133 REMIXISCEXCES OF A SPOETSMAX. 



who each have some degree of interest in keeping 

 up a plentiful stock of rabbits on the estate. The 

 gamekeeper I consider the first of the class, the 

 lady of the house the second, and the third the cook. 

 I have ah'eady stated convincing reasons why the game- 

 keeper is unwilling to shoot or trap these mischievous 

 animals, except for himself. The lady of the house* is 

 anxious to have them, as they contribute so greatly to 

 the supply of the family; and the cook, for the sake of the 

 skin, which, in the season, are worth three pence each. 

 But the gentleman's wife has a very faint idea of the 

 damage done by the rabbits to her husband's woods and 

 plantations, more especially in a severe winter, when 

 they bark the trees.f 



Having, described the mischievous effects of having 

 a landed estate overstocked with rabbits, I will, as 

 I think I am bound to do, say something in their 

 favour. The manure of this animal, when collected in 

 sufficient quantities, has been favourable to the crops 



on some lands. The late Mr. F , who was esteemed 



one of the best practical gentleman farmers in England, 

 and who, with the late Lord Somerville, introduced 

 the merino sheep into this country, on account of 

 the fine quality of their wool, had a large barn, every 



* Excellent white soup is made from rabbits. Boiled rabbits vrith. 

 onions, or made into a curry, are favourite dishes ; a roast rabbit 

 comes in -well for a second course, and rabbits, half-grown, cut up and 

 fried with parsley and butter, are particularly palatable, to say nothing 

 of rabbit pies for the parlour or the servants' hall. 



t The tarred rope, which should be put round the lower part of the 

 tree, would not require to be so high as that to protect them from the 

 hares, particularly if there are few of the latter. 



In a small property, Wheatley, in Oxfordshire, during the winter 

 of 1857-58 one thousand rabbits were killed. 



