338 FARMING FOR LADIES, [chap. xvi. 



Looking, as we ever do, in estimating com- 1 

 parative value, to the cost of producing any 

 thing, we then inquired of a gentleman who 

 exhibited some fine specimens, what might be 

 their value ; and learned that he had, the day 

 before, sold a very young pair to a fi-iend, as 

 a favour, for five pounds ; but, on expressing 

 our surprise, he introduced the gainer of the 

 prize, who, it seems, purchased the rabbit, 

 some time before, at the price of eighteen 

 guineas ! It has been said of the Smithfield 

 Club, that the beasts there exhibited cost 

 more in the feeding than they are worth, 

 and we think the observation may, with at 

 least equal truth, be applied to the breeds of 

 long-eared rabbits. I 



The rabbit is liable to very few diseases 

 except the dropsy and rot of the liver ; both j 

 not improbably occasioned by too much 

 watery green food, in which case they be- 

 come pot-bellied, and can seldom be cured ; 

 though the malady may be remedied if taken 

 in time, or altogether prevented by giving the 

 creature plenty of hay, corn, boiled potatoes, 

 or substantial dry food. The animal is, how- 

 ever, of too little value to be worth the trouble 



