Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1913-10-09
ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF BUTTER
CUP FOWLS.
by Isaac F. Tillinghast, secretar ~.
American Buttercup Club

Island of Sicily, Italy, and hence thov
are classed as Mediterranean.
The origin of the breed dates haci.
SO far it is shrouded in obscurlty. tnaT
having been kept, possibly for ages. h..
q peasants OF their native land. for
eggs n meat, with apparently no ar
tempt to breed them to feather or Uni
fOrmity of type in coloring, aIthougb
their POPULARITY of comb, and greeniSn
cslored shanks nave long been mann
tained.
So far as can learn, their original
introduction into this country wsa
first described by Carroll C. Lorinq ~
Massachusetts, who gave the story 81
oft since repeated, of old CenbaS
Iawes, the New England sea captain
who more than fifty years ago bronght
TO Boston, from Sicily, "a cargo of
Iasins, Organges and figs. When hio
cargo was made up and he wa sreadv
to sail he was attracted by a coon of
fowls offered in the market, and think
Ing to occasionally have a treat of
fresh meat while on his journey home
he purchased them and took them an
board.
Captain Dawes soon noticed in them
tneir usual habit" of laying eggs. and
they laid so continuously and we'll
large white eggs with very firm shells
end rich, delicate flavor, and as tbev
were Of a specially gentle, quiet dis
position, they soon became the pets of
the entire crew, and Jared we'll: and
thus Won the regard of captain and
crew through u~nobtrusive worth, pre-
cisely as they have ever since done
wherever they have been placed: for
II is a very noticeable fact that when
ever they are taken up they win their
way to the final displacement of all
competitors.
Mr.. Loring, above referred to, is ona
of our well known, old-time poultry
men. / quote the following from one
of his recent letters:
81 am the original i%ntroducer and
breeder Of B~uttercups in this country. ,
[ have spent 50 years of my life in the
scientific breeding of pure blooded:
have originated several standard yari-
cites; am original %introducer in the
United States of Barred Plymouth
Rocks with Mr.. Upham, in 1865; or
CrEingtons, as exhibited at Music Hall.
J Boston, in 1888; and of Sicily Butter
cups, or Good Luck Fowls" in dear
est, coy, profitable success bringing
Of any fowl, in 1860.
Sicily Buttercups are handsome, at
~tractive, endearipg fowls to every wo-
n an, and money makers for man. They
are very tame, docile pets, somewhat
larger than Leghorns. They bring
/, success, comfort and profit to all who
keep them. They were first brought
from the Island of Sicily by Captain
, Dawes, in the bark "Fruiter," our
: farms joined and l first obtained them
from him. I have always found them
+ tremendous layers of large sized white
eggs, very hardy, and splendid broil-
ers.
In 1866 1 was bringing out the
Barred Rocks then later Dark Brah-
> mas; then originated and brought out
+ the Silver Penciled Wyandottes and
Partridge Wyandottes.
81 also imported Silver Brackets,
( from the grass district of Belgium, and
9 Silver Campines' from the Pine Woods
district of Belgium, but do not like
y them, and have discontinued both, as l
r found the Buttercups far superior.
I'm 1894 l first began to put out the
q '%Sicilians,' and I then added the word
B~uttercup.' See Year Book of the I.
S Department of Agriculture, Bureau
of Animals Industry, for 1905. They
# there published the report of my
"a bre ding, etc.
"HThe speckled breasts and neck on
Buttercups is wrong, and not of the
> true type. With kind treatment But
tercups become companions like a dog
or a cat"
4 -
So much for the origin and history
of Buttercups. Whatever popularity
Ii they gained during succeeding years
n. until very recently, was made ent1rel!
10 Upon intrincis merit; upon their re-
codr as remarkable ~egg-layers when
spread from mouth to mouth. To the
above I add the following from the
writings of Mr.. H. W. Dewey, Presl
re dent OF the American Buttercup club;
&c ga little later, John B. Cough, tns
oI great temperance advocate. obtained
l. trio of the breed, and still later, Rev
!. A B. Browe. at the time a student II
Is college, was presented with a trio.
OF Fortunately these early importa
oy tons either remained or become In'
ne property of owners who were interest
us a foundation for the establishment .
'ct this greatest of laying breeds was Iai'
OIL in America. ,
"The great and eve increasing oe
ct mand for Buttercup fowls is a surpllS
to many poultrymen, especially y
IL those who have come to depend upoi
o. extensive advertising to boom tneH ="
III Vorites. The little hen from SICILY 10
,n' surely come to the front, n sne 10
le- come by way of always and ever!
a where making good. Her fame Ie9 90
on a most enduring foundation. bllen
Is stated, Buttercups are easy Keep,
good foragers, very hardy MAJ .
early, are as quiet and domestS =
Wyandottes or Rocks, a little ap Sov
the Leghorn size, and wonderful '"'
he ers of large white eggs. ,
IL when / first became intereSteu ,
Buttercup fowls, there was no d.
in cups or organization. and no otanu~
oh of Perfection. On inquiry IVaLnyi
va that unsuccessful attempts at oLe@ &c
49, zation had been made, but dlnicu -