ABOUT BELGIAN HARES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3564, 24 August 1905, Page 4

ABOUT BELGIAN HARES.

Br««fitßK of TMv Animal »» an l»d«uj* try 11 1® Now 01alm®d f Tea y««»s Aso. In answer to a number of inquiries in regard to the Belgian hare, we find upon investigation, that the breed..,g of thit» animal in this country as an industry began about ten years ago. The breeders are naturally enthusiastic and possibly are too op!imlstic in their view of the future of this constantly enlarging business. It is claimed by them that no other line of breeding offers anything like the profits that the breeding of the Belgian haVe doer.. Both the meat and the hide are valuable. The cost of producing the meat, it is claimed, is not over (ivc cents a pound m ■’-» most, and vi i have been inform ,f v

b.-eedi’ir. in the vicinity of Den’Cob, !1• a I the meat in that • s< Us 15 to 25 cents a ■

The of a young Belgian hare is higbiv iidled bv thoJ3 who are acqtiali.md with its quality, and all such uni!., in saying that as a toothsome article of diet it cannot be excelled by any meat (hat come.*; to our tables. Tin, .1. : is exceedingly prolific, the

doc sor • 'rrv'K producing 35 to 50 you rig car.* in the course of the rear, and docs begin to breed at the

age of six. months. ’tlh' fned is that which is commonly im sheep, and should be a ,k. - ’ i t .h can readily be provid- , ■ clover, roots, bread and All the shelter that is n ,"' d* is an Open shed that will iic dry and must be< clean. I.'g'in'incs" in the hutch must be maintained. Three by four or five jc i,.rge enough for a hutcih. The ■ i r.';. which must he p-rnvided fo-r Kvding doe, should ,V> three f,.- ,ncl two feet in width and j, ( , .prtion of the cage s..c;;hl -,Ath wire netting. Co*** t m m e . with fine straw. A Id! .c is .'x to a dozen. When about tv- v u.i.i.iv old\the young are weaned am! Urn sexes separated. The weight of a Belgian, if pvire bred, at maturity is from eight ten pound*.— Epitomist.