118 WEST AFRICAN FORESTS AND FORESTRY 



It was interesting to find on inquiry that this plantation was 

 the result of 1,000,000 Ceara seeds distributed to the natives in 1907. 

 The vegetation on the banks of the rivers and streams consisted 

 mostly of deciduous forest, with typical dry-zone trees at the 

 edges. In addition, Pentadesma Kerstingii and Dalbergia melanoxylon 

 were seen. 



The last-named species has, according to German botanists, been 

 confused with Diospyros mespiliformis, so far as the timber is concerned. 

 The last two miles before reaching Sokode were covered with 

 extensive plantations. 



Dry-zone Trees. — Between Sokode and Bassari, a distance of 37 

 miles, are the Malfakassa Mountains, of which the summits are mostly 

 bare, owing to the annual grass fires, but a dense growth of Berlinia 

 Kerstingii, Terminalia and Afzelia Africana grow in the moister 

 valleys. 



On the more open ground the usual dry-zone trees were seen, and 

 the Khaya Senegalensis on the banks of each of the four rivers. 



The rainfall is the same as that of Sokode, about 52 inches, 

 although the atmosphere is moister, which is partly due to the higher 

 altitude. 



The somewhat cooler temperature of the air causes heavy dews, 

 and these also, in their turn, increase the moisture of the air. The 

 diJ0ferences are thus very marked between Sokode and Bassari as 

 to the atmospheric moisture, and also as to the variation in the growth 

 of the trees at the two stations. 



After a short visit of two days I left Bassari for Jendi, 70 miles 

 to the north-west. One range of hills on the way is noticeable for 

 the pure formation of iron ore which " crops out " and causes the 

 tree-growth to be small. 



The vegetation becomes very sparse towards the valley of the 

 Oti, 30 miles distant from Bassari, and this is owing to a great change 

 in the climatic conditions as compared with Bassari, as well as the 

 annual grass fires. The sole representatives of the dry-zone vegetation, 

 which, near Bassari, had originally consisted of Khaya Senegalensis, 

 Afzelia and Shea Butter trees, are the Baobabs, Adansonia digitata. 



The rainfall is only 43 inches per year. The poor vegetation found 

 near Jendi gradually gives way, between that station and Kete- 

 Kratschi, to more typical dry -zone trees, such as Shea Butter, Lophira, 

 Afzelia and Berlinia Kerstingii. 



Oil palms were found on the third day growing near the banks 

 of the streams, and more Afzelia in the open country. Mimusops 

 multinervis and Diospj^ros were found near the River Volta, at the edge 

 of a wide belt of evergreen forest. 



The dry season is much prolonged in most years. On the average 

 the rainfall is 46' 8 inches. At the next station on the tour, Pfandu, 



