THE GAME BREEDER 



79 



and color, and by the fact that the earlier 

 specimens had considerable white on the 

 legs. It may, however, have descended,, 

 as has been claimed, from rabbits ob- 

 tained by sailors in New Zealand and 

 sold to California fanciers. Its origin 

 is of less interest than its development, 

 which has been accomplished in Cali- 

 fornia since 1909, when it first gamed 

 recognition. Although the name New 

 Zealand red may have no geographical 

 significance, it fairly describes the stand- 

 ard color of this animal, the back and 

 sides of which are of a clear reddish 

 buff, free from black hairs. At matur- 

 ity, which is attained at the age of one 

 year, New Zealand bucks should weigh 

 9 pounds, and does 10 pounds. The 

 doe has a dewlap similar to that of the 

 giants. This rabbit is compactly built, 

 with thick hind quarters. It is best 

 known near the Pacific coast, where it 

 first appeared, but it is being bred \.o 

 some extent in practically all the states. 



OUTLOOK FOR RABBIT BREEDING. 



Evidently something should be done to 

 lower the high cost of meat. Meat pro- 

 duced at home saves freight and several 

 profits. The example of Europeans and 

 the experience of breeders in America 

 indicate that the utility rabbit will be a 

 large factor in solving the meat problem. 

 The question of food has been brought 

 very close to us. The doctrine of the 

 clean plate has been revived. Many 

 have turned their yards into vegetable 

 gardens and have been delighted with the 

 results. Many have started rabbLries 

 and are enthusiastic about them. In 

 every garden there is feed for rabbits, 

 feed that will be wasted unless there 

 are rabbits to eat it. Dandelions are a 

 pest in lawns, but they are excellent rab- 

 bit feed when used with alfalfa or clover 

 and oats or other grain, as also are 

 leaves of the burdock, yellow dock and 

 other weeds, and primings from apple 

 and cherry trees. 



The first object in rabbit raising is 

 to supply home needs. The best indorse- 

 ment an article can have is the fact that 

 it is used freely by its producer. If one 

 is inclined to disdain domesticated rab- 

 bits on account of experience with wild 

 rabbits, he should consider that the lat- 



ter, as sold in butcher shops, are not to 

 be compared as a delicacy with tender 

 young hutch rabbits. 



Rabbit skins are being used in increas- 

 ing quantities for fur, as the supply of 

 wild fur decreases and as improvements 

 in tanning and dyeing contribute to make 

 the pelts more attractive. Some of the 

 varieties of utility rabbits have pleasing 

 colors naturally. For example, the 

 checkered giant, which is mainly white, 

 with conspicuous spots or patches of col- 

 or on head, back and sides, has been ex- 

 ploited as a fur rabbit on account of its 

 striking color contrasts. Pelts of solid- 

 colored rabbits, however, when prime, 

 sell readily for fur purposes and are used 

 extensively in natural colors and also, 

 after being dyed, in making muffs, capes, 

 stoles and trimmings for garments. Rab- 

 bit fur is used also in making felt hats. 

 Many thousands of pounds of rabbit 

 skins are bought by manufacturers of 

 hatters' fur in this country every year. 

 After the fur is removed the skins are 

 utilized in making glue. 



Boys' and girls' clubs, organized by the 

 United States Department of Agricul- 

 ture and state agricultural colleges, have 

 been a most important factor in dem- 

 onstrating the good points of rabbits. 

 Boys, girls and older persons having leis- 

 ure can do much to increase the produc- 

 tion of meat and fur by applying their 

 spare time and energy to raising rabbits. 

 Whenever rabbit raising has been un- 

 dertaken in a community a demand for 

 breeding stock and meat sufficient to ab- 

 sorb the surplus has quickly arisen. 



A survey of existing conditions, in- 

 cluding the food situation and the eco- 

 nomical tendencies of the times, as well 

 as the development of the rabbit in- 

 dustry at home and abroad, justifies the 

 assertion that the outlook for rabbit 

 breeding in America is good. In recog- 

 nition of this prospect, the Department 

 of Agriculture is prepared to furnish 

 advice on the breeding and marketing of 

 rabbits, to assist in forming clubs, and 

 to gather and distribute information as 

 to breeding stock, current values of rab- 

 bit meat and fur, and other matters 

 affecting the rabbit industry. 



[The remarks about the food situation are 

 applicable to all species of game. — Editor.] 



