SOME FOREST SECRETS 



as to promote straight growth and stems free from 

 branches up to a useful timber height. When this 

 crowding has gone far enough, the less valuable and 

 weaker trees should be removed to give the better trees 

 sufficient room for their crowns to develop. 



These remaining trees in the course of a few years 

 will again crowd one another too severely and this 

 process of removing poorer trees must then be repeated. 

 In certain cases a percentage of suppressed trees are left 

 to give covering to the soil and prevent the undergrowth 

 from spoiling the forest floor. 



Are the indigenous forests of Kenya worth perpetu- 

 ating? 



This is the question often asked by those who have 

 the interests of the Colony at heart. Undoubtedly 

 amongst the indigenous varieties there are very valuable 

 timbers. Although timber in large bulk may never be 

 exported, there are many varieties which are unique in 

 their way, and grow only here. Many of these timbers 

 might be utilized for special purposes on the European 

 and American markets as a substitute for well-known 

 woods in which there will soon be a world shortage. As 

 soon as it is known that Kenya is capable of supplying 

 substitutes for these well-known and well-nigh in- 

 dispensable woods, an export trade will be established. 



Probably the immediate export trade of wood from 

 Kenya Colony will be confined to the choicer varieties 

 and manufactured timber, but it is essential to have a 

 continuous supply to meet the increasing demand. 



^45 



