i8 PRACTICAL RABBIT KEEPING 



commercial sort yet raised in this country. In 

 spite of their usefulness it is an admitted fact 

 that both the Belgian hare and the Flemish 

 Giant are hearty eaters, and that there is a 

 large amount of waste when they are dressed 

 for the table. Many English breeders can- 

 didly admit these facts, and say that some 

 other breeds are more profitable. It is 

 claimed for the New Zealand Red that it con- 

 sumes less food than even the Belgian, which 

 because of its smaller size eats much less than 

 the Flemish Giant. 



When dressed for the table, the New Zea- 

 land Red weighs about two pounds more than 

 the Belgian, and the meat is just as fine- 

 grained, palatable and nutritious. In parts of 

 California the New Zealand Red is about the 

 only rabbit seen. It is also raised extensively 

 in the other Pacific coast states, many breeders 

 having adopted it in place^f^ 3|Jgi^"s and 

 Giants. It seems to be perfeetly^rdy in any 

 part of the continent, although just how the 

 eastern climate will eventually act upon it re- 

 mains to be seen. Apparently it is a little 

 more difficult to get large specimens east of 

 the Rockies than it is on the Pacific coast. 



