AMERICAN FORESTRY 



Philippine Sail Boats. 



Illls SORT, HEWN FROM SOLID LOGS AND PROVIDED WITH BAMBOO OUTRIGGERS TO PREVENT THEM UPSETTING, 

 ARE IN GENERAL USE THROUGHOUT THE ISLANDS. 



transported on land by carabao* 

 r without even putting shoes under 

 their forward ends. The great weight 

 of many of the hardwoods made it im- 

 ible to handle in this way logs of 

 any size, with the result that the sawing 

 Lumber which was almost in- 

 variably carried on by hand, often 

 where the trees were felled. 

 I lard wood logs near streams were 

 times transported considerable dis- 

 s by v ifter being buoyed up 



h bamboo to prevent their sinking. 

 Fortunately these primitive but de- 

 structive lumbering operations were 

 limited omparatively small num- 



, and many others of 

 valu ared because their prop- 



iwn. 

 Thi for changing the condi- 



itlined was so obvious as 

 ry early action on the 

 military authorities. They 

 ' a bureau of for- 

 of Major George P. 



Ei ir the water buffalo. 



Ahem 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 



