LETTER OF TRANSMIHAL. 



U. S. Department of Agriculture, 



Bureau of Biological Survey, 



Washington, D. C, March 9, 1912. 

 Sir : I have the honor to transmit herewith, and to recommend for publication 

 as a Farmers' Bulletin, a report on " The Raising of Belgian Hares and Other 

 Rabbits," by David E. Lantz, assistant in the Biological Survey. The chief 

 purpose of the bulletin is to ^nf?wer^ the many letters of inquiry received by the 

 department in regard to the breeding and care of rabbits, vrhich are highly 

 esteemed for food. In it are given brief, practical directions which it is be- 

 lieved will suffice both for those who wish to raise the animals chiefly for home 

 consumption and for others who desire to conduct the business on a larger scale 

 and to raise them for market. 



Respectfully, Henry W. Henshaw, 



Chief, Biological (Purvey. 



Hon. James Wilson, 



Seoi'etary of Agriculture. 



CONTENTS 



Page. 



Introduction 3 



History and characteristics of the Belgian hare 4 



Selection of stock 6 



Hutches and pens • 7 



Food and feeding 9 



Breeding H 



Marketing - 13 



Ailments of rabbits 15 



Conclusion 1^ 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Page. 



Fig. 1. Belgian hare 4 



2. A convenient rabbit hutch 8 



3. Movable outdoor hutch 8 



4. A simple movable outdoor hutch 8 



5. A simple outdoor hutch ^ 



496 



2 



