THE RABBIT NUISANCE.

Mataura Ensign, Volume V, Issue 229, 13 February 1883, Page 2

THE RABBIT NUISANCE.

.mtahmtoWhe.bditorj Sir, — Fromjbhe - many inquiries that arp made, andOr^e^difiereiii!'' im'e'thbd^ advised, I am' of opinion that the enclosed clipping from an- iLusFraHan*-p^peFlih6uM'Be"6Tßer'vice--thatis,Jif ydtf'vvUl hevd'tb!^ goodness to print are tronbled by r the rabbit pesi. Writing 1 3 a friend in Australia, I happened amongtt bthflf fthipga;to mentionthat wesrere greatly troubled with the in New Zealand ; and wh ; 6n^repl| > ing T h t e' ldformed me that they could 'ribtf 'beTttny worse I . : in .';N6W; Zealanl than they were in Victoria, In fact, wro|e my correspondent—" The immunity enjoyep. ,by the rabbits in the Malleo country is auah that they come down on us in droves and devour' every'thiiig'lilia't's' green in the shaje of food tha^conieS ih"thtir'"<ii ay. ; We ; have tried every ' Conceivable "method, but noie acts so well in the summer time as the .01 c mentioned in the inclosed. slip; of paper." i.s this clipping has not,. to my knowledge, be< n in any of the New Zealand papers, it may lie of use to those who are' situated where T ei y little green food 'is to be had, such as htl y country or land is Y( v might find a corner in which to to publi: h same in your widely circulating paper.- -I am, &c, -- - • . .:•• . ,r v-'tiioM Notice. t Ohatton, February 8, 1883 : . Following is the extract referred to : - " Noticing several in4uiries in the colum is of your paper as to the best methods of destroying rabbits,~ahd perusing the replies thereto, I have not seen mention of any thi ng •ap j prpaoiiing A^n experiment : 1~. made- dicing lafifc'Hummer.^ Af Wr'^r^ngiitirsenioal^bra a, wheat, chaff, and phosphorised oats wi;h tbe usual result— rabbits not taking the baits after two or^three, deposits-rron seeking some milk thistlesf, I;' resolved: bh making a trial with them. Obtaining a bundle, I first wet them with water, afterwards mixing arsenic throughout the whole, placing the lot out jußt previous to sundown. In the morning not a; particle was to be seen, but several carcases lying round proved the result of the trial. Now, Sir, if the poisoning of green foodb, such as/jlucern, lettuce, thistles, &c., was more practised (especially in the northern districts) in preference to using oats, bran, &c, I think the pest would soon be overcomje. One graat defect id the present arrangements is that operations are nob carried on simultaneously throughout the whoje,' distinct, thereby allowing the rabbits ' to spread lm land that has been previously cleared. In coaclusioD, I would urge on thoae intending to try the above method to lose no time (in. sowing wha^; green fodder they thipk mdst suitable to their climate.— la m. &b., WiM* MBRA." '' ! - ■' ' ••'■<••■' |_. ■• ■■■■ „ '"S-BB 5 , j