118 



Saccharum spontaneum and Imperata cylindrica, and the only 

 shrubs or trees commonly seen are scattered plants of the legumes 

 Bauhinia malaharica and Acacia Farnesiana. 



Most of the lowlands through which the railway passes are 

 fairly well settled, with villages every two or three miles. Each 

 village is nearly hidden under a thicket of trees of economic 

 value, especially bamboo, mango, various species of palms, and 

 bananas. Between the villages are extensive rice fields, with 

 numerous scattered clumps of tall bamboos. Their tall srems 

 are very graceful, and form spreading tops with an abundance of 



Fig. I. Typical Philippine roadside, with several economic plants, 

 center is the lansonia, Lansium, domes ticum. 



In the 



feathery foliage. At a distance across a rice field, the whole 

 gives an effect very like that of an alluvial meadow in America, 

 with scattered thickets of tall willows beyond. 



The two common species of bamboo here are Bambusa Blu- 

 meana and Bambusa vulgaris, both of them introduced into the 

 islands in prehistoric times. They are planted everywhere, 

 and are used for a great variety of purposes. The Filipino's 

 house is made out of bamboo completely, except the thatched 

 roof, and the number of minor utensils which can be and are 

 constructed of bamboo is surprising. Of course the structure 

 of bamboo gives it unusual advantages in this line. The long 



