AMERICAN FORESTRY 



Philippine Sail Boats. 



boats of this sort, hewn from solid logs and provided with bamboo outriggers to prevent them upsetting, 



are in general use throughout the islands. 



were transported on land by carabao* 

 power without even putting shoes under 

 their forward ends. The great weight 

 of many of the hardwoods made it im- 

 possible to handle in this way logs of 

 any size, with the result that the sawing 

 into lumber which was almost in- 

 variabh' carried on by hand, often 

 took place where the trees were felled. 

 Hardwood logs near streams were 

 sometimes transported considerable dis- 

 tances by water after being buoyed up 

 with bamboo to prevent their sinking. 



Fortunately these primitive but de- 

 structive lumbering operations were 

 limited to a comparatively small num- 

 ber of tree species, and many others of 

 value were spared because their prop- 

 erties were unknown. 



The necessity for changing the condi- 

 tions above outlined was so obvious as 

 to lead to very early action on the 

 part of the military authorities. They 

 promptly established a bureau of for- 

 estry in charge of Major George P. 



* The Philippine name for the water buffalo. 



Ahern who had not only practical 

 experience in forest work but foresight, 

 imagination and boundless optimism as 

 well. Major Ahern is still in charge of 

 forest work in the Philippines, and is 

 now in length of service the oldest of 

 the bureau chiefs of the insular govern- 

 ment. He has certainly needed all his 

 optimism for he has been obliged to 

 face many discouragements. Hampered 

 as he was at the outset by inadequate 

 funds and by the lack of men experi- 

 enced in tropical forestry, the building 

 up of an efficient field force presented 

 grave obstacles which were met in part 

 by bringing out young and enthusiastic 

 but inexperienced forestry men from 

 the United States and letting them get 

 their experience on the ground; in part 

 by training Filipinos for subordinate 

 positions. At first the latter class of 

 employes received only such training 

 as could be given them in the field, but 

 when the college of agriculture was 

 established regular courses in forestry 



