66, Rabbit-house, containing twenty-one hutches, each of which is a cubic box of 20 in. on the side. Each box is in two divi sions, an eating-place and a sleeping-place; the sleeping-place is 8 in. wide, and is entered by an opening in the back part of the partition. Both divisions have an outer door in front; and, in order that the door of the sleeping-place may not be opened by any stranger, it is fastened by an iron pin, which cannot be seen or touched till the door of the eating-place is opened. Mr. Pratt pointed this out to us as an improvement in the construction of rabbit-hutches, well deserving of imitation wherever there is any chance of boys or idle persons getting into the rabbit-house. The rabbits are fed on garden vegetables and bran, barley, oatmeal, and hay, making frequent changes; the vegetables being gathered three or four days before being used, and laid in a heap to sweat, in order to deprive them of a portion of their moisture. Salt is also given occasionally with the bran. Cleanliness, and frequent change of food, have now, for five years, kept the rabbits in constant health. It ought never to be forgotten, that attention to the above rules, in partially drying green succulent vegetables, is essential to the thriving of rabbits kept in hutches; and, hence, in London and other large towns, instead of fresh vegetables, they are fed with clover-hay. One of the kinds of rabbit bred at Mr. Harrison's is the hare rabbit, mentioned in. the Encyclopï¾µdia of Agriculture, 7355., the flesh of which resembles that of the hare, in quantity and flavour. Mr. Pratt has fed rabbits here, which, when killed, weighed 11 lbs. We can testify to their excellence when cooked.
