THE RABBIT PLAGUE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1418, 30 June 1883, Page 4

THE RABBIT PLAGUE.

Mr Barber, of Warrnambool, gives the Argus the following account of a novel. method of dealing with the rabbit nuisance:—As numerous complaints are rife from various parts of the Colony respecting the rabbit pest,I should be glad to tell you of a plan I adopted with success on my land. Three years ago the bunnies wore visibly increasing, and believing natural means should be used against 'thia natural ovil, I saved the kittens of a pair of prolific old females, which soon £i\ eme a stock of 40 cats, At sundown cats would be seen leaving the homestead and watching the log fences, and invariably bi ought rabbits home to their families. I next' •started"# colony of cats in a paddock a mile'and a-half from the house by first making a yard 12ft x 12ft, Bft high, of hard wood •Jin boards, tho fence leaning to prevent the cats running up, the rails of fence put outside so as to present a smooth surface inside. I here transported 20 of pots, and feed them for two weeks. Some fell victims to a distemper, but the survivors spread about the paddocks, and have given a good account of themselves,; as the rabbits have vanished. The other day. my man thought he had found. a rabbit's nest, but'the litter proved to be young kittens, It is useless to 'buy cats and turn them off. They are too fond'of the domestic hearth to, take to the bush, but they will return to some : homestead—they must bo educated foi their work. I feel sure, even where rabbits have got the upper hand, if cats ■ were fostered and rabbits discouraged, the former would gain the day in the long'run. . , ,