The evening times., 1911-08-24

prices and. unrelated trios at $40 to
$3.50. Most extraordinary statements
were made by those having the breed
ing stock for sale as to the marvellous
profits to be made from these fur
coated quadrupeds.
Some thought they saw in the hare
the making Of wonderful meat pro-
ducing industry, and they were right
In that, for perhaps no other animal
has greater ability to reproduce them
selves. Here is about the way fig
ured it from the printed statements:
A trio Of hares, the foundation of the
business, would produce 300 in q year.
The second year their progeny alone
would produce 10000, and the third
year the production would be 3,000,-
900. These hares, three times the
size Of the common jack rabbit, or,
say, two feet long, would give 1,136
miles Of hares II placed end to end.
At the close Of the fourth year there
would be 10000 900 hares, or enough
to span the earth four and a half
times. All from three hares in four
out that way. One year saw my fin
ish.
"'You, see. the does produce a litter
Of young ones every sixty days. 1t
was this eproliflcacy that brought most
Of us into, the fold. The promoters
were so open-faced and frank. They
would come right down to brass tacks
with you by admitting that however
valuable an animal might be, unless
it had the chiefest Of all merits. the
ability to make money, it would have
little interest for the masses. Anr
they, didn't fail to show the money
making propensities of the Belgian.
Fifty per year would be very con-
servative estimate Of what a single
doe would produce. Supposing they
sold for 81 head for meat, that
would be $50 year from one doe
But, should a handsome buck be
among them his increased value
would appreciably swell the profits
:. II one had 100 does and did nothing
more than to cater to the trade Of the
fastidious epicure he would clean UP
something like $1,000 per year, for II
costs very little to rear q Belgian Of
the proper breeding.
Eyes, sir, no one wanted q hare un-
less he was Of pedigreed stock. Just
like Secretary Coburn in urging the
use of better sires in breeding live
stock. 30 the true friends Of the Bel
gian urged that the big money was to
be made only with the higher grade
animals. No one wanted q scrub.
and to crafty this demand for tAe
best the choicest specimens were
carefully selected from those in Eng.
LAND and imported to this country
The classiest Of these were kept only
for stud purposes. The breeding price
Of several bucks that visited thii
country being $50. and the service o.
two, descended from the most aristo.
cratic families. was 500 each.
4 "As much care was given these
blue-blooded Belgians as q societ,
lady would lavish upon her poodle
; Their toilet was made with excruciat
ing care and tenderness. They wefe
bathed in soft water with scented
soap. Their coats were combed AMI
their hair curled, and the most skilfel
chiropodist were employed. When Lex
out for dress parade pink or lavender
baby ribbons were tied about theil
lnecks. They were q prominent fea
ture Of the premium lists and attrac
tions at the fairs. and rich prizes wer'
hung up. Needless to say the com
lpetition was keen, and the prize-win
ming rabbit would be worth fortun,
las 2 herd-header for breeding pur
Iposes. i
'The promoters even issued i,
standard Of. perfection for judSinl
their merits. Some requirement.
Iwefe that their. color must bs q ricl
rufus red, carried we'll down the side,
and headquarters. and as little whit
kundsf the jaws AZ possible; In shape
the body should be long. thick. wei
tucked mp flank. and we'll ribbed up
hack slightly arched; loins vel