I HISTORY OF ANCONAS 



W- NGLAND, conceded to be the foremost poultry country, took up 

 ■- breeding Anconas in 1848. The breed met the critical demands of the 

 English for a profitable fowl, and has become one of the popular and 

 stable breeds of that country. 



America first imported Anconas in 1890 from England, but at that 

 time poultry matters were slower than at present, and it was several years 

 before they became known to but a small circle of poultrymen. 



It is not out of place right here to state that the breed has never 

 been exploited. The first importations were made without any blare of 

 trumpets. And it was years before they were exhibited, advertised, and 

 pictured. In fact I doubt that any breed of fowls ever attained the wide- 

 spread popularity that Anconas have with as little boosting. They were 

 well established as a utility fowl for years before they were taken up by 

 fanciers, and I consider this a good strong argument in their favor. It is 

 well to look with suspicion upon those breeds that are first introduced 

 through the fancy, as it is not unlikely that their boom will prove un- 

 warranted when the fowls are required to "make good" on the utility 

 side. I would not belittle the fanciers part in the poultry business, and 

 believe that we owe much to them for the present high place occupied by 

 the poultry business. I agree with the old saw that "Utility is the wagon 

 that carries the load, and Fancy is the wheels that make it move," but 

 we must not forget that Wheels without the Wagon are of little use. 



I would compare a new breed first exploited through the fancy to 

 some of the many gold mine properties flaunted before the public. They 

 look very good in pictures, and the prospectus is most enticing; successful 

 men are associated in their developement, and their organization is per- 

 fect. The possibilities look great, but before you put your money in, find 

 out if they have panned out any gold! When a breed has been established 

 long enough to prove its worth and is popular because of its merit, then 

 it can be boosted to the limit, and people can safely tie to it. 



It was not imtil 1895, five years after they were brought to America, 

 that Anconas were admitted to the American Standard of Perfection. 

 And not for twenty years after their introduction were they illustrated 

 by the American Poultry Association. 



The Ancona breed began to engage the attention of the American 

 poultry public in a considerable degree in 1905, after they had been bred 

 here for fifteen j^ears, and had proven themselves to be a breed of great 



