ON THE NEED FOR IMPROVEMENT 



calls for a smooth stem. And at once there is a 

 quarrel. 



"Whoever heard of a brier bush without pro- 

 tective briers?" demands elf A. 



"I have the honor to represent such a one," 

 says the other. 



"But the thing is a departure from all the tradi- 

 tions of good brier architecture," insists A. "More- 

 over you cannot possibly fit the materials together 

 without getting some brier material." And this 

 argument prevails. 



When the factors are examined, it is obvious 

 that if they are put together the thorny factor will 

 overlie the thornless one, somewhat as a carved 

 stone might overlie a smooth stone in a human 

 dwelling. So it is admitted that the new organism 

 must have a thorny stem. 



Now all goes well again until the two architects 

 come to the building of the future fruit. Character 

 of flowers, time of fruiting, and general structure 

 of the berry itself are all arranged. But just as 

 the last detail was almost completed there is again 

 a disagreement. It is discovered that A's plan calls 

 for a white fruit, B's plan for a black fruit. 



"Whoever heard of a white blackberry?" de- 

 mands B, turning thus rather neatly the argument 

 that the other elf used about the thorns. "The 

 thing is ridiculous." 



[295] 



