116 THREE ACRES AND LIBERTY 



should clear $2 a year from each pair of birds, provided he 

 starts with well-mated pure Homer stock." Pigeons are 

 particular about their mates, and will rather go single than 

 take a disagreeable partner. 



Raising Belgian hares at one time promised to be a most 

 profitable industry. The Belgian hare is a distant relation 

 of the ordinary rabbit. Its flesh is white, close-grained, 

 and tender, resembling the legs of the frog, and has a very 

 savory flavor. It is considered by many superior to poultry, 

 and the rapidity with which they breed gave promise of 

 fortunes. The doe brings forth a litter of about eleven 

 every sixty days, and with prices ranging from $1.50 to $2.50, 

 as they were about the year 1900, with the cost of raising 

 from thirty to forty cents, the reason for this promise is 

 evident. In Southern California thousands turned their 

 attention to it, and some firms entered the business with 

 equipment to the value of fifty thousand dollars. 



Besides the ordinary market prices realized for the hares, 

 some went extensively into breeding fancy stock, and real- 

 ized from $50 to $250 apiece for them. 



This industry had indications of becoming extensive 

 and enduring, but by 1900 so many went into the business 

 that the markets became glutted and prices fell with dis- 

 astrous effect. 



Whether it will pay you depends largely on the attitude 

 of your customers toward the hare as a food product. 



Bee-keeping offers an interesting and remunerative field 

 of employment. More than the average living awaits those 

 only who will make a careful and intelligent study of bees 

 and their habits and will give them the proper care and 

 attention. 



One need not be a practical bee-keeper to enter this field. 



