Practical Game-Preserving. 276 



plant-growth which I have mentioned as being the main 

 food of the hare is sufficient indication of the adaptability 

 of ground to carry them. Health and heart in the soil, 

 coupled with proper drainage, natural or artificial, are 

 main factors to be reckoned with. 



Wherever it is desired to work up a stock of hares or 

 substantially to increase one, two courses are open to the 

 preserver. Either he can turn away a number sufficient 

 to provide the necessary breeding- stock to bring the 

 quantity up to what is required, or he can set up one or 

 more hare-warrens wherein to breed them, and turn the 

 hares adrift as they come to maturity. In view of the fact 

 that the largest number of young which may be expected 

 to be produced by a couple of hares turned away during 

 twelve months is only from twelve to fifteen if all survive, 

 and that, as a rule, not more than half this number are 

 finally reared, it is evident that turning hares down is 

 neither a very speedy nor a very certain way of getting 

 a stock together. Then, again, to be sure of the does 

 breeding, it is necessary to turn them away in equal 

 numbers as far as the sexes are concerned, which adds to 

 the expense when any considerable quantity is handled. 

 It works out in practice that it requires about twenty-eight 

 months for each pair of hares to realise a stock of fifty 

 from the original couple, and including the progeny of 

 their first year's offspring. This means, however, that 

 from the time the hares are first turned out, two shooting 

 seasons must be allowed to elapse before sport of any kind 

 would be advisable. It is, therefore, evident that in 

 endeavouring to work up a stock of hares upon these 

 lines, considerable time, trouble, and expense must be 

 devoted. Beyond looking sharply after the vermin, and 

 keeping it well killed down, there is nothing very particular 

 required to be provided for the hares except to see that the 



