52 NATURE AXD ITS 



I have had bucks that weighed fourteen pounds each, and 

 have raised hares ever since I was a boy. My nick name 

 was *' Rabbits " at one time. I could sell them at $1 each at 

 the market and the Sprague Commission Co., will buy all 

 you send them at SI each, or ten cents per pound. But they 

 cannot get any, although they have a demand for them so 

 Mr. Sprague told me personally. 



I can sell all I want for breeding purposes at $5.00 per 

 pair, and up to $25.00 per pair. If they are standard bred, 

 have four red feet, good in color and shape ticking, length 

 of body, and golden under color, they sell from $25.00 to 

 8100.00 each. 



But all in all the market will pay, and pay well; and if 

 you want to go in on a small scale, try them. A small yard 

 or house will do, but on a large scale, for market and breed- 

 ers, it will not. unless you provide a large yard and follow 

 nature. 



It costs three cents per pound to feed hares, and you sell 

 them for the market at the weight of eight pounds at ten 

 cents per pound. You get eighty cents for each hare, and it 

 costs you twenty-four cents for feed. One hare will net you 

 fifty-six cents, and one pair of hares will raise seventy-five 

 in one year; so you see it pays. One pair can make you 

 easily fifty dollars per year, figuring all cost and feed, etc. 



As the young will start breeding when they are six 

 months old, one pair will really raise one hundred and fifty 

 hares, if you understand your business. It certainly can be 

 done. 



It is no fad. It is an industry. They will be raised just 

 like poultry, hogs and cattle for one hundred years to come. 



The young should be weaned when four to six weeks 

 old, and fed very light, and not very much green food. 



Never handle them by the ears. Take them by the neck 

 or just over the shoulders. They are too heavy to be hand- 

 by the ears, and it makes the ears lop when handled in 

 that manner. 



They are a fine looking animal, of a golden red looking 

 color, with black tips on their hair, called ticking. 



