164 
_ “These considerations explain the absence of the plant from the 
dry, open districts of the hinterland, where, owing to the destruc- 
tion of the forests for farming, and the prevalence of ‘ bush fires,’ 
the organic matter in the soil has been reduced in quantity, and the 
that at one time of the year there is often too much, and at other 
times too little of it to suit the majority of plants. The actual 
amount of rainfall in these districts is frequently quite sufficient to 
ensure luxuriant vegetation if a arger percentage of the rain- 
water could be held in suspension by the soil during the rains, as is 
the case with forest-covered soils ” (Thompson). 
rom the foregoing extract it seems clear that a large tract = 
undertaken with some tospect of success. Re-afforestation can, 
of course, be hastened by planting up the area with uick-growing 
trees, shrubs, &c. : but fire-protection is the essential factor in any 
such scheme, and will have to be r 
M. A i 
m 
without being marshy. In somewhat poor soils near the coast the 
Oil Palm is also found to flourish and this appears to be due to the 
excellent physical const 
idity, 
degree of humi ty 
PLANTATIONS, 
Very little appears to have been done by the natives of West 
Airica in making definite plantations of the Oil Pain, Tie looked 
upon by them as a protected tree, and is rarely destroyed when 
land is cleared for cultivation, thus, as Thompson points out :— 
Where Palms already happen to exist in fair numbers when 
ed for fa i 
usually done in the rainy season. With the above exceptions no 
particular efforts are made to stimulate the natural regeneration of 
the species, 
baste little — scems to be undertaken by the natives in 
other parts of Southern Nigeria, The large numbers of Oil Palms 
