DEVELOPING CHARACTERS 197 



Or, suppose we have a tree which bears de- 

 licious fruit in small quantities. 



Let us then find one with a tendency to over- 

 produce, even though its fruit, in size, flavor, and 

 appearance, be inferior. 



In some combination between the two, simply 

 by following the leads which those combinations 

 themselves will give, we shall in a few years, very 

 likely, discover one variation which combines the 

 productiveness of one strain of heredity with the 

 deliciousness of another. 



Or, perhaps, we have a plant which bears us 

 berries of wonderful flavor, but too small to be 

 marketable. 



Let us find a plant with large, beautiful ber- 

 ries, even though they be insipid, and see if, be- 

 tween the two, by matching heredities, there is 

 not to be found some new berry which is luscious, 

 large, and beautiful. 



Or, supposing that in our own particular soil 

 there are varieties we should like to grow which 

 fail to prosper, while other less desirable varieties 

 thrive. 



Our problem, then, is but the combination 

 of heredities to bring the desirability of one 

 with the hardiness of another into a single 

 new plant which, as it were, we make to 

 order. 



