely and
fight when caught, are rightly termed
vermin, and must be exterminated a.
such. Another important matter Is
the dressing Of the ground stO,r the
seasons killing, to sweeten It. An
equal mixture of slaked lime and rock.
salt broken fine Is one Of the best for
the purpose; after a few rains have
fallen on It II the soil is benefited i'm
mensely. II the warren is on a peaty
soil, peat burned to ashes and the re-
sultant spread well over the ground
serves the same purpose.
An excellent addition to the warren
er's income IL provided by planting
fruit trees at regular intervals; but
these must be carefully protected dur
ing hard weather by rabbit-proof net
ting, otherwise rabbits vii gnaw the
bark and kill the trees. The fallen
fruit will be appreciated by "Brer
Rabbit" and will keep him in health;
and It will be found that the gathered
fruit will provide q good round sum
to credit, especially as years go on.
The area Of a rabbit farm, OF course
depends upon circumstances. Moor
land and heath or any poor land re-
quires a larger acreage to carry a
given head Of rabbits. The grass lands
are eminently suitable for this pur-
pose. Easy reach Of good markets
is q most important consideration
and, while on this topic, the writer
would draw attention to fact which
applies to winged game as well as to
rabbits. Never attempt to find q mar
ket in an arIstocratic residential town;
failing the metropolis, pick manufac-
turing city II possible. These are
the places where game Of all sorts
commands tip-top prices. In the for
mer description Of town 1t Is true q
higher class Of people reside, but they
have generally friends and relatives
who have shoots and who send them
presents of game and rabbits, and, be-
sides this, the gentlemen OF such lam
lilies are asked here and there to
shoot, generally bringing home brace
or leash of birds shot by themselves
Tor some one else); consequently
game does not find so good a market
as where manufacturers, their man.
ayers. clerks and foremen reside. The
rabbit farmer should approach relia-
BILE game dealer some time before his
killing season comes on and get him to
name q top price per dozen for the
rabbits, explaining that they are war
rem bred and preserved, and heavy In
weight through the Belgian hare
blood introduced. Also that they VIII
be all clean killed, for the best plan
In this direction is to bolt the rabbits
into purse nets with ferrets, and IN
passing we may note that the breed
ing and sale of ferrets can easily be
made a profitable adjunct to the rab-
bit warren. The method OF killing
leads US directly to the question OF
earths. artificial or naturally formed.
The writer has found that good plan
"a to tin heaps of sand or1oam In DIFF
ferent parts of the warren, forming
hillocks. and to scatter over them
grass seeds, which can be gathered IN
plenty from the hay lofts Of stables;
the grass soon sprouts after q shower
of rain. and when the earth settles the
Dummies win form their burrows with
ont helm from anyone. In digging out
rabbits, It win be found that leaving
good openings and scattering the bot
tom soil brought up all over the ad'
jacent ground benefits It immensely.
The first year alone win show mar.
gin of profit; but providing a sufhcient
stock Is allowed to remain, 1t Is the
following years which pay well Lei
the legitimate killing season be rigor-
ously observed from October to
February /, and the writer win guar
antee satisfactory results. This allows
four months for killing and eight
months for breeding.
February rabbits are mostly does In
kindle. and each one Of these DESTROYED
means q severe loss 70 the raooN
farmer for next season. and, besides
such animals are rightly regarded as
unit for food. II any person works on
this system, rabbit warren is one Of
the most paying Investments for q
country resident to take up. The Wri-
ter Is acquainted with a man near
shefheid Who has a large quantity Of
rabbits on similar lines to these ad.
vissd. in an old disused quarry. apd
he makes the business pay ven Al
depends upon commonssnse IN this
br1lns.1. a "a 90 others. where In
iolsrt 3 lrken. success q nsar %
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