392 
The Philippine Journal of Science 
1914 
island as well as some of those on the mainland, with a loss of 
about 1,400 lives. Ashes, pumice, small stones, and acid vapors 
were thrown across the lake to the mainland, devastating the 
country to the west and southwest of the volcano. Ashes were 
thrown over large areas of surrounding country, resulting in 
the defoliation of the vegetation not otherwise affected. Sev- 
eral illustrated accounts of this eruption have been published. 1 
Since the disaster of 1911, residence on the island has been 
forbidden. It is visited regularly, however, by the Filipino 
fishermen of the neighboring shores and frequently has been 
explored by tourists. The new vegetation has been virtually 
uninfluenced by man and is still in virgin condition. 
From the summit of Mount Maquiling, at an altitude of 1,010 
meters, 34 kilometers to the northeast, no evidence of vegetation 
was apparent in September, 1912, but a year later the uniform 
ashy color was relieved by areas of grayish green in the ap- 
parent center of the island and extending in tongues from the 
shore toward the crater rim. 
Knowing that the original vegetation was destroyed, it is of 
considerable interest to place on record an account of its con- 
dition after three years of development. The following trips 
were made to the volcano: October 24-26, 1913, in company 
with Dr. H. A. Gleason and Mr. B. E. Quick, then visiting from 
the University of Michigan, and Mr. J. C. Rundles of the Col- 
lege of Agriculture, by way of Banadero ; December 19-23, 1913, 
in company with E. Quisumbing, V. Sulit, and A. Damo, students 
of the College of Agriculture, as collectors, by way of Pansipit; 
and April 17-22, 1914, with E. Quisumbing, N. Catalan, and 
V. Sulit by way of Banadero. 
Mainland vegetation . — The rain of ashes and stones, the pres- 
ence of acid vapors, as well as the mechanical effect of the 
rush of wind and of tidal waves, all combined to kill the vege- 
tation to the ground over wide areas. This was most severe on 
the western and southern sides of Bombon Lake and least so 
on the northeastern side. 2 In the latter place defoliation was 
the most prominent result. The vegetation which has since de- 
veloped, although largely pioneer and rather poor in species, is 
1 Saderra Maso, Miguel. The Eruption of Taal Volcano, January 30, 
1911. Weather Bureau, Manila (1911) 1-45, Pis. I-VII. English and 
Spanish. — Pratt, Wallace E. Philip. Journ. Sci. 6 (1911) Sec. A 63-85, Pis. 
I-XIV, figs. 1-3. — Martin, Charles. Philip. Journ. Sci. 6 (1911) Sec. A 
87-91, Pis. I-VII. — 'Worcester, Dean C. National Geographic Magazine 23 
(1912) 313-367. 
1 See the map in article by Worcester, cited in footnote 1. 
