SCIENCE CONGRESS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 20, 24 July 1933, Page 9

SCIENCE CONGRESS

DELEGATE EETTJENS

VALUABLE RESEARCH WORK

On his way home after having attended the fifth Pacific Science Congross, which was opened at Victoria, British Columbia, on June 1, and concluded at Vancouver on June 14, Mr. E. Chcel, Government Botanist and Curator of the National Herbarium "(Botanic Gardens), Sydney, arrived today by the Makura from San Francisco. Mr. Checl told a "Post" reporter that the conference had been an immense success. It was attended by representatives of a large number of countries, including England, America, v Canada, the Netherlands, Mexico, '■Japan, China, the French colonies, and Australia, and between two and three hundred delegates were present. The work of the congress included discussions on various scientific topics, notably oceanographical, botanical, geological, and entomological work. Many of the papers were of practical importance, especially those dealing with forestry work. In the latter connection, Mr. Cheel said he thought that it would have been to the advantage of New Zealand to have been represented so that her delegates, could have come into contact with those carrying out practical botanical and forestry work, as well as agricultural interests, because those subjects were well discussed, particularly in connection with geuctical work. . \ After the conference a tour' from Vancouver to Calgary was' undertaken with the object of .-exploring the different flora and fauna and tho geological characteristics. The Kimberlcy and Tadanac mines "were visited, as well as a great number of experimental area stations chiefly -of agricultural and horticultural interest.

TOBACCO INVESTIGATION.

Mr. Cheel said that he had made a collection of plant specimens at the places he had visited, and had gathered a lot of valuable information at the University of California, Berkeley, the Lcyland Stanford University, Palo Alto, and ■ tho Academy of Sciences in the Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. Much valuable gencti-cal work was being undertaken at the two universities, including some extremely interesting experimental 'operations with the tobac-co family, which would be useful to all countries when .the- work was completed. He was keenly interested to learn that specimens of the Nicotiana genus which ho had sent from Sydney wore being investigated, and several hundreds of seedlings of different species were being cultivated at Berkeley. That alone' liad made the trip worth while. It was one thing to read about scientific research in journals, and quite a different matter to see the work being carried out in experimental plots. . One feature that was very noticeable in Victoria and Vancouver was the utilisation of many of the wild flowering plants of British Columbia, which we're being cultivated, very extensively in rock gardens, both private and public, said Mr. Chcel. The homes of the residents were well cared for in that respect, and they all seemed to take a great pride in tho beautification of their properties. The fixing of the venue for the next congress had not been finalised, Mr. Cheel continued, but ho hardly thought it would be held cither in Australia or New Zealand/ Australia had been the host in 1023. There was, however, a certainty that the next congress would be held within three years because of the importance of the work that was being undertaken byl the scientists of the various countries, bordering on the Pacific Ocean. .

Mr. Cheel said that several professors !at the British Columbia University, Vancouver, were very keen on the idea of exchanging professors on various subjects with Australia annually, and the scheme could be extended to New Zealand* The object was to gain added experience and knowledge of other, countries. Ho had been asked to raise the question in Australia. The idea was an excellent one if taken up in the right spirit. .