ON THE NEED FOR IMPROVEMENT 



although there, is conflict, it appears that the ma- 

 terial will permit the building of a root and stem 

 and leaf system that will answer after a fashion — 

 though a sad departure from tradition. A big 

 rambling bush that will try to ape both dewberry 

 and apple tree will result. 



But in the matter of the arcliitecture of the 

 germ plasm for the new organism through which 

 the race is to be perpetuated, difficulties arise at 

 the outset that are almost disheartening. 



There has been trouble enough in getting the 

 factors together to make any sort of stem and 

 leaf and flower. But all this was nothing com- 

 pared to the difficulties that arise when they get to 

 the fruit. 



"Specifications for fruit," says elf A consulting 

 his blue print: "A big, pulpy fruit, about four 

 inches in diameter, called an apple." 



"Not at all," cries B, consulting his own blue 

 print. "The fruit is a small berry about an inch 

 long, with many drupelets each having a seed at 

 its center — in short, a blackberry." 



How can two elfin architects hope to harmonize 

 materials like that? It is like getting together two 

 human architects to combine materials for a habi- 

 tation and finding that the material one has to 

 offer for the house are blocks of stone four feet 

 square while the other has only pebbles. 



[299] 



