SHEEP VERSUS RABBITS.

Bruce Herald, Volume LV, Issue 66, 28 August 1919, Page 4

SHEEP VERSUS RABBITS.

A Clydfevalo' correspondent supplies, the following interesting figure's re-; garding tho " TeisultS of .ai two-dayis'; poisoning, among Brer Rabbit; in that locality:— . Por-two or 'three nights tlie rabbits were 'baited with a nii'eal «of aviala'sses.. and oats, mixed' in the proportion of' one pint of .molasses to four pints of" water, mixed in with the oats to form a soft ■ meal. On the fourth night, the lineal was' altered) to rfne ounce of strychnine l to every pound of o.ats, and, a cupful of white '.sugar to counteract,, the •bitterness. In blissful ignorance of the;* outrage perpetrated upon him, bunny succumbed 1 to the tune' of; 640 in 'two nights. 'Selling at auction the aggregate skins, which, "weighed) l'lSlb, •brought-as follows: — ' • Winter - 'broken, 37.1 d per lb; win teadoes; I'oß'd per lb; winters, 85.} d per lb;winter' incomings', TOjcl per lb; out? I goings, 69Jd per lb;' fawn, 62d per lb. The average, price realised) was 83 l-3d per lb, which worked! out. at practically 15 l-.3d per skin. For the week's work tho person was' rewarded with a handsomei .cheque of £4O 19s 2d, By selling in the' open, market ho estimates that lie realised a profit of 3 l-3d per lb over •what' was being offered by the dealers. Notwithstanding' these values . and. prices, our correspondent, who is a far-. m'cr, was emphatic in his assertion; that, he would' sooner toe without tho rabbits altogether andi be able to stock sheep in their place, As compared'with sheep'' •farming, rabbit-farming, was nob in- it. •He estimated' that, allowing 10 (and eight is tho accepted! 'equivalent) to eat as iniuch as one' sheep, 640 rabbits would cab as much as 64 sheep, which, taken at 30s per head,' would, realise £O6, a: price which would! more than compensate for the longer period! required for maturity.—Olutha Leader.