120 WEST AFRICAN FORESTS AND FORESTRY 



and since that time seeds have been sown, and this proved a great 

 success. Eight species of trees have been used to form these plan- 

 tations : 



(1) Teak, Tectona grandis. 



(2) Afzelia Africana, also called Rhodesia Mahogany or Apa. 



(3) Sasswood, Erythrophloeum Guineense. 



(4) African Mahogany, Khaya Senegalensis. 



(5) Khaya Klainii, Mahogany. 



(6) Iroko, Chlorophora excelsa. 



(7) Kapok, Ceiba pentandra. 



(8) Anogeissus Leiocarpus, Chew-stick Tree. 



One-sixth of the total area, however, has been planted with teak ; 

 in all, 491,300 seedlings. The ErythrophlcBum seedlings are most 

 numerous, the wood of this species being hard, durable and termite 

 resisting. It has been used with great success for piles and trestles 

 in bridge-building. 



Afzelia and the two mahoganies will be valuable and useful 

 timbers, especially the mahoganies, as they are indigenous to the 

 country, and there is not the element of speculation attending 

 introduced trees. 



In addition to the eight chief species named above, a few specimens 

 of Detarium Guineense (the Dita fruit of Sierra Leone) and Cynometra 

 were planted, but their growth is slow. A mixed crop, consisting 

 of Parkia fiUcoidea, the Locust Tree, Prosopis oblonga, Anogeissus 

 leiocarpus and Detarium Guineense {Senegalense), has also been 

 planted. 



The mixture is a good one, but the growth has been slow. The 

 general appearance of the area where teak has been planted, in spite 

 of the fact that the bush was left standing, is that of a teak plantation, 

 for the teak has outgrown all the indigenous trees and formed a 

 complete thicket. 



Owing to the lack of drainage in the soil, as well as attacks of 

 the borer, the Khaya Senegalensis has grown slowly. Slow growth 

 is noticed also in the Apa, Afzelia Africana, but that seems to be typical 

 of the tree. 



During the first year the cost of planting (including building and 

 labour) worked out at £4 4s. an acre, but by the third year this amount 

 was reduced to £1 2s. The valuation of the whole plantation is at 

 least £10,000. 



The second Forest Department's afforestation area is Mo-Kamaa, 

 which is being planted in a similar manner and with similar planting 

 methods to the area situated near the Haho-Baloe. Tax labour has 

 been used to a large extent in these plantations. The situation is 

 particularly suitable foT planting operations, owing to its being pro- 



