The present position of agriculture seems to be that there are in the Philippines somewhere about six millions of civilised Christian people tilling eight million acres of land, and exporting some thirty million dollars' worth of produce each year. They also raise a large quantity of food-stuffs for their own consumption, but import perhaps a couple of million dollars' worth of rice because it is cheaper to buy it than to grow it, as we in England import wheat for the same reason. The area of land under cultivation is computed at one-ninth of the total area of the islands. The author of the circular Plant Products of the Philippines, to which I have before referred, makes the following remarks: "In view of the natural fertility of the soil and the vast extent of these rich lands not yet under cultivation, it is safely assumed that the total agricultural production of the islands could be increased tenfold." This gentleman seems to be of a sanguine disposition, and he reminds me rather of Oscar F. Williams' cheerful optimism. But in one way he is more cautious than that gentleman. He does not fix a time for his prophecy to be accomplished. I would point out, however, that in the seventy-five million acres comprised in the islands there are volcanic cones, peaks of basalt, stony plains, unexplored regions, swamps and other undesirable localities for establishing farms or plantations, and that some of the good lands are held by warlike tribes who would resent any intrusion into their domains. There are, it is true, great tracts of land in Mindanao and Palawan, and no doubt in time they will come under cultivation. Taking everything into consideration, I hold to my view that with peace, honest government and a good Vagrancy law, the export of produce might be doubled in twenty years if capital is forthcoming in sufficient amount. The land is worth nothing without the husbandmen, and it will take the Philippines a long time to recover from the devastating effects of the insurrection of 1896-7 and the American war of subjugation. CHAPTER XV. FORESTAL. Value exaggerated--Difficulties of labour and transport--Special sawing machinery required--Market for timber in the islands--Teak not found--Jungle produce--Warning to investors in companies--Gutta percha. During the three and a quarter centuries the Spaniards have held the Philippines, the forests of Luzon have supplied enormous quantities of the finest timber for building houses, churches, convents, bridges, warships, lighters and canoes. No care has ever been taken to replant, and the consequence is that at this day long logs of many kinds most wanted are not obtainable, all the large trees of valuable timber have long ago been cut, and only in the most distant and least accessible places are any worth having to be found.