THE PHILIPPINE FORESTS 7 



Of the cultivated land probably not over one-half is cultivated 

 during any single year. Of the grassland the larger percentage of 

 area is not being utilized for any purpose. 



Practically all of the timbered area of the Islands, both virgin 

 and second growth forests, are still in public ownership and as 

 such are under the direction and management of the Philippine 

 Bureau of Forestry. The virgin forests are of chief interest 

 since they contain practically all of the present stand of commer- 

 cial timber. There are several more or less distinct types occur- 

 ring in approximately the following proportions and containing 

 about the quantities of timber shown in the following tabulated 

 statement : 



As already stated, the dipterocarps are the predominating tree 

 species. The forests in which they occur have been called the 

 dipterocarp type. In this type are many sub-types, depending on 

 composition which in turn is determined by the various factors 

 of the environment. - In general, however, the dipterocarp forest 

 occupies the regions where growing conditions are most favorable. 

 These vary topographically from moist river bottoms to hilly and 

 mountainous country. In composition the dipterocarp type gen- 

 erally is very complex. First are the large dominant trees, among 

 which various species of dipterocarps are generally most common. 

 There are, however, a great variety of other large growing sorts 

 which add to the complexity of the forest, but many of which kinds 

 have never yet been utilized commercially and some of which have 

 little apparent value. Under this upper story of dominant trees, 

 which often does not occupy the entire area, is an understory of 

 small sub-dominant ones of great variety but generally of minor 

 importance from a commercial standpoint. Still below the sub- 

 dominant trees are the smaller kinds of tree species and a heavy 

 growth of herbs and shrubs. Although these latter always grow 

 in the greatest profusion as compared with forests in temperate 

 regions, they are relatively fewer where the stand of timber is 

 dense. Over and through the whole mass of trees, shrubs and 

 herbs is almost invariably a tangle of vines. Always present 

 as a major element in their composition are several species of 

 climbing palms or rattans, some of which produce the rattans of 

 commerce. Although the diameter of these rattans is small, 

 varying from one-half to 2 inches, they grow to great length, 



