28 PROGRESSIVE POULTRY CULTURE 



the size and shape of body and of the different body- 

 parts, to the coloration of the feathers, to the capabil- 

 ities of the digestive system, to the capacity of the 

 breathing apparatus, to the heart-development, to the 

 quality of the bones and muscles, to the keenness of 

 vision, to the texture of the comb and wattles, to the 

 foldings of the brain. It affects the new creature's 

 bodily strength or weakness, its possible length of life, 

 its breeding powers -(egg-production) and even the 

 chicken's disposition and habits. Unfortunately poor 

 or bad qualities are inherited as readily as good ones. 



Disease is not directly transmitted but conditions 

 inviting or favoring the development of disease-germs in 

 the 'body may be inherited 1 . For example the bird which 

 has by inheritance, weak Lungs or poor digestive powers 

 is very likely to succumb to disease attacking these 

 parts of the body at some period in its life. 



This hereditary influence of the parents has much to 

 do with the start in life not only of the fowls but also 

 of the poultryman himself, for these facts apply to the 

 human family as well as to our feathered pets. 



The laws of inheritance hold the animal kingdom 

 to an orderly, systematic development and procession. 

 The poultryman is thereby assured of regularity in the 

 results of his matings of fine fowls. The eggs of these 

 birds will certainly produce their kind and not hatch 

 into sheep or swine or snakes. Nature is not fickle 

 and as a rule she forbids the formation of freaks. 



2. Environment. As soon as an egg begins to be 

 incubated, influences surround it which are very differ- 

 ent from those of the group just considered. Inheri- 

 tance acts from within and we wonder at the power of 

 these life influences enclosed within a minute cell. 

 Other influences, however, act upon the embryo from 

 the outside. Temperature, moisture, air all affect the 

 growth of the embryo chick in the incubating egg. Af- 

 ter hatching, these surounding influences increase and 

 become more potent in the life of the chick. Shelter, 

 food and all that is signified by the domestication and 



