28 PET RABBITS, CAV1ES, AND MICE. 



be made o pay into the bargain ? The answer is 

 Certainbdj Since we last wrote upon this subject much 

 has ha|j|^ned. There is no American market open, 

 through which rabbits can be disposed of at such 

 fabulous prices as ,25, ^30, and even ^55 (the top 

 figure ever realised). But recently we have come across 

 a case in which ^"17 was paid in one show for two young 

 rabbits, and ,5, ,6, ,10, and even 20 is no unusual 

 price paid in England to-day for good specimens. 

 These are fancy prices, but actually realized. It is not 

 on this ground alone that we say rabbits can be made to 

 pay. Let us take more modest premises. Our book 

 has not to do with rabbit farming. But we have in our 

 mind the owner of a stud of well bred and carefully 

 selected rabbits, and we say he can realize the pleasure 

 of a hobby, and make that hobby pay into the bargain. 

 How ? In this way. To begin with there is always a 

 market the food market for his wastrels, and this, 

 in a stock of any size will go far to cover the food bill. 

 Then there are the sales of the breeders at prices some- 

 times of 73. 6d., ios., and i each. Added to these are 

 the show specimens. One of the best ways to keep the 

 thing going is to be continually weeding out. Never 

 keep a lot of old, used-up does and bucks. They eat 

 their heads off and bring no return. It is of no use our 

 telling fairy tales on such a practical subject. To make 

 rabbits pay, a great deal of energy, plenty of persever- 

 ence, advertising, showing, and winning need to be 

 done. It will not pay to give high prices for pedigree 

 stock in order to sell the produce at food market price. 

 What you need is to get the best, work upon a principle 

 in breeding, and seize the opportunity for disposal when 

 it offers itself. Exhibiting of itself hardly ever pays 

 after all the outgoings are reckoned. But exhibiting 

 brings renown, and people buy anything on the strength 

 of renown ! The country dweller has far better chances 

 than the one who lives in a large town. Food is 

 cheaper. In the country it costs little or nothing for 

 green food or bedding. In the town these are strong 

 items in the expenditure. And yet we have known men 

 in towns make a nice profit out of their rabbits. Not 

 long since we heard a popular judge say he could make 

 more by breeding, buying, and selling, than he did by 

 judging, etc., if he gave up the one and took to the 



