Live Stock.- Rabbits Breeds of employed in Warrens. 745 



of rabbit-warrens can feldom, if ever, be eftablifhed with advantage. The hazard 

 and uncertainty of rabbit-management is conftantly fo great, that it is fafer for 

 the farmer to depend upon even moderate crops of either of the above kinds than 

 this. It is only the light, barren, fandy forts of land, in fuch declivities and other 

 Situations as cannot be brought under the plough, and which cannot be converted 

 to the purpofe of paflure even for fheep, which is in general the proper applica 

 tion of fuch lands, that rabbit -hufbandry is proper to be undertaken upon. 



The breeds of this animal are various ; but thofe chiefly employed in warrens 

 are moftly either the common gray breed or the filver-gray breed ; the former is mod 

 valuable in regard to hardinefs and flefh, but the latter in refpect to fkin. The 

 fur of the firftfort, w.hich is the moft prevalent, is chiefly employed in the hat- 

 manufactories , while the fkins in the latter cafes are in common drefied as furs for 

 the China market, and are in general nearly double the value of thofe of the other 

 fort. 



This fort of ftock, when turned into the land intended for the warren, foon 

 provide themfelves, habitations, by preparing holes and burrowing in the more dry, 

 light, fandy, and elevated parts, where they fafely lodge and propagate their 

 young. 



In fome warrens in Lincolnfhire they (lock in the proportion of three couple 

 to the acre, but in other cafes confiderably more. One buck is fufficient for a 

 hundred does. 



It is necefTary to have the warrens well inclofed ; not only for the purpofe of 

 preventing the flock from ftraying and being deflroyed, but to prevent their being 

 annoyed by different forts of vermin. This is effected in different methods, ac 

 cording to circumftances, as by walls or paling; but, from the great expenfe of 

 thefe fences, more commonly by fod, earth, and turf mounds, or banks and 

 fences coped, or kidded on the top by furze, thorns, or other forts of brum-wcod. 

 This fencing, with that of nets and traps, conftitut.es the great expenfe of rabbit- 

 hufbandry ; which, when added to thofe of charcoal for drying the fkins, war- 

 reners, men for killing and carrying, horfe-hire, &c. is very confiderable. 



Befides this, though rabbit-flock demands, on the whole, but little regard, in 

 fevere winter feafons it is neceflary to provide them with additional food, fuch as 

 hay, turnips, clover, faintfoin, and other flmilar kinds, to be difperfed about in the 

 warrens. Turnips are the befl fort of food in mows, as the rabbits can find them 

 by the fcent. From two to three large cartsfull will be fufficient to fodder a thou- 



II. &amp;lt; C 



