HOW TO BEGIN 47 



wants rabbits for pets, rabbits for meat, rab- 

 bits for fur, or rabbits for exhibition. Some- 

 thing depends, too, upon the part of the coun- 

 try in which one lives. 



Perhaps it is better for the average begin- 

 ner to start with one of the medium sized 

 breeds, like the Belgian hare or the New Zea- 

 land Red, rather than with the Giants. These 

 are good utility rabbits, and yet show stock 

 can readily be built up if one starts with well 

 bred animals. In the east the Belgian hare is 

 more likely to be chosen, while on the Pacific 

 coast New Zealand Reds have the preference. 

 It is better to obtain some skill by handling 

 these rabbits for a year or two before starting 

 in with purely exhibition breeds. Certainly 

 no one should start rabbit keeping by buying 

 either English or French lop-ears. 



The number of rabbits to start with will 

 depend somewhat upon the size of one's purse 

 and the amount of room available. Perhaps 

 the simplest plan is to start with a doe which 

 has been bred to a young buck. By all means 

 buy a young animal, even though you have to 

 pay a little more. It isn't necessary to keep a 

 buck at any time, for you can always have your 



