FANCIERS’ JOURNAL AND POULTRY EXCHANGE 
523 
(For Fanciers’ Journal.) 
RABBITS. 
Let us hear more from the rabbit fanciers. I hope here- 
after they will keep their corner of the Journal better tilled. 
I am sometimes asked which of the breeds pay best. For 
a sure thing I answer, unhesitatingly, the Himalayas. After 
looking the subject over carefully I decided this, all things 
considered, would be the best breed to begin with, and ex- 
perience satisfies me this was right. 
I find them hardy, quiet, tame, productive, and easily kept. 
Than their fur none could be more elegant, and I have 
the word of those that have tried it that their flesh is as 
good as turkey’s. From reading sundry rabbit books I at 
first stood in great awe of the doe as a terrible cannibal, 
likely to devour her young upon the least provocation. But 
I find no more trouble with her than a cat with a nest of 
kittens. She seems to welcome any of the family that visit 
her, and makes no fuss about having her young or her nest 
moved. We have had no sickness or loss among them. Cats 
and dogs go about in the barn near her room without the 
doe being disturbed. She is now raising a litter of eight, 
and of course we feed well with the most nourishing food. 
We keep them in empty horse-stalls, with slatted floors and 
bedding of ferns, refuse hay, &c. Contrary to book rules 
we keep a dish of clean water always within their reach. 
At noon all have the same feed, caraway, roots, leaves, and 
blossoms or seeds, and green clover free from rain or dew, 
or some garden vegetables. Morning and night no greens 
but hay, oat fodder, “hayed” green, dry clover, bran, or 
ground oats. Besides these the nursing does, and weanlings 
have all the new milk (Jersey cow’s) they will drink, with a 
little Indian meal hoe cake (shorts for a change) crumbled in. 
After a careful study of English and American authors, 
and my own observation, I believe the important ideas in 
rabbit raising are to avoid damp locations, filth, wet food, 
and food having strongly narcotic properties, excess of salt, 
and all disquieting influences. 
With reasonable care and a fair market I cannot see why 
they will not be fully as profitable as poultry. 
E. S. Demmon. 
Fitchburg, Mass., Seventh Month 27th, 1874. 
S J E pi S, 
In order to make our “Item ” column as interesting as possible, we 
would be obliged to our readers for contributions of original matter, how- 
ever short — yes, let it be condensed and to the point, in a variety of 
style — facts and fancies interesting to fanciers. 
A country fellow who lisped, having bought some 
pigs, asked a neighbor for the use of a pen for a few days. 
Said he, “ I have jutht been purchathin thome thwine — two 
thowth and pigth. I want to put them in your pen till I 
can fix a place for them.” 
“ Two thousand pigs !” exclaimed the neighbor, “ why my 
pen will hardly hold a dozen.” 
“You don’t underthstand me, Mr. Bent. I don’t thay 
two thouthand pigths, but two thowth and pigth !” 
“I hear you,” said Mr. Bent; “two thousand pigs! 
Why, you must be crazy !” 
“ I tell you again,” exclaimed the man angrily, “ I mean 
not two thouthand pigth, but two thowth and two pigth !” 
“ Oh, that is what you mean, eh ? Well, the pen is at your 
service.” 
From Mr. Abraham Orator, of Fatland farm, Lower 
Providence Township, Montgomery County, Alabama, we 
learn the following interesting facts : 
About a year ago his sons caught a large gray owl in the 
woods, and taking it home, confined it in a cage, and placed 
it upon the porch. At night this bird commenced to war- 
ble the notes peculiar to its species. Mr. Orator was sur- 
prised to see his porch scattered with feathers, and a rabbit’s 
head lying on it. This occurred morning after morning, 
when Mr. Orator came to the conclusion that something 
was feeding the owl, which he set about finding out. Con- 
sequently he put the owl in a recess under the bake-oven, 
and fixing a door upon the trap, went to sleep. In the 
morning the trap had been sprung, the door was down, and 
an additional owl was found imprisoned. It was very evi- 
dent that this was the mate to owl No. 1, as no more rabbit- 
heads or feathers were found after the second owl was 
captured. — Exchange. 
It is related that a large Newfoundland dog at Cape 
May recently observed a school of porpoises sporting in the 
surf, and immediately sprang in among them, barking and 
yelping furiously. He was finally put to flight with the 
loss of an ear, and after having received some severe bruises, 
caused by the tail lashing which the fish gave him. 
THE CENTRAL POULTRY ATSOCIATION OE 
PENNSYLVANIA. 
President — Col. John Hendricks. 
Vice Presidents — Messrs. Charles Shoener, E. S. Wheat- 
ley, John A. Shoemaker, Edward Schlicher, Daniel Shepp, 
H. A. Weldy, and O. H. Moore, of Tamaqua; Bichard 
Bahn, of Pottsville; Edward Griffiths, of Summit Hill; 
Thomas Job, of Rush Township. 
Secretary — Thos. D. Boone. 
Treasurer — E. J. Fry. 
POULTRY SHOWS FOR 1874 & 1875. 
No shows will be entered on this list until we are officially notified by 
the Secretary. 
New England Poultry Club. Worcester, Mass., December 
1, 2, 3, and 4, 1874. G. H. Estabrook, Secretary. 
The Eastern Pennsylvania Poultry Association. Doyles- 
town, Pa., December 8, 9, 10, and 11, 1874. Theo. P. 
Harvey, Secretary, Doylestown, Pa. 
Connecticut State Poultry Society. Hartford, Conn., De- 
cember 15, 16, 17, and 18, 1874. Dr. G. L. Parmele, Sec’y. 
Maryland State Poultry Association, Baltimore, Jan. 5, 6, 7, 
and 8, 1875. S. H. Slifer, Secretary. 
Lehigh Valley Poultry Association. Allentown, Pa., Jan- 
uary 5, 6, 7, and 8, 1875. John H. Hickman, Secretary. 
Maine Poultry Association. Portland, January 12, 13, 14, 
and 15, 1875. Fred. Fox, Secretary, Portland, Maine. 
Western Pennsylvania Poultry Society. Pittsburg, January 
13 to 20 inclusive. B. F. Shannan, Secretary. 
Massachusetts Poultry Association. Boston Music Hall, 
January 27 to February 4, 1875. Wm. B. Atkinson, Sec- 
retary. 
Western New York Poultry Society. Buffalo, New York, 
February 10 to 17, 1875. Geo. W. White, Secretary. 
Rhode Island Poultry and Columbarian Society. Provi- 
dence, February 18 ; 19, 20, and 21, 1875. James L. 
Bullock, Corresponding Secretary. 
Old Colony Poultry Association. Loring W. Buffert, Sec- 
retary. 
The Central Poultry Association of Pennsylvania. Thos. 
D. Boone, Secretary. 
