CHAPTER XVII.

HEREDITY.

Only early knowledge can be of any benefit to offspring.--Our previous treatment of heredity.--The three periods of greatest molding power.--Relation of correct model to finished statue.--Education of child begins "twenty years before it is born."--Heredity in horses.--Effect of mental state of mother upon the forming unborn offspring.--Emotions effect chemical changes in the breath.--Physical and mental state effect exhalations of body.--Odors of insane asylums, penitentiaries, etc.--Achievements in development of domestic animals, birds, fruit trees, flowers, etc.--These laws in human heredity.--Modifying interferences.--"Degenerate sons of noble sires."--Causes not difficult to find.--Essentials of good soil, good seed and good care, 265