-ik2. Class f>'tf Book. C ^s.f Gopyiiglit]^^- COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT / STANDARD Belgian Hare Book A Clear and Concise Treatise on the Belgian Hare; Its Origin, Kinds, Growth of Industry, Sanitation and Construction of the Rabbitry, Selection of Stock, Care of the Young, Feeding, Diseases and Their Cures, Scor- ing, Marketing, Shipping, Etc., Etc., Etc. By M. D. CAPPS H.'.TJ^'^itATED' publishers THE HENNEBERRY COMPANY CHICAGO THE LIBRARY ©F 60N6R£SS, Two Copies Reosve* MAR. a • 1902 GflpyRWHT ENTRY ICLAS8 ^XX& N«. 1 bl^ COPY a COPYRIGHf, 1901 BY The Henneberry Company FOREWORD. The Standaed Belgian Hake Book is the result of years of praotioal experience, not alone on the part of the author, but of hundreds of able writers in the Poultry and Belgian Hare Standard. The contents of this book represents the cream of all thought on one of the most profit- able occupations now claiming the attention of thousands of industrious men and women, and the reader is assured of the utmost reliability in every word expressed herein, for it is the written expe- rience — the testimony of those who have and who are amassing fortunes in Belgian hare raising. PREFACE. A comparatively new industry is demanding the attention of tens of thousands of industrious men and women in all parts of the country. To what extent this new occupation will enter into the com- mercial life of the practical American, yet remains to be seen. It has been amply demonstrated, both here and in Europe, that as a wealth producing agency, the Belgian hare, ranks among the fore- most; in point of fecundity and ease of rearing, the industry certainly ought to become epidemic, and just now it looks as though it will. Belgian hare raising is no longer an experiment; it is an industry that must be reckoned with as one of the world's chief wealth producing agen- cies. When concerns are capitalized for ten, twenty, thirty, fifty or a hundred thousand dollars, as many Belgian hare companies are, we are com- pelled to admit the possibilities of this infant industry, that has already assumed gigantic pro- portions. Germany was the first country to see the utility feature of the hare business; England was the first to grasp the possibilities of the indus- 5 6 PREFACE. try from tlie fanciers' standpoint; but America — most favored of nations — sees millions in both branches of this great industry and henceforth she must be reckoned with in the world's hare market, just as she is in every other article of trade, com- merce, manufacturing — in learning, invention, science and the arts. Notwithstanding the proverbial slander that the American people like to be humbugged, they are accredited with being the shrewdest, most clever and far-seeing people on earth, and when they undertake to accomplish anything they invariably succeed. The Belgian hare industry is now within their grasp; watch developments, and you will see spring up before your eyes a business that will engage the millionaire and the laborer, the merchant and his clerk, doctors, lawyers, manufacturers, ministers — everybody in fact but the drone, the fop and the "weary Willies." CONTENTS. PAGE FOREWOED ^ PBEFACE • • • ^ Definitions and Teems 8 Introduction 11 Chapter I. The Belgian Hare Industry . 15 Chapter II. Three Kinds of Hares . . 20 Chapter III. The Sanitation of the Rabbitry 26 Chapter IV. Rabbitry and How to Build It 37 Chapter V. The Belgian Hare Standard 45 Chapter VI. Selection of Breeding Stock 63 Chapter VII. Care of the Young 80 Chapter VIII. How and What to Feed . 94 Chapter IX. Prevalent Diseases and Cures 101 Chapter X. Raising Hares for the Market 119 Chapter XI. Fruit Gathered from the Rab- bitry . . • . . 129 Chapter XII. Crating and Feeding Expressed Hares .; ... 140 Chapter XIII. Preparing Hares for the Show Room 147 7 DEFINITIONS OF TERMS USED IN THIS BOOK. BUCK — The male hare. DOE — The female hake, LEVERET— A young hare. DEWLAP — Loose flesh on throat. HUTCH — Box WHERE ONE or two hares are kept. HUEDLES — Obstructions in runs for hares to leap over in exercising. INBREEDING — Mating of doe to buck of same lit- ter OR OTHERWISE CLOSELY RELATED. KINDLE — Bringing forth, or birth of young. LACING — Black hairs on the tips of the ears. LITTER — The young of one doe. LOPPED — To LAY back; applied here to the ears. MATING— Placing male and fema^le together to obtain young. PEDIGREE — A record of parentage, 9 EABBITRY— A heed of babbits, or place where THEY ARE KEPT. REGISTER — An official entry of pedigree. RUFUS RED— Reddish bbown, yellowish red, or THE GOLDEN TAN OF A THOROUGHBRED BELGIAN. RUNS — Small yards or space in which hares can exercise. SCORING — Percentage of pedigree on a basis of 100. SERVICE FEE — Charge made for mating doe with BUCK. STRAIN — A RACE OR generation of one kind. TICKING — Black at ends of hairs on back and sides. UTILITY— Practical, or market value. WEANING — Taking young from mother-doe. WRY FOOT — Turned to one side — a disqualifica- INTRODUCTION Much has been, written and still more has been said concerning the Belgian hare movement in America. Without entering 'into a lengthy dis- cussion concerning the manifold results to be obtained from this business in the few remarks necessary to place this book in a proper light before the thousands of intelligent men and women who are, or who contemplate keeping a rabbitry, the author wishes to call especial atten- tion to Chapter X relating to the utility feature of the business. • "Eaising Hares for the Market" is made a chap- ter in the book, and under that heading will be found many items that will both interest and amaze you as to the commercial importance of this little animal that has so recently come among us. A careful reading, not only .of this chapter, but of the entire book, will convince you that the money side is not all that should be considered in this or any other occupation, any more than the time and money spent in attending the theater, the ball, or going on a fishing or hunting trip; 11 12 INTRODUCTION. there are other features equally as pleasurable as making money, — provided, of course, the man or woman has some love for this timid, helpless and innocent little animal, dependent as it is on man for everything necessary for its subsistence. !N'ow as to the possibilities in establishing a profitable business with the least amount of cap- ital. A hundred dollars should, in three years, if properly handled and judiciously invested in Bel- gian hares, place the investor in almost affluent circumstances, as the following instance will prove: On the 18th of January, 1898, John Doe of Kansas City invested $200 in five hares — one buck and four does — and the necessary equij)ment and some feed. At the end of the first year, by careful breeding and judicious marketing of bucks not needed, he had 336 does and bucks left. He sold several bucks and a number of does, realiz- ing $425. The second year he enlarged his rabbitry at an expense of $500, imported a buck and two does at a cost of $205, and sold about 100 bucks and does from his rabbitry for $1,620, or a little more than an average of $16 per hare. On the 18th of January, 1901, or three years after his investment of $200 in four does and a buck, he expects to enlarge his rabbitry to accommodate one thousand hares, and after paying all expenses incident thereto, feed and the sale of some 200 INTRODUCTION. 13 off-colored and not-iip-to-the-standard does and bucks, he is counting on going to Europe to inspect the rabbitries over there. Though reticent about his profits in the past year or two, he con- fesses to owning some valuable Kansas City and St. Louis real estate, besides enough ready cash to enable him to tip the lackeys while abroad without incurring financial loss to his extensive industry near Kansas City. Now if you^ my reader, have any ambition to own real estate or spend a few months in Europe, there is no way to more quickly realize your hopes than to go into the hare business right now, not next year, or when you "have money to throw at the birds," as many have sneeringly referred to Belgian hare raising. The industry has come to stay, but fancy prices no longer prevail to the extent that they did two or three years ago. Twenty-five dollars is now considered a good price to pay for a doe and seventy-five for a buck, while about half these amounts seem to be the prevailing prices except with the few who are confining their efforts to very high scoring animals. STANDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. CHAPTER I. THE BELGIAN HAEE INDUSTEY. Some forty years ago the poultry fever began its work. At first only the wealthier class could grasp the fad, as it too was once called, for then fancy poultry was the object rather than the utility side. The farmer of that day kept only a few chickens of an inferior mixture of breeds, while it was the new breeds and pure-bred stock that was raging and commanding the fanciers' pocketbooks. People never dreamed that fancy poultry would some day become a business of considerable magnitude. As the poultry fever once grasped the country, today the Belgian hare fever is epidemic — only in a more sensible form. The poultry fanciers had an idea that poultry was the only small stock worth raising. They might have their pet dog, 15 10 STANDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. cat or rabbit (the latter usually white), but they would be only for pleasure, not profit. For many years the hare has claimed the attention of fanciers in Europe, and by careful breeding it has almost reached a state of perfection. This is the case more especially in England, from whence we get the finest specimens. Of late years the Belgian hare has been intro- duced into this country, although little known or talked about until the last few years. The hare is a bright, neat and interesting animal and decidedly useful in furnishing a fine table meat.^. There is no vermin to fight, and little or no disease when they are properly fed and cared for. People are likely, and many do exclaim, ^^Oh! if you must be so particular I should never dare undertake rais- ing them." Make up your mind, to learn, for this business is like everything else — it requires experi- ence. Most beginners make the mistake of com- mencing with too many. It is better to start. with but a few (and let them be the best) and study their habits and requirements. The hare requires very little space, just the opposite to all other kinds of stock or even poultry. For those who wish to make a good beginning in the Belgian hare industry, build your rabbitry as you would a hen house. Study to supply all needs to the best advantage. Good ventilation, 5 •" o ?i 3 C fo a H E^ ?• a z W !> S > G 1^ > i= w ■ H Q O 17 BELGIAN HARE INDUSTRY. 19 space for exercise and convenience in cleaning hutches are the first and most important require- ments_, next to having good stock to commence with. The profit in growing the hare abides in its won- derful fecundity, gentle habits and cheapness of the provender required The doe brings forth every sixty or ninety days, according to times of breeding, and has from six to eleven and as high as fourteen in a litter. As the doe can only suckle eight, a white rabbit, usually an Angora or a less expensive rabbit, is kept for breeding to serve as nurse for the surplusage, while the young of the common rabbit are destroyed. The young Bel- gians grow fat at the rate of about one pound per month for eight months, when they are matured at eight pounds. There is no doubt but that the hare industry has come to stay, and there has been no other business that has made such rapid growth in the short time this little animal has been among us. While the cost of raising them is very small, still you cannot buy a pair and turn them loose and expect to have many (if any) ready for market in a few weeks. They require feeding and attention as much as any other stock if the best results are to be obtained. CHAPTER II. THEEE KINDS OF HARES. Many a hare breeder has experienced untold anxiety, and has felt no small measure of disap- pointment on inspecting a newly kindled litter of leverets, to find among them, although well- bred, one or more off colored. When we remem- ber the variety of hares, all of which have found admirers in this country, we should not be sur- prised or disappointed either if we find a slight variation in color and more especially if one or more are a pronounced black. We should bear two things in mind, first, that the Belgian hare is a rabbit, pure and simple; it is bred after the similitude of the English hare; and second, that there are three distinct forms, or types, of hares differing widely in their character- istics — ^the red, white and black. The first is the Belgian, the second is the English and the last or the black is the Dutch rabbit. Scientific breeding of the best of the three national representatives has given us the Belgian. In order to identify each, should one or more be found in a newly arrived litter, let us briefly Con- go n OnB Of ms HlOfJB^S PRIOIP BBtOIANS-lMPORTlS IN 1900. THREE KINDS OF HARES. 23 sider the general make-up in the order of the assimilation of the prime factors entering into the hare we call the Belgian. EED BELGIAN HARE. Though the little red Belgian is the least of the three, it justly deserves first consideration, for whether we consider the hare from the German or English standpoint, it stands the same as the original first factor, and from it we get our back- ground in form, color and motion. Its color is a beautiful, rich red of various changing tints as season, condition or age may affect it. Its form is fine, slender, sleek and graceful, and its motion quick, easy, swift, shy and timorous. Hence you will readily see that the red is the most essential factor; therefore the one mostly to be considered and never lost sight of, for more than sixty of the much-coveted one hundred points in scoring for pedigree comes from the little red Belgian hare. Watch for the red. WHITE ENGLISH EABBIT. The white, or the large English rabbit, is of very little value, save for its bulk or size. Its color and ungainly form we are ever trying to wipe out or subdue, save on the tail. Hence, while the English hare has added least to the general make-up. 24 STANDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. English breeders have without question done most toward its improvement and general perfection along an artistes or fancier's standpoint, for the long, racy, graceful, sleek, handsome creature we have today, commanding fancy prices, is purely an English product, bred under the English standard of perfection, while the heavyweights may, with equal fairness, be credited to the Ger- mans, who have made meat the first consideration, and are getting their reward in millions of dollars' worth of the same yearly exported to England. Do not ignore the bulk. BLACK DUTCH EABBIT. x^ The little black Dutch rabbit, though small and often considered insignificant, is a very important factor and can never be ignored with impunity by either the fancier or utility breeder, for it is very essential to both. To the fancier he furnishes the points — lacing, ticking and rich shadings, while to the utility breeder its strength, hardihood and vitality must be a prime consider- ation, for, as all extensive breeders know, the black will survive where all others will perish. Its superior hardihood is clearly manifested by its fre- quent appearance among the leverets in all first class rabbitries. As you value the hardihood or beauty of your herd, don't be too anxious to weed THREE KINDS OF HARES. 25 it out, but rather receive it as an assurance that all is well. If it fails to appear out of each one hun- dred born be assured that you are approaching a danger point, and see that you at once veer to the black. ' Cultivate the black in your strain if you wish perfection. GOLDEN RUSTIC, SCORE 94. Owned by the Fostoria Babbitry, Kansas City, Mo. CHAPTER III. THE SANITATION OF THE EABBITEY. As regards the housing of hares there are two principal methods in vogne, and each has its adher- ents. The first is the open air plan, so-called because the hutches are built in a shed or building of which the front is so arranged as to be open all the time from sill to roof, or so arranged as to have the entire front swung open when desired. The hutches in many of such rabbitries are of the closed box style with tight boards on top and bottom, sides and ends, and poultry mesh in front. Hutches constructed on this plan, even though placed in open buildings, or out of doors for that matter, do not afford the ventilation which their owners imagine. It is one of the fundamental principles of ven- tilation that air does not circulate and flow freely from point to point unless openings are so arranged as to allow free ingress of air and a free outlet of air. To make it still plainer, the air in such a hutch simply banks up in the hutch and becomes and remains foul. If any one doubts this statement let him place his head inside such a 26 SANITATION OF THE RABBITRY. 29 hutch, well towards the back wall, and breathe the air for a moment. He will be convinced in short order. The air soon becomes foul, and as it has no means of purifying itself by a fresh current in any direction, it remains foul. As a further proof of this, observe your hares in such a hutch; they lay close to the wire netting in front, trying to get a whiff of fresh air, which they stand so much in need of. The way to remedy an ill-ventilated hutch is to cut off the back wall about four inches down the back, beginning at the top and cover opening with wire or arrange a door to swing down from top of hutch so it can be opened. As a matter of fact it should remain open all the time. If the hutches are made of poultry wire all around this objection does not hold. If, however, your hutches are made open all around and are exposed to cold, raw winds, in open rabbitries a fine crop of colds and pneumonia will be the result and a full graveyard will be the outcome. Another objection to the open rabbitries is the strong sunlight. Hares do better in dry, moderately dark houses, where they do not get much light. The other method. in vogue is the closed build- ing with hutches arranged to suit varying condi- tions of weather. These buildings should be arranged to suit the climatic conditions of weather 30 STANDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. where the rabbitry is located. In the warm cli- mates a building with good height of ceiling (ten feet is none too high to afford good ventilation), with a double roof (with air space between roofs) for free ventilation, without direct drafts, is the ideal home for the Belgian. Take your windows out of rabbitry entirely in summer on south and east sides, replacing them with strong wire screens. These will admit plenty of fresh air and keep out dogs and burglars. Then arrange outlets on the side walls near the ceiling for the foul air. Warm, foul air rises, and if you get the currents of air going in the right direction you will always have fresh air without direct drafts. Place the hutches out of the direct currents of air, but where the air will sweep around them, and your bunnies will take on new life and be as happy as clams at high tide. The same kind of a house is equally adapted to the colder climates, save that the walls can be lined with paper in very cold weather, to keep out severe cold, but still arrange for ventilation even in cold weather. Belgians enjoy cold weather, even a temperature of forty degrees below zero, if kept in a dry, warm place away from cold winds and rain. Make your runways partly outdoors and partly indoors, with sliding door to close at nights and other times when necessary. Hares enjoy a run on SANITATION OP THE RABBITRY. 33 the snow as much as the average school boy, and cold, crisp weather is no reason for keeping bunnie indoors, if the weather is dry and not rainy, and free from wind and sleet. As to the hygiene of the hntch itself, there is an opportunity for great improvement. For the hutch made with a flat floor, straw as litter is best for warm weather/ because bunnie loves to brush the straw one side and stretch himself out at full length on the bare floor. It is cooler, and he enjoys it very much. For winter, a layer of clean sawdust with straw over it is the best. The drop- pings fall through the straw and leave a clean, dry place, the sawdust alone becoming wet and dirty. Hutches should be cleaned thoroughly at least once a week; set a certain day of the week for a general cleaning and never change the time for house cleaning afterward. In cleaning the hutch, first take out the hare, then after removing all lit- ter, etc., scrub the hutch thoroughly with soap and hot water. Before replacing bunnie, the hutch must be thoroughly dried or you may expect a sick animal on your hands. Sprinkle some good disinfectant all over the floor, sides and top of hutch. When dry, place clean sawdust and straw or hay in box and it is again ready for occupancy. Bunnie should be placed in a large run or in an 84 STANDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. extra hutch while cleaning the old one. No mat- ter what imiorovements are offered in self-cleaning hutches or those provided with false bottoms or shelves the hutch must be cleaned regardless of any additional flooring. Pure, clean water is essential. Hares are great water drinkers and the vessel should be of stone or crockery as they do not rust or corrode, and can easily be kept clean. Never use a dirty bucket or pail in carrying water to the hutches. The vessel should be some larger than a saucer and about two inches deep. When heavy they do not upset easily and the hare will not climb into the vessel if placed in one corner of the hutch and only half filled. Take the hares out of the boxes occasionally and look them over to see if they are ailing in any way. Sometimes their skin gets dry, harsh and hide-bound. Give them a little linseed once in a fortnight as a. tonic to improve their coat and to tone them up generally. Rub them down and see if their fur is smooth and their skin in a healthy condition. Sometimes they sit in the wet straw and their little feet and hindquarters get irritated. Wash them off and keep them clean, and success in raising Belgian hares will be your reward, as it is with hundreds of others. 35 CHAPTER IV. EABBITEY AND HOW TO BUILD IT. Properly constructed, the rabbitry should be built with a view to perfect sanitation and ventila- tion. Size and elaborateness of design depends on your means and the extent to which you intend entering into the business, but for all practical purposes the building should be about 20 feet wide by any desired length, and if but one story in height, it should be 10 feet to the eaves. A space should be left all around the inside of the building as well as underneath for perfect ven- tilation. The space inside need not be over four inches. The inner wall of this air chamber should be of very fine poultry mesh to keep out rats or mice. The sides should be divided into spaces four feet in length. Cover the front of these spaces or boxes (hutches) with inch wire mesh. Glass tran- soms should be hung from the inside so that they can be controlled from below. Your lower draught should be covered and hinged so that they can be opened or closed when desired. In the construction of the roof there should be a dome four feet wide and eighteen inches high 37 38 STANDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. above the center of the rabbitry. This dome is very essential if yon desire a perfectly ventilated room. The sides of the dome, however, should be provided with glass transoms operated by cords from below. The lower opening supplies the fresh air, while the dome and eaves' opening carries off all foul air drawn in at the bottom. By this method you combine sanitation and ventilation in a perfectly scientific manner. To construct the hutches with a view to con- venience and to keep your rabbitry pure and free from all odors, make your hutches about thirty inches wide, twenty inches high and four or five feet in length. Place the first row of hutches six inches above the lower draught and two inches away from the wire walls. Make your hutch floors from grooved and matched lumber, put in cross- ways; let floor extend over back of hutch about one inch. Eun an eight-inch board along the back of hutch, above which should be placed inch wire mesh, designed for perfect ventilation. Divide the hutches with two-inch poultry mesh, placing it V- shape from one foot at top to nothing at bottom, extending across hutch width; close back end of this tight and make tight door for front. Now you have your hay feeder for two hutches complete in one. To make your nest boxes close up two feet at 39 HOW TO BUILD RABBITRY. 41 back, or one fopt of each hutch; construct three sliding partitions, one solid for your center, the other two with holes near back ends for the hares to. get in and out, with solid fronts made into drop doors so that you can get to the nests. Place from top to bottom, next to your nest box, a board six inches wide with openings cut near top. To this attach your grain feeders. Then you complete front of hutch by making all of remaining space into one door, either hinged or made to slide. This completes your first row of hutches. The top, of course, is formed from the bottom of the next course of hutches. Make but three tiers high and cover the top tier with matched lumber. To equip a large rabbitry, make as above, only have a good well sunk at center of building, with pump and windmill attached; have large supply tank, into which this water is being constantly pumped. Then have a V-shaped trough, about one and one-half inches wide, one inch deep, attached to inside of board running along the back of your hutches, clear through to end of row of hutches; this should be placed in every row; also a spout just one-half that size beneath, and to the back, on outside of floor. This forms a drain for hutches. Have all these pipes, or gutters, attached to your tank, and arranged so as to keep a constant 42 STANDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. flow of fresh water running through these gutters, and have your hutches built slightly sloping from your tank so that the water will be constantly moving. This, too, helps to purify the air in your rabbitry, and if you will sit down and figure a little, you will readily see that with a rabbitry built on this plan two men can take care of a thou- sand hares and their progeny. A well ventilated building is of the greatest importance; but it must not be taken for granted that bunnie should be allowed to suffer from cold any more than from heat. In summer they must be kept as cool as possible. A basement is not a proper place, though if perfectly dry, well ventil- ated and with plenty of light, barring the sun, it may do. O aa hH ^ O H3 43 CHAPTER V. THE BELGIAN HAEE STANDAED. Webster defines "standard" as "that which is established by authority as a rule or measure of quantity, extent, value or quality" or "that which is established as a rule or model by authority, cus- tom or general consent." The Belgian hare standard is the established measure or model of excellence of the Belgian hare. Each government provides and preserves very care- fully a sample of every standard measure. In the case of the Belgian hare this is impossible. Hence the next best thing is done. Experts describe as nearly as possible their ideal of the perfect animal, with the estimated value of its various points, and success in applying the standard depends on the extent to which the judge has cultivated and fixed in his mind this perfect ideal and his ability to readily compare with it the specimen before him. From the nature and very necessity of the case this ideal is not the conception of any one man or any small body of men, but the unified conception of the mass of expert hare breeders of the country where such standard rules or prevails. 45 46 STANDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. Our standard is this united conception of the successful breeders of England, who originally contrived it, and have done so much to make the animal approach so closely as it does to this ideal. It has also satisfied the taste and judgment and won the approval and adoption of the leading breeders of this country. It is not their original and crude ideal, but one arrived at after years of experience and trial extending far beyond the experience of any one in this country, where hare raising is yet in its in- fancy. Whilst these facts do not prove its absolute perfection, they give such evidence of its value that should any of us question its wisdom in any particular we should hesitate long and deliberate very maturely before daring to set up our imma- ture judgment and fragmentary experience against the mature decision of those who have brought the hare to his present high state of beauty and use- fulness. It should not be necessary, neither does it seem proper to state what that standard should always be. There is no controversy about this. Some have undertaken to set up standards of their own. But what is the matured standard of the English breed- ers^ adopted by t-he leading breeders of this coun- try, without classification? — only the disqualifica- One op the finest Bel,gians in America. 47 BELGIAN HARE STANDARD. 49 tions are for the sake of clearness set forth separ- ately. To mentioii some of its uses and to indicate certain things necessary to its highest usefulness is always proper, however. 1st. It is used and is necessary to measure the value of the individual specimen both absolutely and relatively to other individuals. That value is necessarily dependent on the degree of its approach to perfection, and, as has been seen, the standard is the measure of that perfection. It thus furnishes the only correct mode of estimating the commercial value of an animal, thereby laying a solid foundation for successful trade. 2nd. In order to reach approximate perfection in breeding it is necessary to have a fixed guide toward which to direct all efforts. It is self-evi- dent that the standard of perfection is the only real guide to that end. 3rd. It is necessary even to determine the variety of the animal, to say whether it is a Bel- gian, a Flemish Giant, a white rabbit, a jack rab- bit or a cotton tail. Its type depends upon its reas- onable approximation to the standard of the vari- ety. Without a fixed standard, therefore, the whole subject is plunged into inextricable confusion. In order to meet either of these requirements the standard must be universal and uniform. If every 50 STANDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. man has a separate ideal or standard of excellence, there can be no comparison or agreement on yalues, and no such thing as trade. Successful trade depends upon a demand equal or superior to the supply of the article of traffic. The successful hare merchant, therefore, is he who finds the larg- est number of persons who appreciate the variety which he raises and who is able to furnish them the highest types of that variety according to the standard by which their tastes are governed. He is a very bold man who seeks to force the market to a standard of his own. If he prefers another type he is at perfect liberty to cultivate it for his own pleasure, or, if he is convinced that his variation is so superior to the popular favorite that he can turn the tide of public favor and con- viction, let him follow his bent, but if so, he takes risks which many would shun. Uniformity and universality of standard are necessary to proper breeding, because if everyone breeds according to his own caprice, neither unity, permanency nor certainty of type will result. No one person, or small number of persons can develop a variety without too close inbreeding for the pro- duction of the finest specimens. "Whilst the more distant the relationship of the various strains and the greater number of skilled breeders striving BELGIAN HARE STANDARD. 51 toward a comnlon end the better the prospects of success in developing the ideal hare. Another thing important to the success of the Belgian hare industry is the permanency of the standard. A change involves the education of the public taste to desire animals of the new type. During the transition state the confusion of stand- ards discredits both, and the whole industry. The uninitiated conclude that if a long-tried standard is discredited by experts in favor of a new, there is no merit at all in any standard. When the change is complete the whole value as thoroughbred ani- mals of the entire stock of those- bred to the old standard, which is practically all the best in exist- ence, is largely, if not wholly, destroyed. Again, a change of standard interferes with suc- cessful breeding. Persistency of type or feature is only secured by long, systematic and judicious mating, and everyone knows that even now the Belgian type is not so persistent as is to be desired. Black spots are by no means uncommon. Every change of standard necessarily increases this ten- dency. Besides, whatever permanency of type has been secured makes it more difficult to engraft the new feature. The typical Belgian is long in body, graceful in action, and strong in the hindquarters. The ears are long and erect while the animal is in motion, 52 STANDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. and lie flat when in repose. ^'Eufus red," is the reddish brown or golden color called for by the Standard, with black ends to the hair, called "Ticking." The color, however, ranges from fawn to black. The eye is large and bright and of deep hazel color. CONCEENING COLOR The true Belgian hare color, as demanded by the Standard, is hard to describe.. There are so many varying shades of rnfns red that the exact tint or tone is seldom found the same in any two animals. The various terms used to denote the required color are rufus red, reddish brown, cherry red and rust, or rusty red. White and black are the only other colors allowable on a good Belgian. The black is confined to the tips of the longer and coarser hairs of the fur, and is called ticking, and is most abundant along the back and rump; also the black forms the lacing or narrow border which edges the tips of the ears, and this lacing should be as distinct and clear as possible, not running down on the body of the ear and yet reaching clearly and distinctly to the very outer edge. The white, which is permissible on the Belgian, is of a creamy tint and is found underneath the body, the under part of tail, feet, but nowhere else? on the body. ?.^ o t t^ ^§ m -^ 01 O -i. M I BELGIAN HARE STANDARD. 55 A true golden red is highly desirable in a show specimen^ providing there is sufficient ticking, but as the natural tendency is to grow lighter with age, a dark specimen is usually a better show ani- mal than a light one, after six or eight months of age. Forelegs should be of a true golden color without white bars or heavy ticking. On the hind feet is a richer shade and clearer color, and al- though this is a desirable point, it is found only in the best specimens. Another desirable point is shape of hind feet, which should be slender and not of that heavy, coarse appearance which is pos- sessed by the jack rabbit. Fine breeding will quickly show in this feature of the general makeup. The dark under-color should not extend more than a fourth of the way up the length of the fur, and the lighter in color the better. Young ani- mals are quite imperfect in this respect, but with each month the under-color improves. It is well to bear in mind that the buck is par- ticularly prepotent in producing color. It is, therefore, of great importance that the buck should be of as good a color as possible. He should also possess good length of body and limbs, as long and as narrow a head as possible, and should be rather lightly ticked. As it is practically impossible to secure a buck possessing all the standard requirements of perfection, it is most 56 STANDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. important that we know which requirements are the most necessary for him to possess in order to produce fine stock. The doe must possess great length of body and limb, and also a long, narrow head. She should be quite heavily ticked, and a shade or two deeper in color than the buck. An ideal color-mating would be a buck possessing rather light, fiery red, known as "golden tan," mated with a doe of a deep, rich, ruf us red. The great craze for the rufus red coloring, in both common and pedigreed stock, has greatly improved the appearance of the hare of today, especially as to the feet, which seem to be the hard- est points to secure the proper coloring. Don't expect perfect colored feet on your common stock, as only highest priced stock get this, but by the use of a good pedigreed buck on common does, even with some white on front feet, you can pro- duce young with good feet and plenty of red on back of neck, chest, and also tend to increase length and make ticking more uniform. Like poultry, the Belgian hare can be judiciously bred to improve in color and shape until nearly perfect, and a great deal of the pleasure, and especially the profit, comes from producing such specimens. In color the Belgian is a yellowish red when mature with white upon the belly; and with long erect ears. They are nearly black when born; turn BELGIAN HARE STANDARD. 57 almost gray when a week old^, but darken and red- den as they approach maturity. There should be care used in breeding which will improve the quality and color of the animal and make them more attractive. CONCEENING SCORING. There are five times as many 95 to 96^-point hares reported, as there are fowls that score 95 to 96-|. Yet, there are one thousand fowls raised to one hare, and fowls for twenty-five years have been subject to score card applications of their standard, and if the system is just and best, surely 95 to 9 6^ should be reached in fowls with ten times the fre- quency as in hares. In the first place, weight is dodged in scoring. This should surely militate against the "little un^^ as was granted. But this evil in time will correct itself, for weight is as much a consideration in hares as in poultry, and when we reduce both to practical lines it becomes the one important factor in hare culture, as in poultry. The score card intelligently done, the judge can bet his last dol- lar that these cards will place the awards relatively among the seven best specimens with far more accuracy than by comparison; again if the decimal system is followed, commended cards may reach more than seven specimens; he compares each 58 STANDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. specimen to the standard, which every judge has by heart, and he saves the time wasted in compar- ing the specimen with seven others, and when the class is scored the cards are counted and the win- ners are determined at a glance, and what is more, the exact merit is placed by the point they score. If the work has been for the score that shows speci- mens to score 92 or more, if they are within one point of the money prizes — first and second — ^will be entitled to a commended position, which shows them to be eligible to first premiums in the absence of anything better in onr arbitrary exhibitions. The rabbit judges are wading through the slough that poultry judges waded long ago, when our standard was at variance with the laws of per cent, and when this occurs the judge, nine times out of ten, ignores the law and becomes a law unto himself. The judges of hares have started at too low a valuation on defects. When a defect is discernible at a glance, it is folly to place its detrimental value so low as J of one per cent — 1-40 of a section valued at ten points. If the same law governed them as in poultry, they should count a described defect one-half point, consider- ing the more serious ones in a like proportion, they then would see their awards stand comparison with the poultry awards and the number scoring 93 to 96 would show relative standing. It is a BELGIAN HARE STANDARD. 59 known fact thaf the score card system for hares was based upon the system as used in poultry cul- ture. Now, the argument that a judge scored two specimens alike, proves nothing for the score card system. It only becomes a guarantee of the intelligence of the judge who is working. Any judge, whether he be a law unto himself, or whether that law has been established for him by the standard, recognizes this fact, just as some judges have established the decimal law in apply- ing all standards. Whether for horses, cattle, hares, or fowls, the one score card applies to all standards. The following score card for hares is used by some judges: Condition and weight, 10 points. Ears — position, carriage, color, 10 points. Head and eyes, with shape and color, 10 points. Neck and chest, with color, 10 points. Elbows, forelegs, feet, with color, 10 points. Back and loin, with color other than ticking, 10 points. Length, stretch and ticking, 10 points. Hips, quarters, with tail color, 10 points. Belly, spring of ribs, with color, 10 points. Gambrel joint, hind legs and feet, with color, 10 points. Total, 100 points. With each section correctly described it makes 60 STANDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. the work complete, and secures a perfect considera- tion of every part, while the even distribution of points compels even development that prevents fads stepping in to control a herd, while it protects against unjust considerations, which follows defects found in sections that have been over- valued. The score card works the discount, and if the section be over-valued, each defect becomes over-valued, and the very seeming advantage becomes an evil to the specimen. In America, 92 is demanded to win a first, and exhibitors in poultry never intend to show one to score less in the open class. Again, as a rule the best five per cent, whether cattle, fowls or hares are shown, with the fact in view that it is as easy to raise one hundred to score 92, as one to score 93|, and as easy to raise one hundred to score 94 as one to score 95, is it then a strange position to find two of the best of a large class scoring within five points of each other? The writer has seen sixty-three White Wyandottes score 92 to 96 J in a class of 103, and twenty that scored 94-J or bet- ter. The same principle will follow hare judging and many will score exactly the same, but in those cases the heaviest wins; the breaking of the tie is taken out of the judge's hand. This failing, the best shape wins over best color; weight and shape equal, best color decides the prize. These rules BELGIAN HARE STANDARD. 61 and laws settle aU these minor questions, but the specimen cannot be robbed of its record of merit; that stands on his or her individual right, and it is this record that determines its valuation. It is a positive merit, not a comparative one, which raises a whole class in valuation, enabling the owner and breeder to sell the unplaced specimens at a price in keeping with that received for the winners. While by comparison the winner and commended take all the emoluments, leaving the others at a low price because of the want of a record. The following is the standard of excellence required by many judges and will be found inval- uable in scoring your own hares in the absence of a regular judge. This score has been adopted by the National Belgian Hare club of America: Disqualifications: — 1, Lopped or fallen ear or ears. 2, White front feet or white bar or bars on same. 3, Decidedly wry front feet. 4, Wry tail. A specimen should have the benefit of any doubt. Coloe: — Eich rufus red (not dark, smudgy color), carried well down sides and hind quarters, and as little white under the jaws as possible 20 Ticking :^Eather wavy appearance and plenti- ful 15 62 STANDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. Shape: — Body — Long, thin, well tucked up flank, and well ribbed up; back — slightly arched; loins — well rounded, not choppy; . head — rather lengthy; muscular chest; tail — straight, not screwed; and altogether a racy appearance 20 Eaes: — About five inches, thin, well laced on tips, and as far down outside edges as pos- sible; good color outside and inside, and well set on. : . . / 10 Eyes: — Hazel color, large, round, bright and bold 10 Legs and Feet: — Forefeet and legs — long, straight, slender, well colored and free from white bars; hind feet — as well col- ored as possible 10 Size : — About eight pounds 5 Condition: — Not fat, but flesh firm, like a race horse, and good quality of fur 5 Without Dewlap 5 Total 100 CHAPTER VI. SELECTION OF BREEDING STOCK. In selecting breeding stock there are some minor details which should also be noted. Length of ankle joint in the front feet: The specimen should stand well up on its toes. A weak ankle joint will result in a deformed front foot, and is quite often the cause of wry foot, which is a disqualification. One of the most difficult defects to breed out of stock is any white in the front feet. Many persons are of the opinion that hares to be bred for meat only may be of any sort or kind. If one would stop to consider he would come to a very different conclusion. A razor-back hog does not make as good pork as a thoroughbred animal. The same holds good with hares. In selecting a pair of breeders, either for meat or fancy, get as high a grade as you can afford. Choose a lengthy animal, with a bright, round eye, erect ears, smooth, shining coat, good, straight feet. In the doe get a small head; the buck, as good a head as possible. It is essential that the buck should be as good as possible. If one cannot afford a choice buck, better take your doe to one 63 64 STANDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. that is fine tlian to own a poor one and breed to tliat. Tlie same rules apply to breeding hares. As to other animals too close inbreeding is not desirable. Mate yonr pair to overcome whatever faults exist in the doe, and if yon are nnable to get the best to begin with, if yon have the blood of a fine line of stock and breed properly, yon can bring yonr stock np in time to a high standard. This can never be done by buying scrub stock to start with nor added later. In selecting stock do not keep too many to begin with. Six does and one buck are a useful stud, though many prefer two bucks — one a deep rich color and the other a bright golden tan. Get your does of various shades of color; do not despise the dark ones, but avoid all those that are gray on top and sides; these are useless. Dark does properly mated will often throw youngsters with grand depth of color. They cannot be too long in body or limbs, and they must be long and fine in fore- legs, the latter being entirely free from dark hairs, with a rich red color on chest; hind feet well cov- ered — the richer the color the better. Well covered hind feet are of great importance in breeding stock. The ears must be well carried, not lopping over in the least, and not too long or coarse; they must be well laced — that is to say, they must show a very deep black edging on the tips of the ears. 65 SELECTION OP BREEDING STOCK. 67 The head should be, in both buck and doe, as long and fine as possible. Bucks naturally have rounder, thicker heads than does, but a round ball of a head is a great drawback on a buck for showing; there- fore strive after length and fineness of the head. The body or top color should show a deep rich red underneath when the fur is blown aside, and should be tickled with black hairs in a broken, wavy manner, and not even, as in the Silver and Gray, or the wild rabbit. Keep a sharp lookout for color; especially for that rich golden tan, so diffi- cult to describe and so hard to get. Pedigree is of great use, especially if you want to inbreed a little, or to avoid doing so; but do not lose sight of the fact that pedigrees may be manu- factured to order. So do not buy pedigree, but the type and color you want; and refuse any other. Nothing will prove cheap that you do not want; never mind how long the pedigree or high sound- ing or aristocratic the name may be. Mr. C. W. Bowen, manager of the Northwestern Belgian Hare Co., Chicago and Minneapolis, is one of the highest authorities on the Belgian hare in America. His company is the owner of the famous Emperor Fashoda and Fashoda King, direct sons of Champion Fashoda; the former is valued at $1,500, while the latter has been sold for $5,000. In the matter of selection for breeding stock the 68 STANDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. advice given by Mr. Bowen should not be consid- ered lightly. He says that while it costs a trifle more to start with high priced stock, the returns will be so much greater that one will not regret having paid fifty or even a hundred dollars for a good Belgian. Anyone contemplating raising Bel- gian hares will do well to consult Mr. Bowen, who is making a specialty of the Fashoda strain, and which he has found by experience to be the most popular as well as the most profitable of the many excellent strains in this country. The breeding doe should be finely built, long in limbs with a wild hare-like eye, and a long, fine, thin head. The front part should be fine and nar- row, the hindquarters roomy and strong, with the arched back and as long as possible from the hocks to the end of the toes. The ears finely set on and deeply laced at the tips. Such a doe, if she carries a fair amount of color, is one any breeder will have cause to be proud of. Breeders should always remember that shape and style generally comes from the doe, therefore it is one of the chief points, in breeding Belgians, that the doe should possess those good qualities. Speaking generally, the color comes from the male side. That being so, it is essential to success that the best colored bucks should be used for breeding purposes. Those possessing deep lacing SELECTION OF BREEDING STOCK. 69 and well colored hind feet, even if they are a bit strong in build and bone, are generally the best sires. One other important matter novices are apt to neglect, is the proper mating to produce animals of the correct color and with the proper body tick- ing. Some think the way to breed Al specimens is to mate both the buck and doe possessing the bright rich rufus color; never was a greater mistake made, and those who breed on those lines will find that they are on the wrong track. In those bright colored ones you get little or no foundation, and as a rule you will find them deficient even in ticking and with very poor ear lacing. In all our breed- ing operations, due regard must be made for all points that go to make up an exhibit possessing the qualities of a champion. Judges require shape, length, fineness of limbs, long, lean heads, deep lacing, well colored hind feet, little or no ticking on the chest and fore feet, a wavy ticked body, and the rich rufus golden color all through, and if you can get the rich, deep colored blue to the roots of the skin, all the better will be the animal, both in the show pen and for breeding purposes. Eev. Geo. F. Hall, the well-known author, lec- turer and preacher, takes a keen interest in the Belgian hare industry. He is the happy father of 70 STANDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. three boys, and thought the care of a few animals would keep them out of mischief and train them somewhat in business at the same time. So in July, 1900, he purchased a few select bunnies from a conscientious breeder of high-grade stock. The result is a model home rabbitry^ located in the basement of the doctor's residence at 508 Eddy street, Chicago, operated under the firm name of Hall Beothees — Paul^ Barton and "Wendell, aged, respectively, 13, 10 and 5. The boys now have nearly a hundred "bunnies, some of them very fine. General Dash heads their stud. He was sired by Champion Dash. Dam Denver Beauty. Scored in November by Judge H. C. Halfpenny, Los Angeles, 95^. He is a magnificent buck, whose offspring thus far fully warrants his high mark- ings. Dr. Hall says Belgian hare meat will be the meat of the future. He predicts that good blood will always bring good prices, and insists that be- ginners should never consider anything but high- bred animals for foundation stock. SUGGESTIONS AS TO BREEDING. To become a successful fancier of the Belgian hare, many things are to be learned. The most essential of all, perhaps, is to make proper matings. SELECTION OF BREEDING STOCK. 73 This is in itself a science, requiring careful study. A careless, haphazard pairing will almost invaria- bly produce inferior progeny — ^it is much easier to travel down hill than up. A successful fancier, one who breeds prize-winners, is he who constantly has in mind an exact picture of the standard or ideal hare. Be it an inferior or a high grade doe, he looks ahead for a mate that is strong in the par- ticular points in which the doe is deficient, thus building up the weak points. Beginners often make a serious mistake in select- ing a buck for their stud by not giving the subject sufficient thought or study. They, as well as many who are in the business, have little idea of the great importance of this feature of the industry. If you are in need of a; buck, look your does over care- fully, and if you find the majority of them too dark in color or heavily ticked, get a mate that is rather weak in these features. If you are the happy and fortunate possessor of a fancy doe, study her care- fully, note her weak and strong points. If she is short in coupling, be sure and stretch her young- sters by mating her to a buck that is long in body. If deficient in color, particularly of body and hind feet, or lacking in ticking, improve the young by breeding to a buck strong in these features, etc. Look to the main points first in preference to the improvement of sections of less importance. If 74 STAisfDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. yon have a high grade buck and you cannot mate yonr does to him scientifically, it will be money in yonr pocket to spend a fee of $10, or even $25, in order to get proper mating. But don't mate her to a buck simply because he is a prize-winner, a champion or a multi-champion. If they do not mate properly, you will stand a better chance of securing prize-winning youngsters from some cheap unknown buck, provided the pair make a scientific mating. People make a very serious mistake in expect- ing prize-winners from an ordinary doe. It is just as essential to have a good doe as a good buck in order to get the best results. If you make a study of the subject you are sure to succeed. It may take some time, but don't expect a prize-winner with every litter. Eemember, there are other people in the business besides yourself. If you receive a winner in every dozen litters from good specimens you may consider yourself fortunate. Also remember that prize-winners are born, not made. They are often ruined before reaching the exhibition stage by improper feeding and lack of exercise. It will be harder to win prizes in the future in prominent shows than it has been in the past, as there are hundreds of wide-awake fanciers in the field where there was one a few months ago, and there will be thousands of Bel- Owned by the Des Flaiistes Belgian Hare Co., Chicago. SELECTION OP BREEDING STOCK. 77 gians to select from next fall where there was one a year previous. Beginner, if you want a hand in the game, get to the head of the procession by securing the best doe you can find, make the proper mating and nature will do the rest. Always put the doe into the buck's pen and not vice versa. Try and get the weak points in shape, color, etc., of the one to be shown strongly for the better in the other. Thus, if the buck is dark in color and short in body or limbs, the doe must be bright in color and long and racy throughout — then you may hope for good results. Be very care- ful of inbreeding. This undoubtedly gives color and brings out emphatically the good points of the parent stock, but it does the same with all the bad points, such as white hairs and feet, crooked joints, putty noses, etc., and nearly always a decided loss of stamina, with snuffles, more or less. If inbreed- ing is tried, let it be with very sound and perfect stock, or not at all. It is a risky process, and often causes bitter disappointment and loss of time. Don't let your does breed too often. Four times a year is quite often enough, and never breed a doe before she is fully matured or about six months old. Another important point that needs atten- tion; if you want your stock to keep in good coat, never breed stock that is in moult or half through its coat. If you do, you will find your stock will 78 STANDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. jnoult at all seasons of tlie year^ and hardly ever be in full coat. The doe should be handled but little after being bred and not at all after the first two weeks, unless absolutely necessary and then only with the great- est of care. She should not be re-bred sooner than a month from time of having young. The young should be weaned when six weeks old. Eight young is all a doe should be expected to raise at one time. At time of kindling keep her supplied with good fresh water. Separate the sexes when three months .of age. Inbreeding should not be allowed; it will deteriorate the stock. Change bucks as often as convenient and use care and study in mating so that weak points in the doe may be supplied by corresponding strong ones in the buck and vice versa. Always handle gently and every hare will become a pet; they appreciate kindness. A doe should not be bred more than four times a year, and better results are obtained if bred only three times a year. There is an old saying that hares will breed dur- ing every month with an "r." "VVe believe better results will be obtained by giving the doe a rest in summer. Experience proves it unprofitable to breed dur- ing extremely hot weather. Many valuable does are lost if bred in July and August. Use nothing SELECTION OP BREEDING STOCK. 79 but perfectly healthy animals in breeding, and don't use those with even a cold; it may lead to snuffles, or something worse. All hares do not need the same treatment; one maybe needs to be matched for color, another for size and shape. Get an ideal fixed in your mind and breed to it, and keep everlastingly at it till you get it. CHAPTER VII. CAEE OF THE YOUNG. In the following remarks on the care of the young, the reader will observe a seeming repeti- tion in the manner of caring for the yonng during the period of nnrsing and weaning. The opinions of half a dozen successful breeders are. presented, and though they differ slightly there is a wonderful unanimity as to the main facts — they are substan- tially in agreement. The several opinions are presented, from which the young breeder can form his own views and establish his own system of feeding and management, though founded mainly on the experience of the older and more extensive breeders. About one week before kindling you will find your doe taking all of her straw and starting her nest. Give her plenty of hay or straw to build with, and leave her alone to complete the same. The day or night previous to kindling you will find her pull- ing the soft fur from her own body to line her nest and cover the young when born. If not pre- vented by spreading boards or wire netting over the surface of the ground the doe will burrow and 80 OARE OF THE YOUNG. 81 produce her young in a chamber about five feet under the ground. In tliis, the animal follows a trait of the rabbit and not of the hare; another rab- bit quality is that the young do not open their eyes until about ten days after birth^ while hares are born with their eyes open. But with all these qualities of unconformity there is no doubt that the animal is a hare. It has the small fore limbs and the large^ strong, kangaroo-like hind legs of the hare, and it moves by leaps and bounds. Do not get too curious to examine the young for a day or two, and then only to remove any that may be dead; you may rest assured that the doe knows more about raising her young than you do and ne^ds no help. From now on, you will need to feed liberally on grain and hay; also give some bread soaked in milk, which will help out her nursing qualities, as a nestful of from six to a dozen active yoimg are a drag on the mother, and she needs plenty to eat. In about two weeks you will see the young coming out of the nest box; a little dry oatmeal or corn- chops and bran in a low dish will help to get them started to eating and ease up a little on the mother. You will notice that the doe will lie on top of the nest box to get away from her young so as to rest. Provide a dry, cool place for' her to lie during the heat of the day. 82 STANDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. You will be surprised at the rapid growth of your litter of young. They will now begin to eat everything placed before them, but you must also bear in mind that from three weeks to three months of age is the critical period in the life of a Belgian hare. The young hare is more liable to slobbers at about weaning time than at any other period in its life. If the sick leveret is removed at once to a box by itself and fed on nothing but dry grain or oatmeal, with very little water to drink, the slobbers will soon disappear. Young hares will do just as well on good alfalfa, or clean hay, with a change of grain every other day, soaking the whole-oats over night to soften the hull. After weaning, place your young stock in a hutch by themselves, and feed carefully for a week or ten days just what they will eat up clean twice a day, morning and evening. Give a variety, but do not overfeed, and at three months separate males from females and place in large pen on ground until ready to breed. At this age you can keep from 50 to 100 in a pen together and save considerable time-in caring for them. You must see that the mother doe always has fresh water on hand, even if you have to get it five or more times a day. If possible, also, a little o tt W ^^ a c I m d z o O 83 CARE OF THE YOUNG. 85 dandelion, as many does, especially with first litter, have fever and in their frenzy will destroy the young. If you have homeopathic remedies, give the doe aconite when restless, and if the eyes are blood- shot give her belladonna three or four times a day, two drops for a dose in a tablespoonful of water. This will cure her quickly. Next day, feed doe on carrots, as they increase the milk. If there is any dead among the young, remove them, but handle the live ones and mother as little as possi- ble, and never expose them to strong light. Feed the doe at least three or four times a day, as she will eat more than double the amount of food she ate before having her young. Give her stale bread, soaked in milk. Watch that young do not get too much green food. Give them, every morning, a mash composed of one-half fine- cut clean clover hay, and half oats — ^better rolled oats for very young hares — cornmeal and bran, in equal proportions. Put a little bit of salt in it and mix well. Moisten the whole with one-half sweet milk and one-half water, but only moisten it; do not make it mushy. This stale bread soaked also in partly milk and water, and good clover hay, is suificient to make them grow. See that the little hares cannot run over drink- ing vessel; they will die if they get wet frequently. 86 STANDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. Do not be afraid to feed your young growing stock oats once a day. It will make them strong. Hares do not get sick from eating oats; the trouble must be looked for somewhere else. Give your young hares considerable freedom. When you have sev- eral does with young about six weeks old, put about two dozen young hares in a wire run about fifteen feet square, and place a long box, or hollow log, in center, but see that rain does not get in. Leave them together until three months old; then separate the bucks and does. Leave the does together until breeding time, or when they are old enough to breed, at least six months, as a doe will stop growing in length as soon as with young. The does will not fight if they are brought up together. They will sometimes in a small pen or hutch, but will not in a large place where they can keep out of each other's way. When seven to nine months old, take a good buck and turn him loose amongst the does. The buck cannot worry them, if he is not needed, as they can run away; and in about three weeks put each doe in a sepa- rate run and hutch. In the coldest weather, even while snowing, the hares will stay outside all night; only when it is raining do they seek shelter. Hurdles in the runs of the young animals afford them proper exercise for lengthening the body and for best development. These should be about one CARE OF THE YOUNG. 87 foot high and about four or five feet apart, extend- ing across the narrow way of the run. In care of the young the most important item to be observed is the feeding for nursing doe. Eolled oats, peas, carrots sparingly, bread and milli once a day. Many prefer a warm mash of boiled flaxseed, shorts, lentels and bran. Better keep their appetites sharp than the other extreme. When the youngsters begin to show themselves, which is in twelve to fifteen days, place a dish of bran at the entrance of the box. They will be weaned at about six weeks; it is better for both that they remain together about two months, or perhaps a little less time. It pays to give them a little extra care in feeding them at this time. Place hurdles in the pen for exercise, and give them all the run you can; don't sell before three months old, as both you and the intending purchaser at that time cannot get a fair idea of what they will be when older. Meat Stock Does do not require a great amount of room in which to exercise; in fact the least exertion the more meat. Chopped hay mixed with a little bran is excellent food, and can be fed every morning. The care of young stock really begins about ten days before they are born. At that time the doe's rations should be increased, and a good quan- 88 STANDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. tity of bread and milk should be added. She, also, should have considerable green food of some description, such as cabbage, carrots, parsnips or green alfalfa or clover hay. When the day is due for her to kindle it is necessary that she be sup- plied with an extra quantity of fresh cool water, as during this period she is possessed of abnormal thirst, and in her frenzy is quite apt to kill and eat the young to appease it. Do not molest her during this period, but wait for three or four days after the young are born, then move the doe from the hutch, and allow her to run on the rabbitry floor. You may then examine the young, remov- ing the dead, if such there be, and if the number of young are in excess of eight they should either be given to some other doe having a small litter of the same age or killed, as it is an extra fine nursing doe that will successfully raise more than this number. Feed the doe all she will eat, allow- ing food to stand before her at all times — oats, hay, alfalfa, green food and bread and milk if possible, continuing these rations until the young are weaned, which can be done at six weeks of age during warm weather, but not before eight or ten weeks old in cold weather. After the young are weaned food can be allowed to stand before them at all times until they are about three months a buck whose official, score shows perfection in form and symmetry in every point in body. property op Ben T. Hardin, Manager Beacon Hill Belgian Hare Co., Kansas City, Mo CARE OF THE YOUNG. 91 old, as prior to this period it will not injure tlieir shape. After they are three months old^ the food should be cut down to just what they will eat up clean within one hour, as over-feeding at this age will render them what is termed by the breeder "pot- bellied/' or something of a kangaroo shape. They should be watched closely to avoid this, as per- fection in shape requires that the girth around the stomach should be no greater than around the heart. When weaned they should be placed in as large quarters as possible, as exercise is one of the most potent factors in creating an exhibi- tion specimen of fine shape and style, and it also hardens the muscles and renders the flesh firm, as is called for by the standard. The foregoing relates principally to stock raised for the show room and for fine breeders. From date of birth the care of young hares is left to the doe until the young begin to feed, which will usually be about the twelfth or four- teenth day. If it is desired to push them forward, a little bread and milk once a day may be given. This may be alternated with plain corn bread or dry chop. These, with oats, and now and then some oat flakes, will be found an excellent diet for the doe and young. At six weeks old the young must be taken away 92 STANDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. from the doe and put in pens by themselves. If put in with other young of about equal age, they should be so marked as to enable you to distin- guish their parentage. Usually this is done by clipping a very small nick in the ear,, and making a memorandum of the mark, so as to be able at any time to fix the identity of the young. After they are taken from the doe the most critical time for the young begins, and for some weeks the greatest care should be taken to avoid errors of feeding. If the doe has not been used to green food, none should be given to the young until they are past three months old, and then very sparingly until they are accustomed to it. 'No soft feed should be given to a specimen intended for show purposes, as its flesh will be flabby. The best results are generally obtained by a strict dry food course. When three months old the does and bucks must be separated and a record kept, so that they can be known and no mistake made as to parentage. This can be done by putting in separate pens, but when the room is not available, the marking must be resorted to in order to avoid losing track of the parentage, as above stated. It seems to be needless to say that all hares must have plenty of fresh water at all times, and should be changed twice a day, and three or more times CARE OP THE YOUNG. 93 in summer. A change from alfalfa to clover hay, and once in a while other kinds, can be used for a change, but alfalfa is probably the best for a usual feed. After three to four months of age a hare may be fed liberally of hay, all kinds of grains, sugar beets, cabbage, turnips, pea-pods, or anything from the house in the vegetable line except potato peelings. Very little from the table need go to waste. Never allow a water dish to be empty. It is surprising to see the amount of water that can be consumed by one doe, and especially one with young, which will drink from two weeks of age. CHAPTER VIII. HOW AND WHAT TO FEED. In the preceding chapter mnch valuable infor- mation on feeding has been introduced along with the general care of the young. The following notes on how and what to feed have been gath- ered from the opinions of many successful breeders^ and are therefore more to be relied upon than the opinions of one person, no matter how successful he may have been in raising hares. Any one contemplating going into the Belgian hare business will do well to begin where the author did and read every word and sentence in the book; he will then be prepared to adopt such measures as have brought success to many in the hare busi- ness. How you feed depends upon what you are aim- ing at. If you are feeding for the show pen, you need to use such food as will develop the muscle and make the flesh hard and firm. The English standard of points does not call for fat, nor big specimens with overfeeding, or by feeding on food that makes too much flesh, and in that way destroying the shape. Great care and discretion 94 HOW AND WHAT TO PEED. 95 must he used in feeding specimens for the show pen. Many does kindle 8 to 12 in one litter. When this is the case the best way is to secure a foster mother and divide the litter. Four or five youngsters are quite enough for any one doe to bring up^ especially if they are reared for the show pen. Eight from the first the doe should have a liberal supply of milk and bread. This with whole oats and a good supply of sweet hay and roots will give the youngsters such a start that they are bound to grow well and develop. Young- sters, that by reason of insufficient food or from being brought up by a doe having too many young, are stunted in their growth and never make good adults. It is far better to be satisfied with a small number of good ones, than to let the doe bring up too many and in this manner spoil the lot. Having got the youngsters on the move, see that they have plenty of room in the hutch, and when they get to be eight weeks old take half the litter from the doe. In another two days take one away and so on till all the litter has been taken away. The reason for taking them away in batches, is because if you take all away together the doe will have trouble with her milk. If the youngsters are taken away in batches and the milk dries up gradually of itself, then you need have no fear of the doe having milk fever. 96 STANDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. One of tlie best ways to treat youngsters after tliey have left the doe, is to put them in a large run. In the center, place a hurdle for them to jump over. Eaise the height of the hurdle as the youngsters grow older and can with ease jump over it. In this way you get muscle, shape and carriage, three points of importance in an exhibi- tion specimen. Feed twice a day and see that the food given each morning is cleared away before you give a second feeding. Eemember you can feed for shape and it is quite as important as- breeding for shape. To breed for shape and not to feed for shape is suicidal. On the other hand, to feed for shape and not to breed for shape is of no avail; both must go together if you wish to be successful. If, however, you are raising Bel- gians for meat, then this manner of feeding is alto- gether wrong. Feed oats and corn chop in the morning and oats in the evening and occasionally a little wheat. Alfalfa or clover hay .twice, and a little green stuff of some kind once a day is necessary. Don't feed more than they will clean up nicely before anotheT feeding time, and feed lightly of corn chop or any- thing heating in warm weather. Give a little oatmeal once a day for nursing does or young stock for awhile after weaning. Bread and milk once or twice a day for youngsters and does with 97 HOW AND WHAT TO FEED. 99 families, is something that should not be neglected. Some people say "don't have too much milk, just enough to wet the bread/' or "don't have it too rich." Give them plenty of milk, fresh from the cow, and yon will get splendid results. The little fellows watch for their milk with as much eagerness as does a litter of pigs. The hare will eat almost anything that a cow, sheep or horse will; he is especially fond of vegetables, but care should be taken, when changing from dry to green food, not to feed too much of the latter. A change of diet is good. Along with the soft food, various fancy spices mixed with the meal will be found of advantage in giving an appetite and getting on weight at an early age. A variety of food is highly desirable, and over- feeding is as bad as under-feeding. Highly nutritious food and very little exercise tend to cause snuffles, by producing overheated blood, which becomes clogged with impurities, and dis- ease is sure to follow. Alfalfa or clover hay, green or dry, is the favor- ite food; meal, bread, turnips, cabbage, carrots and often oats soaked for three or four hours in water, with a teaspoonful of salt, and then drained for an hour or more before feeding. Oatmeal makes L.pfC. 100 STANDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. a fine feed for the young. Peach leaves and twigs should be given frequently. In summer feed sparingly of grain, better none than too much. It is too heating. Bran and oats well scalded and salted a little; plenty of hay and corn chops baked in a regular old-fashioned Johnnie cake, will fatten them in fine shape. Do not feed all they will gorge of cabbage or any other green stuff. It will bloat the old ones and give the young scours. Feed no damaged hay or grain; nothing but clear, bright hay and plump grain should be fed to any stock. DonH feed raw potato peelings. They have proven fatal in many instances, and it is best to avoid feeding anything known to be poisonous, or having a bad effect on the health of the animal. Do not forget to feed salt. We would soon crave it ourselves if deprived the taste of it for an indefinite length of time. Cottonwood branches and leaves, especially peach leaves, are well liked by the hares- and must be beneficial. They seem to crave something bitter. CHAPTER IX. PEEYALENT DISEASES AND CUBES. Treat your stock without handling, if possible; this is the first important item to be considered, and is the first remedy to be prescribed for all diseases. It might be added that this caution applies to all animals, fowls, etc. The following list of diseases is as near perfect as it can now be made, owing to the comparatively limited knowledge we have of the hare as yet. While the number is, after all, quite large, still it is seldom that one herd is ever afiiicted ' with more than two or three at one time and by apply- ing the following remedies to the afflicted animal, according to the nature of his ailment, you will prevent not only the spread of any particular dis- ease which may have attacked your herd, but fur- ther complications resulting from neglect: SNUFFLES, OR INFLUENZA. The colds that are "caught" in damp, nasty weather are different from those produced by dry cold winds, both in rabbits and human beings, but the difference in distinguishing and treating them 101 102 STANDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. is too technical for the practical use of the breeder. Hydrogen peroxide, hydrozone, pyrozone, pero- gen, etc., are all the same thing as peroxide of hydrogen. The different names are used by dif- ferent manufacturing chemists to avoid infringing on the trade marks of competitors. Every hare that sneezes is not a subject for treatment as above. Some sneeze nearly every time they begin to eat. They inhale a little dust from their hay or oats, and it causes them to sneeze. On examination, their nostrils will be found to be dry. Some hares have chronic catarrh. They had a touch of influenza at one time and got over the acute form themselves, or got over it in spite of improper treatment, which is the same thing. They will live just as long in this condition as those that are not so afflicted — sneez- ing considerable in wet, nasty weather, and stop- ping almost entirely in warm, dry weather. If a very valuable animal, and you are determined to cure it, go to a homeopathic physician, or a homeopathic pharmacy, and get one-half ounce of natrum carb. 3X (which is nothing more nor less than common baking soda, but which has been refined in sugar of milk) and give what will lie on a small knife blade, twice daily. In addition, get 10 cents' worth of albolene (refined Eussian petroleum) and, with the dropper, put three or DISEASES AND CURES. 103 four drops in each nostril once a day. If you find it necessary to use pero'xide of liydj'ogen more than two or three times in acute influenza, as sug- gested above, an occasional application of the albolene will keep the nostrils from getting raw and needlessly paining the hare under treatment. The natrum carh. will cure the majority of cases of chronic catarrh in time. Don^t give crude bak- ing soda. The refined drug possesses an entirely different curative principle from the crude drug. It must be understood that fat is composed of margarine, pelmatine and sterine. The fatty degeneration which takes place in the liver is caused by the absence of the margarine, which gives body to the fat, without which it is simply an oil, and becomes a foreign bodyr This oily substance mixes wdth the bi-carbonate of soda in the blood and forms a soap. The organs are affected by this sodo-fat. Being a foreign sub- stance, it becomes an irritant and must be gotten rid of. It therefore escapes through the avenues of least resistance, which are the lungs; this allows its further escape through the liostrils and pro- duces the disease which is called SNUFFLES. The fat enters into the circulation and supplies heat to the body, and when there is an absence of 104 STANDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. margarine, this cannot take place, and such a condition produces a chill. An accumulation about the liver is caused, which forms a foreign nodule, which collects and shuts off excretion. The result is a degeneration in the life forces. Treatment should consist of such remedies as will stimulate the skin, kidneys and bowels. The disease is contagious, therefore animals so afficted should be confined in different quarters from healthy ones. When an animal is found to be suffering from snuffles take listerine one part to five parts water and using an atomizer, which can be purchased at any drug store, spray the nostrils thoroughly, holding the atomizer about a foot from the nose. This treatment should be repeated several times daily in severe cases until the animal is cured. Grive internally five drops of the following, three times daily: Tincture aconite root, one-half drachm; syrup of squills, one drachm; syrup of ipecac, two drachms; spirits nitre, three drachms; water to make four ounces; mix. Given in doses of three drops once or twice will effect a cure. In treating snuffles, which is nothing more nor less than "a cold in the head," such as human beings suffer from, peroxide of hydrogen is a sov- ereign remedy. If used the first or second day of the cold, one or two applications will be suffi- DISEASES AND CURES. 105 cient. Peroxide of hydrogen is the greatest germicide ever discovered — ^far superior to lister- ine. Fill a medicine dropper about half full and squirt half the quantity thus taken into each nostril. Do not apply oftener than twice daily. If the case has been neglected for a few days and the nose has stopped running, the cold has passed to the bronchial tubes or the lungs, the hare begins to cough, and you soon have a case of lung fever on your hands. At this stage, before the lungs become too much involved, some good cough medi- cine will generally cure, if begun in time. Shiloh's Cure for Consumption is one of the best '^^ready made^^ medicines known for this purpose. Give three or four drops by means of the dropper in the mouth, three times a day. Don't give too large a dose, nor too often, or it will do more harm than good. (Which is true of a good many good medi- cines.) The cough syrup should be diluted with water. Take a small, clean vial and fill half full of cough- syrup, then fill up with water. By thus diluting, it will work better in the dropper, and is just as effective in cure. When a cold has reached this stage, the peroxide of hydrogen is . not so effective, but a couple of applications may be beneficial. The use of quinine in the treatment of hares will not be effective twice in a hundred cases. 106 STANDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. Quinine is a valuable remedy with a wide range of action, and is a powerful stimulant^ but it will not cure a cold except in the formative stage. When 3^ou first feel that you are taking cold — before you are thoroughly infected — a dose or two of quinine taken half hour apart will generally stimulate you to such a degree that the infection is immediately checked. After a cold has become thoroughly "set," quinine will not touch it, unless it is of a nature that specifically calls for the drug — head feels two or three times larger than it is, all stuffed up and roaring. These conditions you can hardly ever meet in a rabbit, and its (quinine) use is worthless. Snuffles is constitutional; so abandon local treatment. Cayenne pepper spread on toasted bread is good in advanced stages, used morning and evening. Mountain sage and quinine is suffi- cient in the first stage. Copperas and sulphur in damp bran are fine medicines for hares that are run down, and dull coats. The above prescrip- tions can be given in such large doses that it would frighten any person until experience taught one that a hare can take almost as much as a man, and in some cases more. SLOBBERS OE INDIGESTION. When you notice the under jaw all wet, that's 107 DISEASES AND CURES. 109 a good sign of slobbers, and, i*f you let it go, the saliva will soon wet the breast and front feet. Slobbers is evidence of a sonr stomach, but is of a nature that readily yields to a germicide. It is caused by dirty food, a lack of variety in food, or unassimilated food, in the very young. Peroxide of hydrogen is the remedy. Three or four drops given in the mouth with the dropper. One or two doses will cure. Young hares more especially, but old ones as well, that have once had the slobbers, are naturally weak in their digestive functions and will get the affection again at the slightest irregularity in feed, sometimes showing a touch of it every few weeks. Some hares never have it. However, three or four grains of sulphate of zinc, added to a four ounce bottle of peroxide of hydrogen, won^t hurt anything, and if the "doctor" is bound to mix something, go ahead and put it in. It won't hurt the peroxide of hydrogen for the nasal applications in influenza, either, so you can use the same bottle for all pur- poses herein mentioned. Be careful to keep the bottle in a cool, dark place, however, and well corked, as otherwise it will lose its strength. A fresh bottle is to be recommended every few months for fear the old may have deteriorated too much. Slobbers is indigestion pure and simple, and 110 STANDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. why use a disinfectant and poison such as pyrozone and sulphate of zinc? Listerine is excellent for weak eyes and is good for the stomach; apply it to an ulcer or sore and it will remove every particle of pus; open an abscess and apply locally and no trouble can arise from insects in hot weather. Slobbers can be cured at once by a feed or two of green dandelions and Cottonwood leaves and branches. The method of feeding hares in England en- tirely eliminates the existence of slobbers. The principal difference in feeding there and here is said to be in the quantity given. There, food and water is never allowed to remain in the hutches, and the amount allowed each animal is a handful of oats and a wisp of hay for each twenty-four hours, with a drink of water in the morning, and the usual number of young given a doe there is four, often less. BLINDj^ESS m YOUNG. Blindness in young, this is generally caused by the ammonia arising from the dung and urine in the hutch. It will be noticed that the eyes are closed and swollen. Bathe with warm milk and water, carefully pressing them open. After cleans- ing and drying with a soft rag, apply white oint- ment or vaseline. Eepeat it daily. DISEASES AND CURBS. Ill CONVULSIONS. Convulsions are often due to overfeeding. The animals get too fat. Many breeders feed too much. Keep the hares in condition, but not fat unless for the market. Feed rather too little than too much and your hares will not have convulsions, or by a system of dieting cure those who are affl-icted. BATTLES. Rattles is noticeable by a rattling noise in the nose and throat, accompanied by hard breathing, loss of appetite and the animal moping. This is a form of cold, and is generally caused by indiges- tion. It is the most dreaded of all maladies, for if not promptly treated it will end in pneumonia. Treatment: Discontinue all green feed, such as alfalfa, and feed only grain, hay, oats or straw. Give 6 drops of arsenicum in a cup of water in place of ordinary drinking water. Eenew daily until cured. SCOURS. The most deadly complaint the rabbit family is heir to is scours. It is caused by careless feeding or by decayed or dewy green food. The excre- ment is soft, showing extreme looseness of the bowels. Stop the supply of green food. Feed hay 5TANDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. and oats. Mix arrowroot with cold water as thick as can be given with a spoon and give as much as the animal will take. MOULTING. This period is a critical stage of young hare life. With good care and proper treatment, though, they will pull through. Keep warm, give plenty of clean straw bedding and give nutritious food; increase the warm mash to twice daily. PAEALYSIS. Give prompt treatment on the first indications of this disease. Eemove the patient to warm quar- ters and to a board floor. Give, once a day, a pill made up of 2 grs. camphor and 1 gr. sulphate of iron; add enough powdered licorice and honey to make one pill. Gently rub the back from shoulder to rump with some good liniment of plain eucalyp- tus oil every other day. Feed nutritious food. Kidney trouble is the cause of paralysis of hind legs. There is no cure when the disease has reached that stage. MANGE. This is infectious and hard to cure. If the animal attacked is not a very valuable one it had better be killed. The simplest and most effective DISEASES AND CURES. 113 remedy is flour of sulphur, sprinkled all over the animal once a day; also give a little in the food. For mange, take twelve oimces of cottonseed oil and four ounces of kerosene, mix, and then add a sufficient quantity of sulphur to bring it to the consistency of cream. Apply with the hand, rub- bing in well on all sore or mangy spots. PNEUMONIA. Pneumonia can be overcome if taken in time and enough cayenne pepper and quinine forced into the hare's nostrils to compel it to sneeze; then the danger is over. ABSCESSES. These come from various causes (either impure blood or hereditary), over-feeding, from a scratch or a bite, bruise, etc. An abscess is generally found on the surface and develops rapidly. These are easily treated and are not particularly danger- ous. But those that form internally generally prove fatal, as they are. not discovered until too late. Treatment: When ripe, clip the fur from off the swelling, then open with a lance. Squeeze out all the pus as tenderly as possible. Wash with warm water and permanganate of potassium. 114 STANDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. Dissolve one grain to a pint of water. Dust the wound with flour or sulphur. Repeat every day until cured. EARACHE. When you notice one holding its head side- ways^ and partly drooping one ear, with a general look of distress on its face, that's a sure symptom of earache. Occasionally a hare "catches cold'' in the ear ; the result is earache, just like a boy or girl, that has been out coasting after school against parental orders. A drop of Pulsatilla in the affected ear will give instant relief. If the trouble goes further and, on examination of the ear there is pus in evidence, a quarter of a dropper full of the peroxide of hydrogen will cure it. Don't put too much peroxide or anything else in the ear, unless it be diluted with warm water, which both cleanses and relieves. The peroxide burns, when applied to a raw surface, and will cause the hare to shake its ears so violently that the tendons will be broken and a lopped ear will result. If you get the earache, put a couple of drops of the Pulsatilla on a piece of cotton and put in the ear; or, syringe the ear with water as warm as can be borne, and note the instant relief from either treatment. It has the same effect on bunny. 115 DISEASES AND CURES. 117 CANKEE IN EAR. This may be detected by a discharge from the ear and by the rabbit holding its head to one side. It is very painful and requires careful treatment. Clean the inside of the ear with a damp cloth or sponge, then apply a lotion of snlphate of zinc, 13 grains; water, two ounces; wine of opium, one drachm; half a teaspoonful poured into the ear twice a day. Keep rabbit warm and feed nutritious food. Or wash thoroughly with warm water and castile soap, rinse, dry, and apply once daily a sufficient quantity of boracic acid, working it well down into the ear. If the cankerous condition continues for sev- eral days, use the albolene occasionally. It is both antiseptic and soothing. COLIC. Caused by exposure to draughts, indigestion or constipation. The animal has bloated bowels, seems restless and in pain. May be seen some- times drawing the legs up to the belly and then stretching them out. Dissolve one-half of one Beecham pill or a Ripan tabule (the former pre- ferred) in a tablespoonful of water as a dose once a day. Feed oats and bran; give very little green stuff. 118 STANDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. CONSTIPATIOK Symptoms: Sitting in a corner; loss of appetite; body sometimes swollen; also noticeable by the absence of any droppings. If green food fails to give relief, give half a teaspoonful of Syrup of Figs or castor oil twice a day nntil relieved. LOOSENESS AND DIAREHOEA. Yonng stock are most liable to this trouble. It is caused by too much green food or other im- proper feeding. Do not make the common mis- take of giving some severe astringent, but assist nature. Treatment: Give three times a day a teaspoonful of warm milk slightly thickened with arrowroot or flour, and add a little ground cinna- mon. Feed dry food for a few days. CHAPTER X. RAISING FOR THE MARKET. Some thirty or thirty-five years ago the colonists in Australia and New Zealand formed societies for the introduction and breeding of hares, in order that they might hunt them as in England. The hares increased at the rate of ten litters a year, and the whole country was soon overrun with them. They consumed the herbage up to the very doors of the farm-house, destroyed orchards and vegetable gardens, and caused the abandonment of land that had formerly produced thirty bushels of .wheat and sixty bushels of barley to the acre. They ate the grass down to the roots, turning immense tracts of pasture into desert, and driving both sheep and farmers from vast sections of the country. The same energy that had been dis- played in introducing the pests was expended in attempts to exterminate them. Large sums were spent in poisons, shooting, trapping and hunting with ferrets, and poisoning with arsenic, strych- nine and phosphorus. In this way millions of them were destroyed in a few years, but still they continued to multiply. 119 ^ 120 STANDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. The Belgian hare is more prolific in producing offspring than is the jack rabbit of Kansas that the state paid over $50,000 in a single year in pelt bounties to half way relieve herself of, and to which other states made even greater sacrifices. Frequently some alarmist, with his nerves on edge, gains control of pencil and paper long enough to get up similar stories to the above and gets some publisher, who is looking for something startling for his next edition, to print it. These things come out regularly, just so often, and still the nobby hare, with his winning ways, continues an easy winner and is gaining ground in every part of the United States at a steady pace. The growth of this wonderful little animal hag been phenomenal; probably half the towns in the Ignited States have their representatives of the Belgian hare. Costing but a few cents per month to feed one, as they are practically free from dis- ease in a dry climate, it is no wonder they have had such a boom. It is almost impossible to calcu- late what the industry is valued at at present. Probably no one knows. Taking into account the vast capital that has been invested in this animal within the last few months, it has set the Amer- ican people to thinking. Surely these men know what they are doing. A man hesitates a good RAISING FOR THE MARKET. 121 while before investing a lar^e amount of money, but there is no surer investment than buying strictly first-class Belgian hares. The actual possibilities of one good sound Bel- gian doe is amazing. Suppose she is bred to a fine high scoring buck. She has, in thirty days^ time at the least, six young; this is a low estimate, but it is better to under than over estimate; she is worth at the end of six weeks with her young $50, if she is a good doe. Can any cow beat that? It takes a good cow to bring $50 with her calf nowadays. The doe is bred again after a lapse of four weeks for rest, and in thirty days she has her second batch of six young. Her first batch are now worth $10 each at the lowest estimate; this is $60, add what her second litter is worth at six weeks to this and she, with her two litters is worth $110. Her young (first) are now two months old. They are getting more valuable all the time. We will say they are worth $15 each now. The doe is almost ready for her third litter, and so on it goes. A good doe should raise you at least 25 good does in one year. For the capital invested and the labor, time, feed, etc., involved there is no better investment in this country. We will now look at the meat question. An average doe, that is, one that is of good size, 122 STANDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. will raise no less than 200 pounds of meat in a year at the lowest estimate, which at $ .25 per pound, is worth $50; so there is a profit in any part of the business. Ten years from now, possi- bly in less time, there will be Belgian hare meat booths alongside of the beef booths and there will be far greater preference for the former. Do not be afraid you will overstock the country when once you start in. This country is large and people all seem to eat. They will eat all you can raise. When every one can understand that the more who succeed will not lessen but increase the demand^ the hare will take his proper place at the head of the list of meat producers. We know of lots of people who raise eggs and spring chickens, but how many of them have just all they can use of either? While the price of beef keeps up, and good steers are worth 7 cents on foot, there is little danger of the Belgian hare business being overdone. A hare 6 months old will dress from five or six pounds^ and bring 15 cents per pound. It may be that the immense number being, bred may reduce the selling value, but at a lower figure than now paid there would be a fair profit. What will produce a good, healthy, vigorous growth, is essential for growing Belgian hares for RAISING FOR THE MARKET. 123 market. This is imderstood to mean a market as meat. If to be raised for meat only^, without refer- ence to the grade as per standard, mate for size and weight and pay no attention to keeping the young, so as to be able to pedigree them; for mar- ket, that would be unnecessary, though the best results in producing meat can only be attained from well bred stock. The flesh is finer and more delicate than the mongrels, bred haphazard. There is less waste in bone, as well as being finer meat. The hares, either for market or fancy, must be kept in clean quarters, whether in hutch or .pen. Dust and dirt are dangerous; fresh, pure air is necessary. Less attention to light is required when the hares are for market, and the young can be left in pens until they are ready, but not in. large numbers crowded into close quarters. Not more than eight should be in a pen four by six feet. Corn is a great flesh producer and can be fed in .very many ways. Hares like it, eat it readily, and thrive on it. But it must never be fed in a sloppy state, or left to stand until sour. Most persons who fail in the Belgian hare industry are those who do not give attention to the details of the business — ^the little things, such as taking away sour or stale feed, looking into nest boxes and keeping all parts clean. It is in such things 124 STANDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. that success lies, and tliey must be attended to, whether raising for market or not. Those raising for the market only should, after the stock is weaned, feed a small amount of corn chop, slightly moistened with milk or water, once each day, and no green food whatever should be fed, as it is weight and not shape we are breeding for. One exception to this green food is celery. Where scraps of celery can be readily obtained they may be fed to young stock with excellent results, as it adds greatly to the flavor of the meat. It is needless to say that when raising for the market the heaviest stock, provided, however, that it is pure bred, should be selected, but we would advise no one, if raising for the market, to breed poorly marked, unpedigreed Belgians, as the stock should be of such a quality that the best may be selected and sold for breeding purposes. Pedi- grees, while some trouble to keep, are of great value in selling the stock. By pedigrees, we mean an ancestry of known quality. The most profitable age at which to kill for the market is about five months, as after that age the stock does not increase at a proportionately rapid rate. The cost up to that age for producing the meat is about three and one-half cents per pound dressed, and the average retail selling price throughout the country ranges from fifteen to RAISING FOR THE MARKET. 125 thirty cents per pound. In killing a hare,, grasp it by the ears and give it a sharp blow across the head, directly over the eyes; this stuns the animal, and before it recovers, its head should be cut off, and the carcass well bled. If the pelt is to be pre- served, it should be slit down the inside lengthwise and up the inside of the hind legs. If the pelt is not to be considered, the quickest way to skin a hare is to girdle it around the stomach and draw the skin down over the head, and up over the hind feet, very similar to pulling a kid glove off the hand. To take the skin off whole, cut from hock joint across vent to hock on opposite side, and draw the pelt off the head, and cut off. Then place on a stretcher made of half-inch board. Cut six inches wide at the top and four inches at the bottom. Cut this in two parts, from end to end. Stretch the pelt over the two, placing edges to- gether^ and rub salt over the pelt while fresh, and then sprinkle with powdered alum and let dry. When about dry take off the boards and rub with the hands until dry. The skin will then be soft like buckskin. Preserve from moths as you would any other furs. Immediately after skinning the animal, it should be plunged for an instant into scalding water, and then allowed to lay in ice 126 STANDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. water until entirely cold. It is then ready for market. The problem of how to dispose of the meat pro- duced by breeders of this animal seems to be a source of some anxiety with a few breeders. The Belgian is probably the greatest producer of flesh of all the smaller animals and rivals some of the larger ones. A number one breeding doe will produce forty young a year. Some of the heavy weights will even exceed this. Forty young when mature will weigh an average of 8 pounds each, an aggregate of 320 pounds per year, at 15 cents per pound, a total of $48 from one doe in a year. This may appear an exaggeration to some, but there are thousands of breeders who will confirm this statement. Many heavy weights will exceed this average. The Belgian has no peer, when dressed prop- erly and ready for the oven or pan. The clear white meat looks fit for anyone's table. If prop- erly cooked and served, it certainly is more health- ful, clean and palatable than any other meat product. It is superior to chicken or turkey and can be produced at less cost than -either, and there is less waste. A California paper says that when first offered in the markets there the flesh sold for $1 per pound; that it can be had at many first- class meat stalls now for 15 and 25 cents per RAISING FOR THE MARKET. 127 pound. Many have figured the cost of producing the meat and found that a hare four months old, if all the feed is bought at present market prices, will cost about 15 cents. The pelt is worth the cost of the hare, so that the meat value is clear profit. If the business is carried on with reason- able economy, and on a large scale, it cannot help but be profitable. The question as to where we are to find a market for the meat, is what we have yet to settle. The people are not familiar with the Belgian as food, they must be educated to appreciate them. If properly presented to the knowledge of the people we shall quickly have a brisk demand for the meat. How shall we bring them before the public? It is useless to advertise an article for sale when you have none and cannot get them. At present we have none for sale for food. Eaisers use one now and then for their own table, but if any real demand existed here for the meat, as in European countries, it would not be possible to supply it. The real value of the Belgian is as a food product and we shall have to calculate our future profits on a basis of its value as meat. Some will undoubtedly continue to breed for fancy a class of hares that will be of practically lit- tle importance as a producer of food. They will become a distinct class and differ very materially from the hare we know as the Belgian of today. 128 STANDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. This tendency is already distinctly marked and will be more apparent in coming years. "We are not far enough along in our experience as breeders, any of ns, to be able to give out much of value as to what the future of our business will be in the matter of market, or market value of meat, but this will soon be determined as some are even now accumu- lating a surplus that must be disposed of for what they will bring as meat. When that time comes we will have created a demand for the flesh as food, that will be equal to the supply. CHAPTER XI. FKUIT GATHERED FROM THE RABBITRY. To undertake more than one can do rightly is to court failure. Careless management will cause serious loss from disease. Intelligent management will make your stock a source of revenue. Pens and hutches that are cleaned daily need very little disinfecting. Give the hares as much exercise as possible. They require it. Poor stock is dear at any price. Buy only from reliable breeders. Lay in a supply of turnips^ cabbage, etc., for the rabbits and cavies in winter. Do not let your stock suffer from cold or hunger. Provide comfortable quarters for them. Your rabbits are prisoners and they should have good care. To neglect them is the worst kind of cruelty. Have a regular time to feed your stock and they will soon learn to look for you as the feeding hour approaches. Stock fanciers should not attempt too much. 129 130 STANDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. Better raise a few good specimens than any num- ber of poor ones. Give your stock a variety of feed. They don't relish the same thing over and over again. Keep them guessing as to what their next meal will con- sist of. Thoroughly whitewash the pens and hutches at least twice a year. Three or four times a year is better. Add a little crude carbolic acid to the whitewash as a disinfectant. Look to your buck for color and to the doe for size and shape. The better the parent stock the better the youngsters. Dampness and dirt are the Belgian's worst enemy; avoid these and many difficulties will be overcome. Watch for barren does^ but don't give them up too soon; some prove in the end to be excellent breeders. Don't keep old does to take up room; their use- fulness is about over; better market them. The farmer, the business man of the city, the boy and the girl, can all increase their income by keeping a few Belgian hares. The resemblance of the Belgian to the common rabbit is only in outward appearance. The flavor of Belgian meat is equal to quail, and soon will be far more easily obtained. 131 FRUIT FROM THE RABBITRY. 133 The meat of the Belgian hare is white in ap- pearance, without the strong taste of the common wi^d rabbit. Begin with a few and grow into the business and yon will get experience at less cost financially. Experience keeps a dear sc'hool, but it is about the only one that really amounts to much, for we give heed to lessons learned there. In raising hares for the market run them in bunches olnot more than twenty-five at weaning time. There is an increasing market for Belgian hides; they are strong, tan nicely and are used for robes and in the manufacture of felt hats. Be sure you are suited to the business and then go ahead. Know what you are trying to do and the battle is half won. Dress the hare quickly and throw immediately into cold or ice water to draw out the animal heat. Learn to cook the hare properly and then give each new customer your receipt. Cooked right, doctors tell us, they are easily digested by invalids. Slow heat in a tightly covered vessel until the fibers are broken apart will bring out the delicate flavor. The great popularity of the Belgian is its flavor and when properly cooked his fame will not wane. Don't expect to grow independently rich from 134 STANDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. one pair of hares costing $100 or less. You must bny good stock if yon sell good stock. Bnt when some one tells yon there is no money in hares, make np yonr mind it is something wrong with the person. Water once a day in winter is enough. Uhen they have drnnk nntil satisfied empty the dish so there will not be a lot to turn over and make more dampness to fight. Eaise good stock, but don't let it eat up all the profits. Cull closely and don't keep a lot of bucks in the way hoping for an order for each one at $50; better dress them at 50 cents each and make room for the next lot. Keep them moving. There is bound to be two classes of breeders; the one for looks and the other for use. Each has a place. A thin, gas pipe specimen will not have as much beauty to the eyes of a butcher as one showing meat. Compare a race horse and one of the noble, good natured draft horses, or a Jersey cow with a big, fat Hereford — ^both have beauty, who can say which is superior? THE BELGIAN AND HIS EIJTUEE. Now, this is the tale of the hare — A tale exceedingly short — Possibly also awry — see there! It's twisted — he did that in sport. FRUIT FROM THE RABBITRY. 135 It's Genesis first in the book; A red and a black and a white — They mix them; and presto, look! ^he rabbits have faded, quite. Then exodus — ont of the West, And exodus, — over the sea — And numbers? "Surely the 'pest' AYill cover the globe, won't he?'' FASHODA DUKE. Owned by Bliss Block, Boston, Mass No, for:— There's brains, and hutches, and feed, and air, And weather, and snuffles, and slobbers, and care, And scours, and worms, and fights, and cats, And dogs, and greens, and snakes, and rats; And everyone says, do this, do that — They're all fed different, and all get fat, 136 STANDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. And lots get spasms and lots get wet. The butcher gets some — don^t worry — yet. HE. P. NAMING THE COLOE. [Written for The Standard.] A man there was and his name was Smith And he spelled it without a y. His clan was mighty, his kin and kith Used y's and f s in the name of Smith, Until those without and also with Formed a noble family. Now another man and his name was Browne, And it ended with n and e. And though he throve in city and town And gathered fame and eked renown; The Smith mati topped the man named Browne, In his numerosity. So Browne was filled with carp and care, And a checkered brow wore he. And he sought and searched in cave a-nd lair, In countries near and far and fair. And wondered how and when and where He'd match Smith's progeny. FRUIT FROM THE RABBITRY. J He found a beast exceeding rare. And filled he was with glee. It wore a coat of brown, brown hair, It^s eye was ronnd and devil-may-care, So he called this thing a Belgian hare, And Smith — 0, where was he? Then straightway Smith was filled with dread. For his potentiality. He thought by day and at night in bed; 'Till seeing the hare at last, he said: "Do you call this brown, why it^s Eufus red." And he cackled sardonically. — F. M. THEY ADD BY MULTIPLYING. There is a little Belgian Hare, An animal exceeding rare; And it is quite a sight to see ' It growing on a Eabbitry. And this is just the way it grows: It does seem strange, but goodness knows There are far stranger things about This animal, as I've found out. Now this seems contrary to rule That tho' they've never been to school They multiply quite rapidly. This fact has always puzzled me. And once I knew a man, and he 138 STANDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. Was owner of a Babbitry; And he said they — the Hares we buy — ■ Add profits as tliey multiply. And that is even stranger stilly I think, as I am sure yon will. — E. S. F. A BELGIAN HARE DITTY. Out from the East to the golden West^ There lately came as our bequest, A dainty rare, none can compare, The beauteous, winsome Belgian hare. That men admired ^tis well agreed. And proved it so with eager speed ;- They bro't their deepest thought to bear On the bonnie brown-eyed Belgian hare. Soon tales of wealth began to ring About this truly wondrous thing; Men doffed their hats, forgot their care. When musing on the Belgian hare. Their merits soon to woman came. Who are in the race for. worthy fame. So in the van with dash and dare She spread the claims of the Belgian hare. FRUIT PROM THE RABBITRY. 139 'Till BOW we're sure man must admit She gained her place with brains and wit, With riches won she'll fain declare /' 'Twas surely due to the Belgian hare. When man and woman both unite. And in one cause declare a right. Success must crown their efforts fair, And a record make for the Belgian hare. Then hail the dawning century near, Which brings to us this charge so dear; May we their rights protect and dare Their cause to praise, our Belgian Hare. H. E. Tl. CHAPTER XII. ON CRATING AND FEEDING EXPEESSED HARES. The sale of a hare is not complete, until, in most cases, the purchaser acknowledges the receipt of the same in good condition. It is the shippers personal duty to see that every animal is crated and provided with food for the journey. In a shipment, the first thing to consider is the inimal; the second, the crate, and third, the food, with a sub-topic: Instructions concerning the animal on the journey. The hare, to be shipped, should be strictly healthy,- and if he is, it will be a long stride towards a successful shipment, for a hare does not receive much attention while en route; therefore, it requires more or less of a strain upon the hare's constitution to make a long or short journey suc- cessfully. The crate and crating should receive special attention, for it is the second only to the hare in a shipment. If the crate is ill constructed and heavy, it not only affects the hare, but the receiver is compelled, unnecessarily, to pay extra express 140 Pbopertt of the Centkal Belgian Habe Co. Westvili.e, Ind. 141 CRATING AND FEEDING. 143 charges. A crate formed from a desirable box, having its sides and top of mesh wire, ends of thin lumber, but solid, with hand-holes of one small block qa each end^ under which can be placed the address of the consignee, on a card, whereon is printed the "Instructions to the Express Mes- senger/^ Each compartment in a crate should be sufficiently large enough to receive one hare, and not be crowded. A peaked or sloped top is the best for a shipping crate, not a flat top; if possible, a free circulation of air is very desirable; the sides and top are usually surrounded by other boxes. If a number of hares are to be shipped at the same time, it is best to make a crate with a series of compartments; for the one crate is not as cum- bersome, if properly constructed, as a number of crates. In the winter the sides of a crate can be made sufficiently solid and protected from the cold by placing some cheap cloth thereon. Provide cups, conveniently placed, for water and oats; the best shippers consider oats or rolled oats, with a supply of clover hay (placed within a two-inch mesh wire rack, fastened on one side of each compartment) sufficient food for a short, journey, or if a long one is to be contended with, fasten a bag (like an empty salt sack, small size) to the outside of the crate, filed with oats, so the lU STANDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. messenger can feed the hare or -hares. As to the amount of water; on a journey of a day or two, no water is really necessary where carrots have been placed in the box. Shipments have been made from England without any provision being made for supplying bunnie with food or water; but that is cruelty pure and simple. Think of a week or ten days' confinement without food or water! It is a good idea to have printed instructions placed on the crate, so the messenger will be guided in the care of the hares. Hares should not be fed very heavily on a journey^ for, if they are over-fed, by some one who does not understand their wants, and given all the water they can drink, (not to say ice w^ater, which is the only kind avail- able on the cars), it will cause serious sickness, such as, in young stock, the slobbers. If there is more than one crate to be shipped to the same party, ait one time, it is very essential that the ship)per call the express agent's atten- tion to the fact, so that they will be billed under one receipt. Many shippers seem to have the idea that hares can be shipped any way, so long as they are sold, but if is an all important duty of the shipper to do all that is necessary to make a successful ship- ment. Many hare breeders are making a great mistake CRATING AND FEEDING. 145 when tliey send out fine animals in nnsightly and cnmbersome boxes, or in boxes bearing all sorts of advertising of firms for whom they were orig- inally made. Some breeders may say, we are sell- ing ha/es, not boxes. That's all right, bnt how does it look? It is poor economy to nse snch cheap-John GENERAL DASH. Owned by Dr. Geo. F. Hall, 508 Eddy Street, Chicago. Score, 95-1-3. arrangements for shipping fine stock. A nice crate, with a good solid bottom, partly covered with wire screen or netting can be made for a trifle, also printed shipping cards should be used. This will make a good advertisement all along the route to destination, and possibly be the means of securing customers. 146 STANDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. The other day the expressman drove up to the office of a prominent dealer in Belgian hares and was endeavoring to unload a monstrous box. "Hello/^ says the dealer. ^^Hello/' says he. "What have you there?" "By cripe/' says the expressman, "I think it's a bear.'' Well, the box was unloaded, the lid pried off, and lo and behold, there was a pair of little animals that would weigh about twelve pounds, crouched in one corner. Now the writer had sent a check for the contents of that box that would have made a respectable payment on a farm, and to have them shipped in such a contraption as that is certainly not a credit to any concerned. Then again it must be remembered that the purchaser has to pay expressage on this carload of lumber, which your box contains, and you should therefore have some mercy on him. CHAPTER XIII. PREPAEINa HARES FOR THE SHOW ^ ROOM. To exhibit successfully, all specimens for the show pen should be put through a system of train- ing. To expect your animal to show off his fine points without teaching him to do so, is grossly unfair to the exhibit, and proves that you are not alive to the great advantages to be gained by put- ting a specimen through a proper course of train- ing. A fancier who is alive to the business will very soon see that his youngsters are handled at least once a day and put through a course of drill. The advantages of this cannot be over-estimated. It vrill apply equally, whether the specimen is judged by the -comparison system or by the score card system. The good results- will be the same. If you are an exhibitor see that the animal knows you; play with it frequently so that it will do all you teach it or can reasonably expect it to do. If this be done, and you have an exhibit that on all other points can compare with those you are com- peting with, you will, under judges who under- stand their business, and who do their work in a proper manner, come out of the competition with flying colors. One thing must always be remem- 147 148 STANDARD BELGIAN HARE BOOK. bered in connection with the show pen; never exhibit unless the specimen is in good condition, in fnll coat and well trained. Only a few points are here given for condition, training and coat, but in judging, the general bearing of condition, training and coat are so great that in many cases exhibits are left out of the money prize list when if they had been in condi- tion and coat and well trained they would have been far above the winner in all points of excel- lence. After you have selected the finest specimens from among your stock, for exhibition purposes, there are four things to consider: (1) Exercise, (2) Food, (3) G-rooming, (4) Training. (1) You cannot. begin too early to exercise your youngsters, for this is the only means to prevent dew-lap, lopped ears, and crooked feet. Place them in pens 10 feet long by 3 feet wide, with one or two hurdles, a foot high. Now, they can exercise whenever they feel like it. As you may not have the room to provide your grown-up speci- mens with pens of this size, make a runway of these same dimensions fitted with hurdles, and taking the hares, one by one, daily, make them keep a lively pace for a short while. At first, you will find very little exercise will suffice, but con- stant exercise brings strength and endurance. FiOCHDALE QUEEN. First Prize Winner, Chicago, 1901. Property of C. W. BowEN, 402 Dearborn Street, Chicago. 149 HARES FOR THE SHOW ROOM. 151 You cannot expect a prize winner, if yoii keep it in a small hntcli with no place to exercise. (2) The finest oats are the best diet, as it gives mnscle without extra flesh. For variety, mix the oats with one-third wheat or bran. To give a glossy appearance to the coat, prepare the fol- lowing: Boil linseed meal until it becomes a soft mass, then make^^ stiff paste by adding barley meal and bran, in the proportion of one to two. This is especially good to assist moulting, giving a much richer coat. A little linseed meal put in the oats is also excellent. Feed carrots, dande- lions, apple and cottonwood boughs and peach leaves. See that they have plenty of salt. Give a small handful of hay, clover, alfalfa or timothy, night and morning. (3) They should be groomed daily, till there is not a loose hair on their coats. Use a soft bristle brush, one that will not scratch your hand; a long, narrow one, with a good handle is pre- ferred. Next use a chamois skin, finishing ofl: with hand-rubbing. (4) Your hares for exhibition purposes must be trained gently and thoroughly. When dropped on a table they should take the required position at once, without struggling, scratching or biting. This will require patience, skill and gentle treat- ment on your part. TflE HeNNEBERRY GoMPflNY. (Successors to Alhambra Book Co, and F. J. Drake & Co.) / PUBLISHERS, 409-429 Dearborn St., ^^r ^>r ^>r Chicago. Upon receipt of the price, any book advertised in the following pag-es will be sent by mail, postage paid, to any Postoffice in the United States, Canada, or the Universal Postal Union. No Books Exchang'ed. No Books sent C. O. D. Not Responsible for Money or Books sent by Mail, unless Registered. Parcels will be registered on receipt of Ten Cents in addi- tion to the amount of the order. Under no Circumstances will Books be sent Subject to Approval. No orders whatever will be filled unless sufllcient money accompanies them. Write your name plainly. Give full Address, with PostofBce, County and State. A complete Descriptive Catalogue will be mailed free on application. HOW TO SEND MONEY. In remitting by mail, the safest means are a PostofBce or Express Money Order, or a Draft on New York or Chicago, payable to The Henneberry Company. When these are not pro- curable. Cash may be sent in a Registered letter. Unused United States postage stamps of the denomination of ten cents or under, will be received as cash in amounts less than one dollar. Soiled stamps, or stamps other than those of the United States, and personal checks or drafts on local banks cannot be accepted. A. B. C. Guide to Photography. By T. Stith Baldwin.— A practical hand-book containing full instructions for Amateur Photographers, simply written and easily understood. Any man, woman or child of ordinary intelligence, without previ- ous experience, can by simply following instructions acquire the knowledge necessary to operate, develop and print. 124 pages, profusely illustrated. Pocket size. ,*. , Paper covers 25 cts. Clotb 50 cts A. B. C. Ouide to Correct Conduct. A complete up-to-date manual of Etiquette, or Guide to the Duties, Pleasures, Details and Studies of Life. No part in daily conduct has been omitted. The immense popularity of this valuable little book is attested by its enormous sales. It is an invaluable adjunct to any home and will be found exceedingly helpful in the hands of parents and teachers as well as young people of both sexes. 184 pages ; pocket size. Paper covers 25 cts. Cloth 50 cts. A. B. C. Guide to fluslc. By Josiah Booth. This book will serve to introduce all into the theory and practice of the Musical Art. It contains simple and illustrated chapters on singing and cultivation of the voice; full and explicit helps to the piano and organ, short sketches of eminent composers, and a complete dictionary of musical terms, etc. The reputation of the author is such as to require no introduction to the public. 164 pages. Fully illustrated. Paper covers 25 cts. Cloth ....50 cts. A. B. C. Guide to Ball Room Dancing and Quadrille Call Book. This work contains an exhaustive summary of all the fashionable square dances, and a lucid description of the various round dances, waltzes, etc. It also contains com- plete quadrille calls and is especially adapted to the needs of amateurs as well as professionals. In brief it is a complete guide to the healthful and beautiful exercise. 161 pages. Illustrated. Paper covers 25 cts. Cloth 50 cts. Bryant's Commercial Business Guide or "How to do Business." By C. M. Bryant, Ph. D. A manual of self-instruction and use- ful information. A compendium of facts, forms, methods and laws for safe conduct of business. It contains facts, figures and general information, involving law, both State and National, Commerce, Agriculture, Social customs. Mercantile transactions and calculations, and the rights and wrongs of Civil Life, all in a form carefully designed for practical utility. Price, paper covers 25 cts. Cloth 50 cts. A. B. C. Guide to Bee-Keeping. By W. B. Webster. A practi- cal manual of the proper care and management of bees, designed especially for amateurs, beginners, and farm- ers, and all others including experts who have found this book the most helpful guide to apiculture published. Newly revised and enlarged. More than 100 pages and profusely illustrated. Paper covers ....25 cts. Oloth..... SOcta A. B. C. Guide to PouItry-ICeeplnfi:. This book of 200 pages has the endorsement of the leading poultry raisers of the United States, Canada and even Europe where it has found its way, because of its completeness and honest treatment of the pains and penalties as well as the pleasure and profit of poultry raising. Fully illustrated. Paper covers 25cts. Cloth 50cts. The Book of Card Tricks and Sleisht-of-Hand. By Prof. R. Kunard. There is no book published on this subject that has met 'with the favor and demand than has this little book of 182j|)ages. Nearly every card trick known is fully exposed by explicit directions and carefully prepared illus- trations. Designed for parlor and stage entertainments by professionals and amateurs who may become experts with a little practice. Paper covers .25cts. Cloth 50ctB. The Century Book of Recitations, with introductory chap- ters on hints, style of delivery and principles of Elocution. This book of 256 pages possesses many unique features; the recitations are decidedly choice, being carefully selected with especial reference for their rendition on all occasions. The treatise on Elocution is full enough for all purposes and will acquaint the reader suflciently with the principles em- ployed in the delivery of the most difficult selections. Paper covers 25 cts. Cloth 50 cts. The Century Book of Irish Wit and Humor. This book is the cream of ail Irish speakers. Irish Wit and Humor is a factor iu human experience which the world can ill afford to lose. In his haste to express himself is any acquired lan- guage, not native, the metaphors get mixed, and his thoughts are transposed and a reversal of his intended meaning is the result. It has no superior and doubtless no equal. 192 pages. Paper covers 25 cts. Cloth 50 cts. Choice Temperance Recitations. This collection includes ninety-nine of the choicest pieces ever published, among which are found: "Please Don't Sell My Father Rum;" "The Last Drink On a Rich Man's Table ;" "Lips That Touch Liquor Must Never Touch Mine;" "Loved Papa, When Will You Come Home Again?" "Playing Drunkard;" "What Strong Drink Will Do ;" and many others. Paper covers 25 cts. Cloth 50 cts. Patriotic Recitations. This is the choicest collection of pieces published and includesamong ninety-nine others : "An Ameri- can Exile;" "Love of Country;" "Nathan Hale, the Martyr Spy;" "The Constitution and the People;" "A True Hero Fourth of July;" "The Heroes of '76;" "History. of Our Flag;" "The Last Broadside;" "Independence Bell;" "Our Country's Greatness ;" and many others. Paper covers 25 cts. Cloth 50 cts. Sunday-School Entertainments. If you are looking for pieces suitable for Church or Sunday-School entertainments you will find nothing better than this book. Among the hundred or more you will find: "The Brakeman at Church;'' "Aunt Nancy on the Revised Testament;" "Baby, Goodbye;" "Charity;" "The Door of Heaven;" "Everlasting Love;" "For Baby's Sake;" "The Lost Chord;" "The Mother's Cry;" "Over the Hills from the Poor House;" "The Wife's Prayer Answered;" "True Happiness;" "The Power of Love;" "Ol-i. Man in a Stylish Church;" "Old Man in a Model Church;" "The Old Sermon;" "The Old Love;" and mjtny others. Paper Covers 25 cxs. Cloth 50 c ts f tactical Ventriloquism. By Robert Ganthony. A thoroughly reliable guide to the Art of Voice Throwing and Vocal Mim- icry, Vocal Instrumentation, Ventriloquial Figures, Enter- taining, etc. The long experience of the author on the stage and in teaching this wonderful art by correspondence is con- clusive evidence that by a little application to the fundamental principles laid down in this book and by constant practice after acquiring the two or three simple rules, you can become , an adept in the art. Fully illustrated. Elegantly bound in Paper covers , 25 cts. Cloth 50 cts. .lueller's Variety Entertainments. By Prof. Keller. This is a collection of original, laughable skits on Conjuring, Physi- ognomy, Juggling, Performing feats. Wax Works, Panoramas, Phrenology, Phonography, Second Sight, Lightning Calcula- tors, Ventriloquism, Spiritualism, etc., to which are added Humorous Sketches, Whimsical Recitals, Parlor, Club and Lodge-room Comedies. Fully illustrated. Paper covers 25 cts. Cloth 50 cts. The Mystic Circle Fortune Teller and Dream Book. By Mme. DeLaNormand. This book contains an alphabetical list of Dreams, with their signification and lucky numbers, the Telling of Fortunes by the Mystic Circle, Cards, Dice, Coffee and Tea Grounds. Also a list of curious Superstitions and Omens. Handsomely bound in Paper covers 25 cts. Cloth 50 cts. Pamiiiar Recitations. Here is the collection that might be called the "old stand-by." Among the hundred pieces in this book may be found: "Rock of Ages;" "The One-HossShay;" "One too Many;" "The Polish Boy;" "Richmond on the James;" "Saturday Night;" "The 'Mum' Sociable;" "Legend of the Organ Builder;" "The Jiners;" "Jerry;" "An Old Maid's Prayer;" "The Fireman's Story;" "The Lisping Lover:" "The Pilot's Wife;" "Uncle Jack's Melons;" "Samuel and I ;" and many others. You need not look further for an all around book of selections for all occasions. Paper covers 25 cts. Cioth 50 cts. Humorous Recitations. If you are looking for something real funny you will find it in this book. Among the hundred or more selections you will find; "Hans Bleimer;" "The Boys;" "Dot Baby of Mine;" "How We Hunted a Mouse;" "How 'Ruby' Played;" "Jimmie Butler and the Owl;'" "Schake and Agers;" "Mrs. Mc Williams and the Lightning;" "My Mule;" "Mrs. Caudle's Lecture;" ''Sam's Letter;" "Setting a Hen ;" "Uncle Ruben's Baptism;" 'A Scientific Party;" "Judg'e Pit man on the Various Kinds of Weather;" and manymort. This is the book to make you laugh. It is full of humor. Paper covers 25 cts. Cloth 50 cts. Holiday Entertainments. If you are looking for an all around Christmas, New Years, Thanksgiving, Fourth of July, Decoration Day and Sunday-School book of recitations you will find this the best book published. Besides the following well known selections there are almost a hundred others: "Annie and Willie's Prayer;" "Come and Bring the Children Too;" "The last Hymn;" "Our Choir;" "Saved by a Child;" "The Praise of Men;" "Under the Snow;" "Too Late;" "Our Minister's Sermon;" "True Heroism;" "The Golden Wedding;" "A Trial of Endurance;" "That City Chap;" "Saving Mother;" and many others; Paper covers ." , 25 cts. Cloth 50 cts. Comic Recitations. In this assortment of comic, humorous and dialect there is not a piece that cannot be used on almost any occasion. This is one of the very best collections pub- lished, and among the hundred or more pieces are found the following well-known selections: "The Bachelor's Sale;" "How a Woman Rides on a Street Car;" "Farmer Stebbins at Ocean Grove;" "Love in a Balloon;" "Mick's Courtship;" "A Naughty Little Girl's View of Life ;" "Wedding Fee ;" "That Baby in Tuscaloo;" "Katrina Sees a Game of Football;" "Tommys Prize;" "Popping the question;" "Nan's Solilo- quy;" and a hundred other humorous recitations suitable for recitations and entertainments. Paper covers 25 cts. Cloth 50 cts. Brown's Business Letter Writer and Book of Commercial Forms. A complete and interesting collection of Letters and Notes for ladies and gentlemen. Accurate directions are given for conducting correct business correspondence. It is adapted to every age and station in life and to Business pur- suits in general. Forms of Wills, Petitions, Drafts, Bills, Exchange, Promissory Notes, Executors' and Administrators' Accounts. This work is pronounced superior to any similar work published and should be in the hands of every person young and old. Elegantly bound in Paper covers 25 cts. Cloth 50 cts. Slieep and Their Diseases. By Robt. Jennings, V. S. This ex- cellent work on Sheep coming fi-om so high an authority places it at once at the top among the special books for stock raisers. The subjects treated include : The History and Variety; the Best Modes of Breeding; their Feeding and Management, the Diseases to which They are Subject and the Appropriate Remedies for each, with numerous illustrations of buildings and out-houses as well as of the variety and kinds of sheep suitable for market. 250 pages. Elegantly bound. Price, paper covers 50 cts. Price, cloth.. $1 00 McBrlde's Latest Dialogues, fiy B. Blliott McBrtde. Thia collection of Dialogues, Parlor Dramas, Colloquies and Ama- teur Plays is without doubt the best published. They are bright and original and are designed especially for the use of young people in school exhibitions, social meetings, lodges, Sunday school entertainments and literary societies. Every selection available, nothing vulgar or objectionable. Hand- somely bound in Paper covers 25 cts. Cloth 50 eta. Standard Poultry and Belgian Hare Book. The raising of Belgian Hares as well as Poultry is no longer a fad ; both as commercial enterprises are bringing millions of dollars to those who are engaged in the business. Poultry and Belgian Hare raising is the most profitable business one can engage in, and there is no reason why a fortune cannot be made in a few years if one will study carefully the methods laid down in this book and avoid making the mistakes that prove costly in all new enterprises. Diseases common to Poultry and Rabbits are fully treated. The book is profusely illus- trated and handsomely bound. Price, in paper covers , , 50cts. Price, in cloth $1 00 McCIure's American Horse, Cattle and Stieep Doctor. By Robt. McClure, M. D., V. S. As a stock doctor book, treat- ing the diseases of the three most profitable as well as most common of farm animals, save the hog, thia book never had a peer. It is the most valuable work ever prepared for the farmer, and if we may judge its popularity by its sale, it is the most successful book for the farmer and small stock raiser ever writteuo The illustrations are excellent. Bound in silk cloth. Price $1.50 Complete Buffet Manual, or How to Mix Fancy Drinks. The need of an up-to-date book, treating on this subject has been a long felt want. We earnestly believe that this want is now supplied with this book, and we trust -the reader, if he becomes the practitioner, will enjoy the beverages aftfer fol- lowing the directions, as much as the author did in prepar- ing this handy little volume. Paper covers 25cts. Cloth, with gold design 50cts. The American Star Speaker. Edited by Chas. W. Brown. This is one of the handsomest and best arranged compilations of readings and recitations published. It comprises upwards of three hundred standard selections by all the best known writers suitable for all occasions, and includes humorous, didactic, serious, pathetie.heroic and the dialects adapted for school, home and churches, clubs, literary societies and lodges. Handsomely illustrated and bound in silk cloth. Price $1.50 Hypnotism. A complete system. Illustrated with six full page engravings photographed from life. By L. W DeLaurence. This is the most popular treatise on Inductive Hypnotism, Mesmerism, Suggestive Therapeutics, and Magnetic Healing, including Telepathy, Mind Reading and Spiritualism pub- lished. The mysteries of these wonderful and fascinating sciences fully explained. Paper covers, printed in two colors , 50cts. Red silk cloth, designed, stamped ia. gold and inks, $1.00 6 Medical Hypnosis. For advanced students iand practitioners. Specialiy prepared for the medical fraternity. Full cloth, elegant cover design in gold and inks $1.50 Plain Medical Talks lor Women and Nursery Adviser. By Henry McMiirtrie, M. D. Here is one of the most service- a.ble books for the home published. The great popularity of this book of 300 pages is due to the plain method adopted by the author in dealing with this delicate subject. The rela- tions of men and wom.en to each other, and the habits of each; society, love, juaiTiage, parentage, rules for preserving the health of m arried v/om.en ; directions to pregnant women and an accouat of their diseases with full instructions for the rearing of chilOrv'jrx f^oia the hour of birth, together with an account of the diseases of infancy, are only a few of the leading facts treated in this wonderful book. It should be in the hands of not only all married persons, but all others of marriageable age. Revised and enlarged to SOO pages, fully illustrated. Handsomely bound. Red silk cloth with gold design 75 cts. A Compendium of Domestic Medicine and Health Ad- viser, By Henry McMurtrie, M. D. This work is unsur* passed as a family medical adviser Sjud traveler's companion. It is of convenient pocket size and contains full illustrations of all the essential parts of the human body and a compre- hensive treatise on all ordinary diseases. The practice of medicine should bo conducted on those general principles which from experience and careful observation, the author has been able to condense in this very handy and yet com- plete book. These great principles are few and short, but full enough to be easily understood ; they are applicable to every disea,se to which the human body is subject. It is the judicious use of them which constitutes the great merit of the enlightened physician. The book is fully illustrated and contains 256 la.rge bright pages. Handsomely bound. Silk cloth with gold design 75 eta. Gleason's Horse-Training Made'Easy. This is a new andpracticalsystem of Teaching and Educating the Horse. There are chapters on Whip Training; or. How to Drive without Beins; How to Make a Horse Trot Honest; Essay on Horseshoeing; with treatment of the various diseases of the Horse, vv^ith a full and complete history of Glanders, This is the simplest and best book of its kind published, and is fully illustrated. In addition to maay small cuts there are several full page illustrations. Elegantly bound. Paper covers 25 cts. Cloth , 50 cts. Shadow EntertalEtmersts. By A. Patterson. In this book tho author tells how the shadows are made and how to work them, so as to produce extremely funny situations, thus pro- viding an evening's entertainment of a most enjoyable kind. A hundred illustra,tions with full description of each has made this book extremely popular. Paper covers 25 cts. Cloth \ 50 cts. First Steps in Magnetism. By W. Jerome Harrison, F. Q. S. Thi3 book is intended strictly as an introduo* tion to the science of whica It treats, theories may and do frequently change, but the facts of nature upon which they are founded are immutable. So we should study the facts and the theories will adjust themselves. Care has been taken to describe mostly such experiments as any student may repeat at home, with but little expenditure of money. Fully illustrated. Elegantly bound. Gloth ..50 cts. First Steps in Electricity. By W. Jerome Harrison, F. G. S. Specially adapted to the requirements of the new code. Each and every chapter of this book has been given as an object lesson, many times to classes of children averaging sixty in number, and of ages from ten to sixteen. It will be Been therefore that the experiments are simple and inexpen sive and can be performed at home. Fully illustrated. Ele- gantly bound in cloth. Price 50 cts. First Lessons In Voltaic Electricity. By W. Jerome Harri- son, F. G. S. In this valuable little work on Voltaic Electricity the author had endeavored to explain fully in a purely descriptive and experimental manner how to perform these simple experiments with as little expense as possible. The immense popularity of the little hand-books by Prof. Har- rison proves the wisdom of his plan. All are fully iMustrated with carefully prepared cuts. Elegantly bound in cloth. Price 50 cts. Standard Cyclopedia of Rec<>ipts. Edited by Charles W. Brown "The book is worth its weight in gold." This is the opinion of thousands who have had occasion to use a few of the hundreds of receipts contained in this large handsome volume. The contents include receipts for Cooking, making Preserves, Perfumery, Cordials, Ice Creams, Inks, Paints Dyes of all kinds, Cider, Vinegar, Wines, Spirits, Whisky, Brandy,Gin and how to make imitations of all kinds of liquors, etc., with full and valuable gauging tables. No home is com plete without this book and no merchant or farmer should be without it. Elegantly bound in cloth. Price $1 00 Swine and Tiieir Diseases. By Robt. Jenning, V. S. This brief treatise on Swine and their Diseases is the best ever published, because of the simplicity of treatment and sure cure of every disease of the hog when the remedies are administered in time and in the manner prescribed in this handy little volume. The remedies are inexpensive ; most farmers constantly keep in the house about all the medicines recommended in this treatise. The great popularity of this book lies in the success its remedies have afforded ail who have had occasion to use them. Fully illustrated. Paper covers 25 cts. Cloth 50 cts. National Encyclopedia. The most complete and convenient hand book for quick reference published. Invaluable to the professional man, student, farmer, working man, merchant and mechanic. This book is now recognized by the public as one of the very best encyclopedias ever published. The pub- lishers are determined to keep it at the top, and have, there- fore, at tremendous expense, and by the combined efforts of many of the best minds, enlarged and revised the edition of 1898, making it to day an invaluable and reliable Encyclo- pedia. Its contents is too voluminous to give even a sum- mary, but when it is said to contain all that many of the large andfarm.ore expensive works do, enough has been said to convince any thoughtful person of the folly to look further . or to hesitate in buying this work at once. City, County and State Superintendents in all sections of the country are not only using the book, but recommend it to parents and children. Over 1000 illustrations— over 1000 pages double columns. Extra pebble cloth, gold side and back stamp $2.00 Herrmann's Conjuring for Amateujl's. A practical treatise on how to pei-form modern tricks, by Prof. Herrmann. Great care has been exercised by the author to include in this book only such tricks as have never before appeared in print. This assures the performer a secret and almost endless fund for suitable material to be used on all occasions. With little prac- tice, almost any one can perform the more simple tricks, and with practice, as he becomes more adept, he can perform the most difficult. No book published contains a greater variety of material for conjurers and sleight of -hand performers than this book. Coins, cards, silk hat, handkerchiefs, balls, are all introduced in the many programs offered, thus affording one an endless variety from which to select for parlor or stage entertainments. Paper covers 25 cts. Cloth , 50cts. Love Letters and How to Write Them. By Ingoldsby North Here is just the book not only for all unmarried folks, but other folks as well; while, of course, they may not use the language presented, still they will remind them of the time when they were just a little more particular about their correspondence. One hundred and forty styles are presented with notes and comments on each. There are also excellent rules and good advice on love, courtship and marriage that everybody ought to know. It won't hurt anybody to read these healthy chapters on the finer feelings of life. Follow the forms here laid down and you cannot go far astray ; 150 pages. Paper covers 25 cts. ClotB 50 cts. Twentletli Century Guide to Palmistry. By the Zancigs. Here we have the simplest presentations of the Science of Modern Palmistry published. All of the discoveries, investiga- tions and researches of centuries are summed up in this practical ti-eatise on Palmistry. There is no trait, no charac- teristic, no inherited tendency that is not marked on the palm of the hand, and can be traced with unerring accuracy by following the principles and instruction laid down in this book, enforced by numerous timely illustrations of known historical personages. Even a casual reading of this book will enable us to know our own character better and give ua convincing proof of the sincerity or insincerity of friends — or professing ones. If a careful study is then made you will be astonished at the accuracy with which you can read the life-history of any one through the graven lines on the palms. Over 50 illustrations. Paper covers. 25 cts. Handsomely bound in cloth ,,,,,,,,,,...$1.00 Modem Blacksmithinar, Rational Horseshoeing and Wa^on Making. By J. G. Holmsti'om. This valuable work is written by a mart of thirty years of practical experience. Elementary rules are employed, thus avoiding the more tech- nical terms, rendering this treatise practical and more inval- uable to all who have use for it. Even the oldest blacksmith or wagon maker will find many helpful suggestions and any young man can master the principles of these two useful arts by a careful study of this book. The rules and receipts will be found of great value to farmers, horseshoers, wagon makers, machinists, liverymen, well-drillers, manufacturers, as well as amateurs and young men on the farm. Fully illustrated. Cloth $1 00 Half morocco 1 50 Twentietti Century Cook Book and Practical Housekeeping:. The new century brings new and better things for us all. Old things are laid away and modern improve- ments take the place of everything we have had. In this, the latest Cook Book we have the fruits of centuries of investigations — improvements in ail lines of housekeeping especially cooking. This book is as much superior to all others as the 1900 reaper is to the cradle of our forefathers. Besides being the very latest it is also the largest and most reliable Cook Book published. Everything is practical, and out of the three or four thousand receipts the greater major- ity will be found serviceable in a majority of American homes.' While the aim has been to give receipts for all dishes, even the more elaborate have not been overlooked. For this reason The 20th Century Cook Book has found its way into the wealthiest families. There are double the number of receipts in this book than are found in any other book pub- lished. 816 large octavo pages, elegantly printed and fully illustrated. Bound in white oil cloth with marbled edges and embossed with handsome design in colors. Price $2 50 Fortune Telling by Cards. By Madame Chiro. Describing how Cards are "Read" by persons professing to tell fortunes by their aid. Madame Chiro is without doubt the greatest Fortune Teller by means of Cards that has ever visited America, and this, her only and authorized book is like the author, without a peer. If you would learn to read fortunes as Madame Chiro does, this book will teach you, and with practice you will become as adept as the author herself. Fully illustrated. Paper covers 25 cts. Cloth 50 cts. The New Century Webster Dictionary. For the vest pocket. The very latest up-to-date. 28,000 words. This edition has been carefully and conscientiously eciited, using the work of the great Noah Webster as a bcisis, and conforming as far as possible with the views of such eminent philologists and orthoepists as Worcester, Whitney, Corbett and Ayres. It contains clear and concise definitions, correct accentuations and full markings of all difficult words, according to the highest authorities. It contains many new words lately coined and not found in any dictionary heretofore published; also a larger per centage of root words than any other book of its kind. Issued in two styles of binding. Size 25^x5Vi. 194 pages. Silk Cloth, Red Edges, indexed 25 cts. Full Leather, Gold Edges, indexed 50 eta 10 ELIZABETH Agg GERMAN GARDEN ISlustrated What more can be said of this book than the epitomized utter- ances of the reviewers of current literature ? The TRIBUNE declares it is Charming. The HERALD exclaims, it is Enrapturing. The WORLD afBrms it is Enchanting. The GLOBE testifies it is Delightful. The SUN asserts it is Lovablb. The EXPRESS swears it is Captivating. The TJMES maintains it is Bewitching. The SRNXrNEL avows it is Alluring. The CHRONICLE avers it is Fascinating. The DISPATCH crys, it is Seductive. The POST acknowledges it is Pleaburablb. The JOURNAL deposes it is Amiable. The NEWS confesses it is Graceful. The GAZETTE states it is Attractive. Never before has a book called forth such testimony of sweet- ness, tenderness, freshness, gentleness, wholesomeness ; the read- er, in whatever walk or station of life, whether prosaic or poetic, unite in one universal acclaim : " There are not adjectives in the language strong enough, or numerous enough, to express the melodious harmony— the infinite, immeasurable, boundless beaut j^ of this sublime effort, Elizabeth in her German Garden." The old Schloss by the Baltic, the lawn, and those inimitable babies— sweetest gifts from Heaven — make this The riost Delightful Garden in all Literature. It is Par Excellence. Cloth, special cover design embossed in gold, gold top, silk ribbca book-mark. ^. «^ Price $1 00 Telegraphy and How to Learn It, with brief chapters of Elemen- tary Electricity. The importance of uniting these two allied subjects is apparent to any one about to take up the study of Telegraphy, either for a livehliood or recreation, and whd nas not a rudimentary knowledge of the theory of Electricity. This book, therefore,treats of the Electro -Magnetic Telegraph in its simplest form and with an instrument and a little practice you will be surprised at the rapid advancement you will make by the aid of this treatise. Handsomely illustrated and bound in cloth. Price «1 00 American Nights Entertainments, by Josephine Stafford. There is no book published, that can take the place of this handy little volume of original Games and Costume Parties. It is T.nique in the fact that it actually fills a place never attempt- ed before and at a price so reasonable as to be within the reach of everybody. Besides 26 original games, suitable for all kinds of parties, luncheons and teas, there are seven Cos- tume Parties for children, suitable for birthday parties, ama- teur vaudevilles, and Sunday school entertainments. Hand- somely bound. Paper Covers 25 cts. Cloth ' •••50 cts. Mookkeepinff Without a T^aater A valuable book for the student, clerk, tradesman and merchant. This is unquestionably the most complete and practical work of the kind published. The principles of the art of bookteeping' are clearly defined in plain language so that the student acquires with ease the exact knowledge necessary to the correct recording of accounts. It contains fourteen specimen pages of books used in single and double entry, embracing a complete and authentic system of single and double entry ledgers, day and cash books, journals; how to balance; the difference between single and double entry; about profit and loss, stocks, interests and discounts, sundry accounts, bill books, bills payable and receivable, etc. Printed on an extra fine quality of heavy book paper. Size, QxQYz inches. Bound in cloth $1.00 THE MODERN ART OF MAKING LOVE And Complete Manual of Etiquette, Love, Courtship and riat- rimony. Something Every Boy and Girl, flan and Woman Ought to Know. Tells how to begin a courtship, when and whom to marry, the advisability of long and short courtships, points :o be ob- served in the selection of a husband or wife, the secret of pleasing a sweetheart, how to address and win the favor of ladies, ietc. Also contains a complete system of love telegraphy, handkerchief flirtation, a choice collection of sensible love letters, the language oi flowers, precious stones and their sij^mification, etc. Price, bound in paper. 25c. Price, bound in ctoth 50c. i WiM i»" *s\ : iml w m^*tiu THE HENNEBEKRY COMPANY. LB D '09 The Des Plaines Belgian Hare Co. are headquarters for all the principle strains of Belgian Hares, being the largest breeders in the country. ^mvH'^^iH-' .^ CtfAMPION DUKE OF CHESMIRE THE GRANDEST BUCK IN AMERICA. If you are going to start, we can start you right. If •nt to improve your stock, don't buy before you lear from us, : great "Duke of Cheshire" the greatest winner er came from England, with Rabbi, Lurgan, : , Royal Flush, Lord Danvers, Lord Rosewin and ■ ■ other noted bucks are in our stud. We can satisfy anyone that want good stock and have the finest lot of does and youngsters in the country. THE BEST REMEDIES FOR ALL DISEASES. Rabbitry and Breeding Farm AT DES (>I.AINES, lUL. Temporary Salesrooms 340 DEARBORN ST., CHICAGO.