Director s Report for i<^i6. 9 



ance given us \^y the Museum in the loan of the vahiable collection 

 of casts and the most generous and helpful assistance of Mr. Stokes 

 and Mr. Lambert. These gentlemen who represented you, and 

 Mrs. vStokes who gave so freely of her time, inspired the best pos- 

 sible work on the part of our Committee, and brought to Maui's 

 careful attention the excellent work of your most valuable Museum. 

 I feel that your enthusiastic support of the project on Maui, which 

 you know is our first attempt, will materially assist in subsequent 

 fairs whether held here or on the other islands. The Museum can- 

 not be thanked enough, and you, kind sir, for the pains taken to 

 so materially assist in Maui's First County Fair. 



In behalf of the Committee of Hawaiian Arts and Crafts, 

 I remain most gratefully 3'ours, 



Rowland B. Dodge, Chairman. 



Botany. From the Report of the Curator of Botany, Mr. 

 Charles N. Forbes, I quote from his field work : 



"During the latter part of May I made an excursion to Hawaii 

 to observe the effects of a lava flow on vegetation. In order to 

 obtain quick transportation from Hilo to the source of the flow I 

 accepted the invitation of Dr. C. D. Barnes to join his automobile 

 party. While an unforeseen illness prevented a thorough explora- 

 tion I was enabled to see much which helps to explain conditions 

 observed on many old flows. I was able to visit a branch of the 

 flow in Kahuku while it was still hot, although movement had 

 ceased, and to see the actual source of the flow which was in great 

 activity. 



"The effect of heat on the lee side of the aa flow visited was 

 most interesting. Where the lava overhung dry grass, as it did 

 in many places along the flow, the grass was onl}- scorched the 

 amount of the overhang away from the flow, which was only six 

 inches in many places. Detached pieces of lava which fell off and 

 away from the flow simply burned a small circle about themselves. 

 Branches of trees actually overhanging the flow were usually but 

 not always withered ; while otherwise the tree remained unharmed. 

 In one place an ohia {Metrosideros polymorpha^ tree in full bloom 

 was nearly surrounded by a wall of lava without its foliage being 

 even wilted. Near the end of this flow a large prostrated koa tree 



{Acacia koa) had been carried a short distance without its foliage 



[201J 



