FARMERS ASSISTANT. U 



jKahbit is worth thrice the value of the carcase. Therefore, 

 supposing the Rabbit to consume a quantity of food in pro- 

 portion to its carcase, it is a species of stock nearly three 

 times as valuable as either cattle or Sheep, 



Rabbit-warrens ought to be enclosed with a stone or sod 

 wall ; and at their first stocking it will be necessary to form 

 burrows for them, until they have time to make them for 

 themselves. Boring the ground horizontally with a large 

 augur is, perhaps, the best method that can be practised* 

 Eagles, kites, and other birds of prey, as well as cats, wea? 

 sels, and polecats, are great enemies of Rabbits. The Nor- 

 folk Warreners catch the birds by traps placed on the tops 

 of stumps or trees, or artificial hillocks of conical form, on 

 which they naturally alight.' Encyclofi. 



Would not the rearing of Rabbits be profitable in this 

 Country ? We have no eagles or kites to molest them ; 

 they breed very rapidly; their food is cheap and easily pro- 

 vided. A fence to enclose a warren can be made of boards, 

 at no great expense, which will keep out cats and polecats; 

 and as for weasels, we have but very few of them in this 

 Country. 



RADISH ( Rafihanus ) This root being liable to be 

 eaten by worms, she following method is recommended for 

 raising them : Take equal quantities of buckwheat-bran, 

 and fresh horsedung, and mix them well and plentifully in 

 the ground by diging. Suddenly after this a great ferment- 

 ation will be produced, arid numbers of toadstools will start 

 up in forty-eight hours. Dig the ground over again and 

 sow the setcl, and the radishe* will grow with great rapidity 

 and be free from the attacks of insects. They will grow 

 uncommonly large. Buckwheat-bran is an excelent manure 

 of itself, 



RATS. These are unprofitable for the Farmer to main* 

 tain, and the sooner he disposes of them the better. For 

 this purpose, the most effectual method is to give them 

 arsenic. Set some plates where the Rats frequent, with a 

 little, wheat flour put into them 5 let them bait on this for 

 two or three nights; then add a little arsenic to the flour, 

 mix it well together, and place it as before, and they will 

 eat it very readily, which will soon dispatch them. When 

 this dose is administered, care should be taken to cover the 

 milk- pans and whatever else they can drink at, as the arse- 

 we occasions a burning thirst, which induces them to go in, 

 quest of whatever will quench it. Perhaps it would be as 

 well to set some water for fhem to drink, at pro'pet; 

 places. 



