THE KABBIT AS A FARM AND ORCHARD PEST. 



335 



Length of opc-n season for rabbits in States ivhich limit the time for hunting 



them. 



Maine 



New Hampshire 



A^ermout 



Massachusetts 



Rhode Island 



Connecticut 



New Jersey 



New York (28 counties ^) 



Pennsylvania 



Delaware 



District of Columbia 



Maryland 



Virginia 



West Virginia 



Ohio 



Wisconsin 



Length of open season. 

 September 1 to April 1 — 7 months, 

 October 1 to April 1 — G months. 

 September 15 to May 1 — 7^ months. 

 October 1 to March 1 — 5 months. 

 November 1 to January 1 — 2 months. 

 October 1 to December 1 — 2 months. 

 November 10 to January 1 — 52 days. 

 Two to five months. 

 October 15 to December 1 — 1^ months. 

 November 15 to January 1 — K months. 

 November 1 to February 1 — 3 months. 

 November 1 to December 25 ^ — 54 days. 

 Two to six months.*^ 



September 15 to January 1 — 3| months. 

 November 15 to December 5 — 20 days. 

 September 1 to March 1 — 6 months. 



In Ohio, Avhere the open season is only twenty days, there is much 

 comphiint from nurserymen of loss of trees from rabbit injury. At 

 the meeting of the State Horticultural Society, in 1897, prominent 

 nurserymen and market gardeners complained of rabbit depredation, 

 which seemed to be great in the neighborhood of the larger towns.^ 



It is probable that, except where the open season is very short, 

 protection has but little effect upon their numbers. Ordinarily the 

 animals are at their best for food during the fall and winter months, 

 and there is a prejudice against eating them during the breeding 

 season. Besides, during the spring and summer they are subject to 

 parasites which often make them unfit for food. 



THE FARMER AND RAIJBIT PROTECTION. 



The relation of the farmer to rabbit protection is rather compli- 

 cated. As a rule he regards the animals as pests and is glad to have 

 them killed, especially in the open fields ; but often those engaged in 

 the nvirsery business or in growing small fruits, as well as those hav- 

 ing farm animals in pastures, object to hunting upon the premises, 

 and therefore must depend upon their own efforts to free their hold- 

 ings from rabbits. The task is the more difficult because during the 

 shooting season their premises, if protected, become harbors for the 

 persecuted rabbits of neighboring estates. 



« The open season includes the first day given but not the last. 



* No closed season in other counties. 



^ A few local exceptions. 



^ Local laws apply to the various counties. 



^ Cultivator and Country Gentleman, 02, p. 1026, 1897. 



