Dec., 1859 . 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
S57 
PRIZE RABBITS. 
The above illustration (re-engraved for the 
Agriculturist, from an English sketch) gives the 
portraits of two rabbits which received the high¬ 
est prizes at a late Show of Poultry, Pigeons, and 
Rabbits, in the Crystal Palace, London. The 
peculiarity which will be noticed at once, is the 
remarkable size of the ears. The ears of the one 
in the foreground measured 22 j inches long, and 
inches wide ; and those of the other, 21f inch¬ 
es long, and 4^ inches wide. This is said to be 
the greatest size of ear yet attained by any breed¬ 
er. They exceed even those of the animal which 
Pat called the grandfather of all rabbits, when he 
first saw a donkey. To one uninitiated in the sci¬ 
ence, and tastes of rabbit “ fanciers,” or “finan¬ 
ciers,” as Mrs. Partington calls them, this length 
of ear would seem to have no particular merit, 
but it is considered the sine qua non, the first 
requisite of excellence. It is a harmless fancy, 
however, and the results attained in this direc¬ 
tion, forcibly illustrate what can be done by care¬ 
ful breeding. If instead of long ears, long legs 
were aimed at, it would not be many years before 
skillful breeders would show rabbits set up like 
the kangaroo, ready to spring twenty feet at a 
bound. By similar care in raising other and more 
important animals, our present improved breeds 
of cattle and horses have been obtained, and the 
limit to which improvement may be carried is 
not yet reached or known. 
I The rearing of rabbits for the table is, in Europe, 
quite an important branch of business. The wild 
rabbit is preferred, as having a game flavor, and 
extensive “ warrens ” (enclosures of unim¬ 
proved land,) are carefully kept for this purpose. 
Belgium is most noted in this line, thousands of 
rabbits being shipped at Ostend for the London 
market. 
j The domestic rabbit is not a favorite with our 
farmers, from the mischief they are apt to make 
in the garden and fruit yard ; but by providing pro¬ 
per quarters for their reception, this can be avoid¬ 
ed. There is hardly a more attractive pet for the 
younger members of the family, and the occasion¬ 
al treat of rabbit pie upon the farmer’s table 
would doubtless be appreeiated. On small farms, 
near cities, we should judge raising them might 
be made profitable. They are easily kept, and 
live mostly upon the refuse of the garden and 
field, and breed with very great rapidity. At 
present there are very few engaged in the busi¬ 
ness. Wild rabbits are not unfrequently brought 
to this city, and find a ready sale at restaurants, 
eating houses, and hotels. We shall be glad of 
any definite information from those who have 
had sufficient experience in raising them for sale 
to speak of their profitableness—or the contrary. 
For the American Agriculturist. 
Water the Stock. 
Plenty of water is'as necessary to the thrift of 
stock as a sufficiency of food. The value of food 
itself depends largely upon the water it contains. 
Were it practicable to expel all moisture from it, 
there would remain a substance possessing nutri¬ 
tive properties, but in such form as to be almost 
valueless for the consumption of animals. Grass 
owes its superiority over hay, however well cured, 
principally to the water it contains, making it 
more readily assimilable by the digestive organs. 
Bread is better fitted than grain for man’s stom¬ 
ach, principally because of the water incorpor¬ 
ated with the nutritious parts during the process 
of cooking. And it is generally understood that 
cooked food, that is food which by the applica¬ 
tion of heat has received a larger proportion of 
water, is far more valuable than in a raw state. 
It follows that where the supply of water in the 
food is diminished, as in the use of straw, hay 
and grain, the animal will need a more liberal 
supply of fluid. But it does not generally follow 
that they get it. Instead of leaving cattle to 
obey their instincts, by having water accessible 
at all times, a large proportion of farmers stint 
them to a supply twice a day. Often the animals 
are compelled to go for water quite a distance 
from shelter, exposed to driving winds, and floun¬ 
dering through drifts, the weaker animals being 
kept back by the stronger, and the whole hurried 
away by the impatience of the man or boy in 
charge. No animal can thrive well with such 
treatment. Now, before the Winter sets in, if it 
be a possible thing, let running water be intro¬ 
duced into every barn yard, and arranged so that 
horses, cattle, sheep and swine may indulge freely 
in “ something to drink.” It will pay. 
“ Farmer.” 
Remarks. —'* Farmer,” is not correct in some 
of his theories. Grass does not owe its superior¬ 
ity so much to the water 
it contains, as to the 
fact that it contains more 
starch, gum, and sugar, 
which are changed to in¬ 
digestible woody fiber in 
ripened dried hay. So 
also grass is more tender 
and being better masti¬ 
cated, is more readily di¬ 
gested than ripened dried 
hay. A given amount of 
grass, cut green and 
cured in the cock, is just 
about as nutritious as the 
same quantity consumed 
in a green state. Nor is 
bread more nutritious 
than grain, simply on 
account of the greater 
amount of water. The 
grinding process fits it 
better for digestion, and 
the heat in bah ing seems 
to fit it better for nutri¬ 
tion, though it is probable 
that a pound ofgrain sim¬ 
ply mashed or ground, 
will yield as much actual nourishment before, as 
after baking... .We readily endorse all that 
“ Farmer,” says of the economy of providing wa¬ 
ter in abundance, and at convenient and accessi¬ 
ble points for stock. In a great majority of cases, 
tenfold more flesh is lost in running after water 
than would repay the cost of providing it in or 
near the yards. Frequent watering—a little at a 
time—is also far better than large draughts of 
cold liquid taken into the stomach once or twice 
a day. In the latter case, the system is reduced 
below its normal temperature for the time being, 
and a temporary paralysis is produced—not usu¬ 
ally serious in results, though the chill often ends 
in a bad “cold.”— Ed.] 
Sawdust in Stables- 
There are at least two opinions about the use¬ 
fulness of sawdust in stables. One is, that it is 
an excellent article to absorb the urine of ani¬ 
mals, and so save it; and likewise to prevent the 
effluvia of stables, which is so disagreeable to 
man, and so unpleasant and hurtful to beasts. 
And besides, it is an excellent ingredient in 
the compost heap, decaying, and becoming a 
manure itself. Consider, too, that it is easier to 
manage than straw litter, in cleaning out the 
stalls ; easier also to shovel over in the compost 
heap, and easier to spread upon the soil and to 
mix thoroughly with it. 
Another opinion is, that it is not so.excellent an 
article for the stable, because its great dryness 
causes it to absorb not only the urine from the 
floor, but also the natural and healthful moisture 
from the hoofs of horses, and renders them brit¬ 
tle and liable to crack. But how can it absorb 
moisture from a hoof, any more than a sponge 
would absorb it I The urine and sawdust may- 
produce fermentation, and so inflame the horse 
feet. But frequent cleaning of the stalls would 
obviate that difficulty. 
It is also objected that when sawdust is thrown 
out with the dung, a violent fermentation is pro¬ 
duced, which sends off the ammonia into the air, 
and a dry heat, or “ fire-fanging” succeeds, 
which is very injurious to the manure. Trifling 
harm of this sort will ensue, if a little plaster, or 
brine, or muck, or any common soil be occasion¬ 
ally thrown upon the manure-heap, or if the heap 
