322 THE COMPLETE SHOT 



plastering, and enables both near shots and long ones to be 

 taken. It was the load used with Schultze powder when the 

 bag above mentioned was made. Perhaps it is not correct to 

 talk of a bag of rabbits when such wilful slaughter occurs. 

 There must have been between seven and eight tons of rabbits 

 for that one day's work. 



If rabbits come out from a covert to feed in a rough banky 

 grass field, one that will afford good sport if the rabbits lie out 

 in it, this can be brought about by means of wire netting, the 

 lower part of which is set so as to fall by the pulling of a string. 

 However, half the fun is lost when rabbits are shot out of 

 woods. This plan for keeping the beasts out of their coverts is 

 perhaps more useful in snow when the trees are in danger, and 

 when, too, the rabbits highly appreciate the hay in the sheep 

 racks. Indeed, feeding with 5 worth of hay would often save 

 500 worth of young trees. 



The enclosing of warrens with wire netting is a simple 

 matter, and the principle should be that rabbits can get in but 

 cannot get out. This is easy enough to arrange. There must be 

 turned-in wire at both the top and bottom, and turned-out wire at 

 the bottom. This rests on the ground, and there is no need to put 

 it underneath. About 6 inches of turning-in is enough. Three 

 feet 6 inches is about the best height for wire, although if 

 the ground is quite flat probably 3 feet and an over-lap of 

 6 inches to prevent climbing from the inside is enough. Then if, 

 on the outside in several places, a wall of turf is built as high 

 as the fencing, and a single turf is laid as a lead on to the over- 

 lay of netting, rabbits will enter freely, but will not get out 

 again. It is thought best to use graduated wire, very small at 

 the ground in order to keep in the young ones, but it may be 

 that the warrener will wish the young ones to fare the best, and 

 in that case, if the crops outside permit, it may be a help to the 

 young rabbits to let them escape through netting that keeps in 

 the old ones. They will all come in again some time by means 

 of the external turf walls, and then, having grown big, will have 

 to remain. 



