1900 



GIvEANINGS IN BBE CULTURK. 



687 



six to fifteen eggs pass from the ovary at each 

 ovulation, and thus we see that from six to 

 fifteen young may be born at each parturition. 

 The period of gestation, or "kindUng, " as it 

 is called by the rabbit-fanciers — that is, the 

 time from mating to parturition — is thirty 

 days. As ovulation may take place in four 

 days after birth of young, it will be seen that 

 eight or more litters may be produced in a 

 year. As the number of young ranges from 

 six to fifteen, we readily understand how it is 

 that the animals are so exceptionally prolific. 

 The young rabbits nurse for about six weeks, 

 so that, if the mother is again mated in thirty 

 days from the time of giving birth to her 

 young, she may have a rest period for two 

 weeks before giving birth to another litter. 

 "While, as we have said, the males are virile at 

 four months, they should not be used before 

 eight months old, when one good buck will be 

 sufiicient for twenty-five does. As the males 

 get older they are apt to become bunchy or 

 choppy, and so some of the best breeders rec- 

 ommend that males be used only between the 

 ages of eight months and two years. I do not 

 believe this is a good rule to follow. If a per- 

 son has an exceptionally good male I think 

 such male should be used, even though it did 

 become somewhat unshapely. From the gen- 



PRINCE YUKON, OWNED BY S. N. KEMP, LOS ANGELES. 



eral laws of breeding I should suppose that he 

 would still continue to transmit his good 

 points, and would not disappoint his owner. I 

 think no one objects to breeding does from 

 the time he commences, when the doe is eight 

 months old, till they are three or more years 

 of age. If I remember correctly, the prize- 

 winner, Lady Britten, not only took the cup 

 at the Palace two years in succession, but also 

 won the prize among old does the third year. 



The principles that apply in breeding Belgi- 

 an hares are the same that hold among other 

 animals. It pays well to begin with good 

 stock. As the male is half the herd it is espe- 

 cially desirable that only good bucks be se- 

 cured. Though it is not so necessary that all 

 the does be of good quality, yet it is doubtless 

 very wise to start with a fine strain of does. 

 The cost of a single animal, even of the expen- 

 sive strains, is not so very great but that it 

 will easily be repaid in a very short time by 



the added value given to each of the very nu- 

 merous progeny. In such breeding we may 

 well remember the proverb, "Well begun is 

 half done." The prospective breeder should 

 study the animal till he fixes in his mind an 

 exact picture of what he desires to produce. 

 He should then select and mate his animals 

 that he may reach his ideal in the quickest 

 time. While it is always best to breed from 

 excellent stock, there is danger, as in all oth- 

 er breeding, in following too close in-breed- 

 ing. While this may produce very fine (and 

 in many respects wonderful ) results, there is 

 great danger of producing animals with less- 

 ened vigor and impaired constitution. 



I think there is no question but that the 

 Belgian-hare industry will go well with that 

 of bee-keeping. It is found well to call a halt 

 in breeding during the hot months. Thus, 

 while the apiarist is most occupied there may 

 be a let-up in the care required among the rab- 

 bits. Any way, the best proof of the pudding 

 is in the eating, and I know of some bee- 

 keepers who have made rabbit production a 

 very great success, and have used it to tide 

 over the discouraging failures in their apiaries 

 during years of drouth and consequent honey 

 famine. I believe it will pay bee-keepers who 

 wish to add some other pursuit to that already 

 adopted to study up the Bel- 

 gian-hare industry. 



That this business has 

 merit appears in the fact that 

 though hardly more than a 

 dozen years old in America, 

 it has already assumed ex- 

 ceeding proportions. While 

 attracting not a little atten- 

 tion in the East, yet, owing 

 to the more genial climate 

 of Colorado and California, 

 the business has made un- 

 paralleled growth in these 

 latter States. I think the 

 first association was organ- 

 ized in Denver, while now 

 there are many associations 

 and clubs in California. 

 That the business has been 

 unduly boomed, there can 

 be very little doubt. Already a reaction seems 

 to have set in, if we may judge by the lessen- 

 ed price paid for this savory meat. Chickens 

 are grown everywhere, and by almost every- 

 body; yet dressed chickens sell in many places 

 for 15 cents per pound. If dressed rabbit meat 

 can be produced, as I have been assured, at 9 or 

 10 cents per pound, is it not almost certain 

 that rabbit-raising will become a reliable busi- 

 ness, and rabbit meat a staple food product in 

 all our markets ? I believe we may look for- 

 ward with considerable confidence to such an 

 outcome. The excellence of the meat, the 

 health and vigor of the animals, the ease with 

 which they can be bred and reared, and their 

 startling fecundity, all would seem to indicate 

 that the business has come to stay. I know 

 very shrewd business men who have put thou- 

 sands of dollars into it. The fact, too, that a 

 person may commence in a small way at a 

 very slight expense, and grow so quickly into 



