economic value. The botanical names of these and detailed in- 

 formation as to their soil and moisture requirements, -rates of 

 growth, distribution, etc., are needed in order that the greatest 

 use can be made of them. Probably no region in the world pre- 

 sents a richer flora than that of the Philippine Islands, and the 

 task of assembling material to represent practically a complete 

 flora of the Archipelago is an enormous one. The total number 

 of species will certainly exceed 10,000, of which about 7,500 are 

 already definitely known. The need of continued exploration is 

 urgent. The Bureau of Science has one of the largest herbaria 

 in the Far East and by its help is continually assisting other 

 branches of the Government and individuals in the identifica- 

 tion of specimens. 



Some of the most troublesome diseases of plants and animals 

 are due to fungi, each disease being caused by a different species 

 of fungus. Fungi affect not only man himself, but many of his 

 important industries, including forestry, agriculture, and stock 

 raising. These fungi are specially troublesome in tropical coun- 

 tries, so that the study of them is a very important branch of 

 Philippine botany. 



Economic work in entomology involves the control of flies, 

 mosquitoes, and other insects that are known to be carriers of 

 disease and of the many species of insects injurious to forests, 

 fruit trees, agricultural crops, etc. The Bureau of Science has 

 introduced the silkworm and supplies eggs and instructions 

 to those who wish to produce silk. The silk industry is 

 well adapted to Philippine conditions, and it should be rapidly 

 developed. 



In many tropical countries sea products, especially fish, form 

 a much higher percentage of human food than in temperate re- 

 gions. This is true also in the Philippine Islands, yet not nearly 

 so much of these products are used as could be. Philippine 

 waters contain fish equal in quality to those found elsewhere, and 

 their great quantity and variety are demonstrated in all of the 

 local markets. The Bureau of Science has done all that the 

 limited personnel would permit to stimulate the economic fish- 

 eries industries. Considerable work has been done in the devel- 

 opment of deep-sea fishing, in improving the methods of capture 

 and marketing, and 'in means for drying, salting, and canning 

 surplus stock. Only one species of fish, the bangos, is raised in 

 artificial ponds, and this is a profitable industry. It is prob- 

 able that other and better fishes can be raised by somewhat 

 similar methods. The black bass has been successfully intro- 

 duced, and there are many lakes where it could be planted with 



