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SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. LII. No. 1345 



logical survey of the islands of the Pacific 

 Ocean, particxilarly those of the South Seas, 

 and extends its thanks to those who have 

 made provision for the expedition. 



5. Collecting Polynesian Land Flora 

 Since a definite knowledge of the flora of 

 Polynesia is absolutely essential to a proper 

 understanding and correlation of numerous 

 problems bearing on the life and origins of 

 Polynesian peoples, problems of forestry, 

 agriculture, ethnobotany, plant diseases, phys- 

 iology, and ecology; since the original vege- 

 tation of some island groups is rapidly being 

 destroyed, and since botanical exploration of 

 Polynesia has been sporadic and in many 

 regions incomplete, therefore the Pan-Pacific 

 Scientific Conference 



Recommends: (1) That botanical explora- 

 tion of Polynesia be extended as rapidly as 

 possible in order to assemble comprehensive 

 collections with as complete notes as possible 

 covering the scientific and economic aspects 

 of Polynesian botany. 



(2) That this work of exploration be 

 carried on by existing agencies, by special 

 botanical expeditions and by heads of non- 

 bctenical expeditions employing and super- 

 vising native collectors whenever feasible for 

 the collection and preservation of botanical 

 material. 



(3) That material be collected in bulk — 

 from ten to fifteen specimens of each species 

 ■ — with the object of distributing duplicate 

 material to Pacific institutions and to the 

 larger botanical centers of the world. 



6. Plant Ecology on Lava Flows 

 Since new lava flows and other volcanic 

 ejecta offer fresh terrane on the abode of life, 

 therefore this conference 



Recommends that studies be made of the 

 stages of ecological development with special 

 reference to the appearance of forms of plant 

 life on new volcanic deposits following an 

 eruption; and also of plants best suited to 

 the speedy rehabilitation for agricultural 

 uses of regions covered by such volcanic 

 ejecta; and of the resistance of plants to 

 volcanic fumes. 



6. Preservation of the Hillebrand Garden 

 (Honolulu) 



Since the botanical garden of the late Dr. 

 "William Hillebrand, author of the Plora of 

 the Hawaiian Islands, situated in the city of 

 Honolulu, is one of the most remarkable 

 gardens in the world, possessing as it does 

 many unique and rare plants introduced into 

 the Hawaiian Islands by Dr. Hillebrand, and 

 since the conference believes that the preser- 

 vation and perpetuation of this garden, which 

 is threatened with destruction, would be a 

 great benefit to botanical science, this confer- 

 ence recommends steps be taken to insure its 

 preservation. 



IV. Geography 

 1. Topographic Maps 



The exploration of Pacific regions in many 

 branches of science is handicapped by the 

 almost total lack of topographic maps. There 

 is scarcely any human activity which does 

 not depend to a great or less degree upon a 

 knowledge of the configuration of the land. 

 This is especially true in such work as 

 mining, railroad and highway extension, and 

 maintenance, utilization of water resources 

 of the world can not be discovered and utilized 

 efficiently without maps. 



Topographic maps of any given area should 

 be adapted in scales, accuracy and details to 

 the scientific and economic needs peculiar to 

 the area. 



The benefits derived from adequate topo- 

 graphic maps are far greater than their cost 

 and this conference urges that plans be made 

 for carrying on a topographic survey of the 

 lands of the Pacific regions, and that this 

 plan be designed to give imiformity of re- 

 sults. This conference commends the coim- 

 tries of the Pacific region for the work 

 already done by them. 



2. Survey of the Shoreline and Coastal 

 Waters 



A general hydrogTaphic survey of the con- 

 tinental shelves extending off-shore to the 

 one-thousand fathom curve and of the island 

 platforms should be executed, in order to 

 supply basic data essential to all research 



