234 The Philippine Journal of Science 1922 
CULTIVATED AREAS 
The Philippine Census of 1918 gives the area of farms in Samar 
Province as 177,357 hectares; that is to say, approximately 13 
per cent of the total area of the island is under cultivation. The 
cultivated tracts of land lie principally along the coasts. There 
are rich farms in the valleys of Catubig, Gandara, Catarman, 
Dolores, Ulot, Calbiga, and Basey Rivers; but little of the land 
in the interior is devoted to agriculture. Some’ of the rich 
uncultivated districts on the island could be developed to 
produce more rice, copra, and abaca, the principal agricultural 
products at present grown. Agricultural development apparent- 
ly is hindered by poor means of communication and insufficient 
population. The population, by the enumeration of 1918, was 
stated as being 362,399. sé 
CLIMATE 
The wet and the dry seasons on Samar are not so sharply 
defined as they are on some of the other islands of the Archipela- 
go. Those planning to go into this country are strongly advised 
not to attempt field trips during November, December, and 
January especially, for the heaviest rains occur then. Typhoons 
usually are most Violent during September and October. The 
climate, however, throughout the year is cool and healthful 
and, on the whole, more pleasant than that of Manila. 
FIELD WORK 
The chief of our party was Graham B. Moody, who was en- 
gaged in economic work. I was detailed by the Bureau of Science 
to codperate with him. Distance, or time, traverses were made 
wherever possible, directions being obtained by a Brunton com- 
pass, and elevations by an aneroid barometer. The time spent 
in the field extended from October 30 to December 7, 1920, 
during which period the following itinerary (see Plate 4) was 
followed: 
Catbalogan to Calbayog, thence up Gandara River to Matu- 
guinao, and returning to Catbalogan. From there, we proceeded 
to Wright and Loquilocan, Concord (Bagakay), and Taft. 
From Taft the route followed was to Maslog, on Dolores 
River; by trail to Concepcion, Jipapad, and San Vicente, and 
from the latter place by boat down Catubig River to the town of 
Catubig and on to Laoang, thence along the north coast to Ca- 
tarman and Carangian, where the party boarded a launch for 
Basey. 
