1 4 'J Fa rm Poult ry 



BREEDING 



Heredity. Since the earliest times of which 

 any authentic records have been preserved, owners 

 of live stock have made attempts to improve the 

 animals under their charge by the art of breed- 

 ing. Accounts state that the ancients recognized 

 the principle in breeding that "like begets like," 

 and depended on it quite as much as on any other 

 principle. It is on this principle that the poul- 

 tryman and stock owner depend for the perpetu- 

 ation of species, breeds and varieties. In this 

 principle is recognized the law which, within 

 certain limits, makes offspring like their parents. 

 The development of this theory no doubt came 

 from a close observation of domesticated animals. 

 Had only wild animals been observed, it is likely 

 that the similarity of offspring to parents would 

 have been taken as a matter of course, and what 

 is now known as the law of heredity would have 

 been studied comparatively little. 



Poultry breeders recognize the law that off- 

 spring resemble their parents within certain limits, 

 and depend upon this law more than upon any 

 other as the foundation upon which the improve- 

 ment by breeding depends. If it were not for 

 the law of heredity, selection would be practically 

 of no value. If strong, hearty, vigorous parents, 

 which are noted for their useful qualities, were 



