10 THE AMES FORESTER 



Zambales and the other on Mindoro Island. In both of these 

 latter areas there is also another species of pine found in addi- 

 tion to the one growing farther north. 



The mossy type of forest, or the mountain type, as it might 

 be called, is a purely noncommercial one, occupying the higher 

 mountain tops all over the Islands. Most of the trees are small 

 in size, although there is still a dominant and sub-dominant story. 

 There are, however, fewer vines although still a large amount 

 of undergrowth. The outstanding feature of the forest is the 

 ever present covering of moss. This grows on all the branches 

 and trunks of trees and shrubs, so that stems an inch or 2 inches 

 in diameter are often so covered with moss that they appear 

 to be 5 or 6 inches in diameter or more. Sometimes the moss 

 hangs in long tendrils from the branches and in turn is covered 

 with ferns and orchids, so that taken as a whole this type of 

 timber is by far the most beautiful of any on the Islands. 

 Among the tree species which occur are species of ash, 

 maple, yew, barberry, oaks and several other temperate zone 

 species. In the herbaceous growth also are a great many familiar 

 plants in which are a number- of species of violets and a wild 

 rose. Here also ferns develop into definite tree forms which are 

 found nowhere else. 



In the foregoing discussion little mention has been made of 

 palm trees. There are a great many different species of these 

 which are very numerous in some localities, especially in the 

 dipterocarp type of timber. Usually they occur scattered with 

 the other trees, although in a few instances in pure stands on 

 areas of a few acres each. As a whole, however, palms constitute 

 a minor part of the forest. 



The above discussion gives a general idea of the composition 

 of the forests themselves, and now a word regarding some of the 

 commoner animals which are found in it. Just as favorable grow- 

 ing conditions produce a profusion of vegetation, so does the 

 favorable climate often develop an abundant fauna. Among the 

 larger animals are wild pigs, deer, wild buffalo and occasionally 

 monkeys. The former are widely distributed and in places are 

 very numerous. It is very usual to see them scurrying out of the 

 way as one comes near. They are of the razor-back type, some- 

 times reaching 200 or 300 pounds each in weight. They live on 

 fruit and vegetables found in the forest and afford very ex- 

 cellent meat. Deer are not so widely distributed as are pigs, 

 but are numerous in the more open places and especially in 

 grassy areas away from settlements. There are several species 

 all good food. Wild buffalo (carabao), while not widely dis- 

 tributed, roam in large herds in a few of the unsettled regions, 

 especially along the flat plains of the larger rivers where quantities 

 of natural forage is produced. These probably are not native but 

 have developed from animals which have escaped from civiliza- 



