Hawaii and Philippines. 437 



the part of the Sugar Planters Association was made in 

 1897, to induce the insular goTemment to devise pro- 

 tective measures. The result was the appointment of a 

 Committee who made a, report in which the writer had 

 a hand. But not until 1903 was a Board of Commis- 

 sioners of Agriculture and Forestry established, a Super- 

 intendent of Forestry appointed, an organization of 

 district foresters effected, and a number of forest reserva- 

 tions established. The priaciple of State forest was 

 fully recognized by planning the gradual withdrawal of 

 some 300,000 acres and by beginning the extension of 

 forested area by plantations. Distribution of plant ma- 

 terial and of advice to planters is also part of the policy. 

 Annual Eeports are issued which attest the good com- 

 mon sense in the administration. 



In the Philippine Islands, a territory of 120,000 

 square miles, largely mountainous, not only the pro- 

 tective but the commercial value of the timberlands is 

 considerable. 



The extent is variously estimated as covering between 

 40 aad 50 million acres (50% of total area), much of 

 it virgin, and 16 million acres of it commercially valua- 

 ble. Of the seven hundred odd species of trees, mostly 

 heavy woods, composing the forest, some 160 are market- 

 able at home and in China ; yet almost fifty per cent, of 

 the home consumption is imported from the States, 

 owing to absence or inaccessibility of softwoods, and 

 high cost due to excessive expense of present logging 

 methods. 



When the United States took charge of the islands it 

 was foimd that the Spaniards had since 1863 a forestry 

 service, manned by Spanish foresters, and in the lower 



