The Calumet news., 1912-08-06
,CopyrighL)

drawn upon for a supply, but from
10000 TO $4,000 are imported annually
partly from the continent. but in great
EST numbers from Australia and New
\ Zealand.
| In France. Holland and Belgium rab-
bits are common article of diet and
especially where the land holdings are
small Spain also produces many do
mestic rabbits. Whether the European
animal is superior as food To the wild
cottontail OF this country is a matter
Of individual taste
The Belgian hare is really only a do
mesticated rabbit that has been bred
Tor long time with special reference
10 its value as food. II was supposed
10 be "A cross between the rabbit and
The wild hare but that theory seems
10 have been disproved by many unsuc-
cessful efforts TO produce the same
cross. The reason for calling il a Bel
gian hare was doubtless its color.
In the hands of English fanciers the
Belgian hare was greatly improved and
ii is still popular breed with them,
although the fad for 1t never reached
the acute stage shown later among
American breeders. The animal was
introduced into this country over TWEEN.
~ years ago. and within a few yeas
its popularity became astounding. The
finest show animals commanded enor-
nous prices and extraordinary claims
were made as TO the excellence % the
breed for a table.
AS was natural, when the reaction
came and the public found out that the
Belgian hare is a rabbit not mucn su-
perior TO other kinds, the animal wGs
uniustly condemned. As a consequence
according to a bulletin issued by the
department of agriculture, the whole
business of breeding domestic rabbits
in the United States has for the past
few years been much neglected.
In spite of the set back caused by
the collapse Of the Belgian hare buD-
BILE. this breed has maintained "a great
er popularity than any other and many
pitfhtio dA' sum ldiSiiiB IL
lsh giant owing To its greater size. rs
preferred by some The fact tha; rah-
bits are easily grown and are "A cheap
and excellent substitute for the ordin-
airy meats is likely To turn the atten-
tion Of many more persons To rearing
the animals. That they can be propa-
gated without costly investment in land
and buildings is peculiar advantage.
Further. the presence on the farm of
another animal which, like poultry,
may be killed and prepared for the
table entire and at short notice, is eX-
stances make IL extremely probable
that the business of rearing rabbits
viii grow in Importance The ten
dency in this direction is evidenced by
the increasing number of inquiries
about the management of agriculture.
to the Belgian hare.
An enormous trade in rabbit skins is
carried on abroad Throughout Eur
ope practically all the skins of mar
keted rabbits are saved The number
produced In Great britain and Ireland
is estimated at about 90 600 900 anIlua.-
ly; while, according 10 the English
trade returns for 1910. there were inn
ported during that year undressed rab-
bit skins 10 the number of S2,c3T,-
lOl.
OF these over 100000 came from
Belgium, nearly 100000 from France,
upward OF 43.OOO.OOO from Australia
and 1879. $50 from New Zealand.
Most of the skins are sold in bales
by weight and only the fur from them
is utilized in making felts and other
cloths. The better skins command
good prices and are made up into gar
ments IN imitation of more costly furs
Skins Of Arctic hares and white rob
bits are used 10 initiate ermine and
Arctic fox. Skins of Angora and sill
Yer gray rabbits sometimes sell for
shilling or more each. Belgian hare
skins are usually dyed to initiate foN
or the so-called black lynx" They are
worth several cents each when uniform.