Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-04
UNKNOWN FLORA.
A Field That Should Prove Fascinat-
ing for Enthusiastic Botanists.

Ing LUZ OOLdldSlS.
From the Philadelphia Ledger.
Much interest in the flora of our new is
land possessions is developing. In New
York it seems likely to bear important edu-
eational fruit in connection with the new
botanical gardens and museum recently
opened in Bronx Park. Directors of the
Gardens some time ago sent Percy Wilson,
a member of their staff. to Porto Rico, with
Professor. Evans. to investigate certain
phases of fora to be found in a stretch Of
gardens some time ago sent Percy Wilson,
stay on the island was altogether too linn
tied for any exhaustive collecting, he did
succeed in getting few fine palms and
several examples of orchids to the institu-
ton.
But the question arises whether this suf-
fees. The American people are clamoring
to know something more of the flora Of the
Philippines Guam, Hawaii and Porto Rico.
With the possible exception of Hawaii
there has been very little serious attempt
at Investigation and classification of the
flora of our new possessions. Very little lit
erature is available to the American stu
dent of today covering these fields, and for
those confined to the English language
there is practically no printed information
whatever.
In the case of the Philippines the botani-
cal litera ture Is extremely meager, being
limited to a publication bearing the title
La Flora de Filipino" work printed in
Spanish by the Jesuit Fathers resident in
as an authority by accredited botanists,
they saying that the text shows no evil
dences of individual research or close OBJ
servation of the plants described.
This lack of literature and Information is
in great part explained by the antagonistic
attitude of the Spaniards to eXplorat ion of
the interior by scientists of countries other
than their own. They guarded the islands
jealousy from alien intrusion, looking with
suspicion upon all requests for exploring
privileges and scientific research, putting
annoying obstacles In the way of all who
sought to enter the interior. Being languid
and indifferent themselves, they troubled
but little about the natural treasures that
surrounded them.
But In the two years Of American occu-
patton of the Philippines enough has been
learned Of the natural history of the Is
lands to warrant the prediction that they
present an illimitable field for collection
Writing of them in this connection an
educated native. who knows his country
well. says that these rich and multitude
nous islands. seated in the midst of a tropi-
cal sea. form In reality a botanist's para
disc. a region in which an ardent naturalist
might browse fOr years, and still have new
treasures left to find"
And the same sentiment echoes through
all the accounts related by returning So
jcurners in the islands. The wife of an
American army officer stationed there on
recent visit to the United States, says
that while journeying through the forests
in the islands. with their vast variety of
plant life. the trees In many cases present
ing a Kaleidoscope riot of color from the
masses Of orchids hanging from trunks and
limbs. some odd and unique In appearance,
many unknown to science.
Institutions in other countries are taking
cognizance of the field here presented under
new conditions, notably the Kew Gardens
of England, which already have represen-
tative collecting In the islands
But enough riffs Of knowledge have
broken through the dense cloud Of public
ignorance on the subject of our new possess
sions to have whetted the appetite for fuller
information. So it looks very much as IT,
providing there be no appropriation at hand
to carry out this work of collecting floral
specimens there, we shall have to depend
upon private gifts or endowments
| Even IL this be so. the project should GER
tainly appeal to those interested in the
cause of general education (and that the
study OF botany is useful and refining
one no one can question:. and having
patriotic pride in the advancement of our
public museums and kindred institutions in
Philadelphia. as well as in New York and
elsewhere.