1879 - RABBITS: raising Lop-Ear Madagascar, Angora, Himalayas; engraving & text for Sale

1879 - RABBITS: raising Lop-Ear Madagascar, Angora, Himalayas; engraving & text For Sale

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1879 - RABBITS: raising Lop-Ear Madagascar, Angora, Himalayas; engraving & text :
$9.95

“Fancy Rabbits”1879 wood engravingThis is a single full page published over 140 years ago in the February, 1879, issue of the American Agriculturist, a monthly periodical mostly devoted to articles of interest to farmers. The sheet measures 9 x 12 inches in size, and is in excellent condition. Most of the page is devoted to an article on “Raising Rabbits for Profit.” It consists of about 100 lines of text. Across the center of the sheet is a wood engraving of “A GROUP OF FANCY RABBITS,” showing 5 varities of rabbits.The article reads, in part:“Rabbits in this country are commonly thought of and kept merely as pets. On waste lands in England they are often bred in large numbers for their meat and fur. To many people the meat of well fed rabbits makes a delicate dish when properly cooked, and it is nutritious and easily digested. Rabbits are quite as easily kept as poultry, are hardy, and are very prolific breeders. The writer, in conjunction with a friend, has begun to raise the common farm rabbits for market. . . . During the first winter they were kept in an out building, fed on grain, scraps from the kitchen, and a few roots. During last spring they were let out doors and they soon burrowed holes in a neighboring bank, where they lived, bred and thrived. . . . The price obtained is really low for so much nice meat, being considerably cheaper than poultry; but is is encouraging. . . . This success shows what may be done in this line, and that a demand may be created. . . . “The fancy rabbits include many varieties, some of which are pretty pets, or are useful for crossing with the common sorts to increase their size. The fine engraving on this page shows the ‘Himalaya’ rabbit on the right, which is perhaps the handsomest of the lot, being white, with black nose, ears, feet and tail; he is large in size and his meat is good. The ‘Lop-ear,’ or Madagascar rabbits are well-known as the largest of them all. . . . The ‘Half-lop’ is a cross between the ‘Lop-ear’ and common rabbit, and is a homely thing, little valued by some who have owned them. The ‘Oar-lop’ is a curious animal. . . . In the background sits an ‘Angora’ rabbit, noted for its long goat-like hair. For profit in breeding for table use, the common farm rabbit is as good as any. . . . The business is one that smart boys or girls can attend to—except the marketing perhaps—and will give them interest and profit, and it is even worthy the attention of grown men having tracts of waste land good for no other purposes, or now underutilized.”_gsrx_vers_1651 (GS 9.7.3 (1651))