numerous. These throw a great deal of light both upon the earlier 

 geological history of the islands and the origin of their flora. It 

 is evident from the foregoing that Luzon was connected with con- 

 tinental Asia since these species were evolved, but yet long enough, 

 ago to permit the differentiation that has taken place in a very 



Still more noteworthy, perhaps, is the presence of a distinct, 

 though much smaller, Australian element, first noted over twenty 

 years ago by Mr. Rolfe and recently emphasized by Mr. Merrill, 

 and it is again significant that these species are mainly from the 



The oddly-shaped island of Celebes, lying to the south of the 

 Philippines, shows many points of floristic similarity with them, 

 and especially with the nearest large island, Mindanao ; but the 



A Bornean element is also known to exist, but investigations 

 in this direction are least developed. It is certain to be very 

 pronounced, if for no other reason than that the geographical 



tions have recently been carried on in the large connecting islands 

 of Mindoro and Palawan, but the results are not yet available. 



The indications are, however, that much the greatest number 

 of connecting links will be found to be with Formosa, as would 

 be expected from its geographical position and general resem- 

 blance to the northern Philippines. Its flora, as recently worked 

 out by Professors Matsamura and Hayata, already makes this 



above 2,000 feet, many discoveries of the greatest interest are 

 still to be expected ; it is among these that we would look for 

 the greatest number of plants belonging also to other countries. 

 From another point of view, the climate indicated by this semi- 

 temperate vegetation in the north of the islands suggests most 

 important possibilities for their future. Advantage has already 

 been taken of this more bracing temperature from the standpoint 

 of health. Much of the land, in Benguet at least, is known to 

 be very fertile, and is already under high cultivation, and the 

 rapid improvement in conditions farther north and fuller investi- 



