THE RABBIT NUISANCE.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1314, 30 November 1880, Page 2

THE RABBIT NUISANCE.

The terrible losses which have been occasioned by rabbits in the sister island ought to induce the greatest care on our part in order to ward off while we may consequences so disastrous. The last few years rabbits have been steadily on the increase in this district, and no time ought to be lo3t in decimating. A gentleman, a runholder in the certral portion of the Province of Otago, at present on a visit to the North Island, with whom we have conversed on the subject, has given us some particulars which are worth pondering over. He tells us that during last winter he employed no less than twenty-five men, while his immediate neighbors had forty others engaged solely in the work of destroying rabbits, and lie calculated that on four runs alone the number of these pests killed was about two millions. On some of the runs in South Ofcago, in Southland, the sheep have been literally driven away, and thousands of acres abandoned to the rabbits. The loss ocoassioned has, therefore, been incalculable, and runholders are beginning to see that unless some very active and btringent measures are taken they will be simply driven off the land. We leave it to be imagined how much more difficult it would be to remove the nuisance here than in the South Island. There there is nothing like the cover which is to be found for tne rabbit in the Waikato, and yet we see how difficult is the task of removing them there. The plan which has been found to bo most effective in removing the pest is to poiscn them with grain soaked in a solution of phosphorus. We are indebted to the gentleman above referred to for the receipt which he has found to be very efficacious in his own case. It is as follows: — Procure lib of phosphorus, SOlbs of grain (wheat or oats) and ioz of oil ot rhodium. Set about 8 or 9 gallons of water on the wheat and allow it to boil ; put in the phosphorus and draw the fire, starring the solution well ; then covei up for about 10 minutes. Take off the lid and repeat the stirdng, adding the oil of rhodium and the wheat, Stir the mixture well for about 10 minutes, then cover up and set on the fire allowing it to simmer for about 20 minutes, when stir again. The great secret consists in stirring. It is only by this means that the phosphorus can impregnate the grain, as it does not really dissolve in water, but is only held in granular solution. Cover up again so as not to let the fumes escape and let it remain overnight. In the morning, repeat the stirring process, covering again till the following morning, when it will be fit for use. Altogether about 30 hours should elapse from the time when it is mixed with the phosphorus before it is ready for use. It should then be taken to those places where rabbits frequent and be sprinkled over the ground, taking care that it is not within reach of any half-bred sheep, as they will greedily devour it and perish. The same recipe will answer for the destruction of what are almost as great au evil as rabbits, namely, sparrows, but in their case smaller grain may be used, such as millet or broken wheat.

A foreign journal suggests the currant as an excellent plant for railway enbank-ments—-its roots binding the soil, the foliage shading it and the fruit being of commercial value. The Dean of Melbourne has written a strong letter to the Exhihition Commissioners complaining of certain indecent pictures sent in for Exhibition. It is understood he refers more particularly to Pygmalion and Galatea.