The Hope pioneer., 1920-08-26

this kind of food and consequently not
willing to pay prices that would war
rant the raising of rabbits for the
table. Lately, however. people here
and there have very quietly taken up
rabbit raising. first for home use then
for marketing. to supply an actual
need for meat. City and suburban
dwellers now are raising rabbits in
back yards. Although the production
vet is comparatively small, it is steadi-
~ increasing.
In certain localities in California.
Oregon, Washington. Colorado. Kansas.
Missouri, Michigan and several other
States the domesticated rabbit is rec
ogniZel as regular meat animal. Rab-
bits are either shipped to market alive
in crates or are neatly dressed ready
for cooking and packed in sanitary
manner for transportation.
The first object in rabbit raising. is
to supply home needs. and, according
to specialists Of the bureau of biologi-
cal survey of the United States de-
partment of agriculture, this is a
proposition for turning to account
time, space. and materials which ordi-
narily would be wasted. AS such it
appeals very strongly to prudent peo-
ple. If one be inclined to disdain
domesticatel rabbits on account of
experience with wild rabbits. he should
know that the latter. as sold in butch
er shops, are not to be compared with
tender young hutch rabbits. The flesh
of the tame rabbit is highly nutri-
tious and desirable food, resembling
somewhat the white meat of chicken.
Wherever it has been introduced in
the markets it has become popular and
the demand for it has steadily in
creased.
Deal Only With Reputable Breeders.
The favorite OF long standing, both
in American and in Europe, is the
Belgian hare. 1t develops rapidly,
furnishes meat that is white and ten
lcr, and. as it has small bones. makes
ess waste than do the larger breeds.
The selection of stock. however. is
.hicfly a matter of taste, although it
nay he influenced more or less by the
markets to Re supplied. For example.
he family table would demand snail
ar animals than would the trade Of
restaurant or hotel. 1t is best, say
department specialists. to begin with
only one breed and to concentrate on
developing that into stock that may
he a source of pride and profit.
One buck and two or three does are
enough to start with. Young animals
of breeding age are better than ohler
ones, which will soon be past their
usefulness. 1t is always best to deal
with reputable breeders and to exam
inc the stock before buying it. When
rabbits are ordered by mail, it should
be on condition that they may be re-
turned Immediately if not found to he
as represented. The rabbit industry
has suffered greatly from unscrupu-
lous advertising Misrepresentation as
to the origin of stock and as to its
quality have been common, and novices
in rabbit breeding often have been de-
ceived.
The cost of starting rabbitry de-
pends on it's size and the price of
material. Hutches for animals may
vary in cost from few cents each.
the price of an empty dry-goods box,
to several dollars if expended for
dressed lumber to be put together by
q carpenter On a farm where usually
odds and ends of lumber and poultry
netting are available and where hay,
grain and milk are produced In abun-
dance the money cost of starting and
'arrying on q small rabbitry is negli'