[The Secretary read the following letter he had received from Mr. 

 James Wilson, of Oatlands, but before doing so remarked that he had 

 much pleasure in bringing it before the meeting. It showed how the 

 plague of rabbits, in a part of the country, too, peculiarly affected by 

 it, was so far abated as to be no longer a nuisance. And it also shewed 

 what astonishing results could be effected by skill and energy when 

 properly directed, even under such an adverse and apparently fatal con- 

 dition as the want of capital. Under the circumstances described, and 

 the same would no doubt apply to many a district in Tasmania, it ap- 

 peared ver}'- possible for the farmer, even without capital, not only 

 to pay rent from the beginning, but also to make such profits subse- 

 quently as would enable him to live comfortably, and add continuously 

 to the value and extent of his property. He (Dr. Agnew), however, 

 should not say that no capital was necessary, for skill, energy and 

 perseverance were capital in themselves and were essential to success. 



" Ashgrove, 



" February 25th, 1873. 



** Dear Sir, — Some time ago I promised to let you know how far 

 Mr, Burbury and myself had succeeded in destroying the rabbits on 

 the Estate at Lowe's Park. Of course you are aware of the state many 

 of thebest properties were in from the number of rabbits on them, and 

 among the number was the estate we rented. It was so overrun that 

 many looked upon us with pity, to think that we should waste our 

 time and energy on such a place. As to capital we could not lose, hav- . 

 ing started with nothing. The idea of growing grain was laughed at. 

 Now Sir, the result ? Why you may ride through the worst place for 

 rabbits and not see one. I seldom see more than two or three in a couple 

 of hours' ride, and that where two years ago you could see one on every 

 square yard. In fact the shepherd cannot get enough to keep his dogs, 

 and he told me the other day that he would have to part with some, 

 as they could not get enough for them. You will want to know how 

 we got rid of them. In the first place we poisoned great numbers with 

 strychnine, but when grass got green they did not care for baits, then 

 we netted great quantities where they were thick, and snared also. 

 Lastly we opened the runs to persons willing to hunt, and who were 

 not likely to do any damage. These were the means we used, and 

 persevered in till we succeeded in so reducing their numbers that they 

 do us no hurt. 



*' I must also tell you that they have not eaten all the grain crops as 

 some persons were expecting. 



"This year about 600 acres are reaped, and about 8,000 to 9,000 

 bushels of wheat threshed, and when all is finished, I believe it will 

 yield about 13,000 bushels of grain, chiefly wheat. A part of the 600 

 acres has been cut for hay, so you see that the rabbits have not ruined 

 us. We were left entirely to ourselves, and have succeeded far beyond 

 our expectations. The cultivation land we let to two energetic persons 

 who were to give us a certain portion for rent and they will do well 

 by it, and so will we. The 600 acres will yield us nearly £600 for the 

 season, and we have a good percentage of superior lambs, and a large 

 quantity of fat stock. I consider that it only wants intelligence and 

 energy to place the country in a healthy and prosperous state. I do not 

 say merely by cultivation and sheep-farming, for there are many other 

 things which might pay well, such as the cultivation of flax and manu- 

 facturing it into bagging, which would employ a good number of men. 

 It grows well in this part of the country, and only requires some 

 person who understands its cultivation. I hope before long to see 

 something done about its cultivation. Green crops, such as mangolds 

 and turnips, are more largely grown now than they were some years ago. 



