TOGO 123 



The main plantations have been made on the east side of the 

 station, on a slope facing south. Teak has been very largely planted 

 here, no less than 25,400 seedlings since 1901, when the work was 

 started. Others are Treculia Africana, African Bread-fruit, Sasswood, 

 Mimusops rmdtinervis, the hard red wood of the Olokomeji Reserve, 

 Kapok, Ceiba pentandra, and Cashew Nuts. A new Piptadenia, named 

 Kerstingii after Dr. Kersting, was tried, but most of the plants died. 

 An avenue of Eucalyptus citrifolia, with its delicate foliage, has 

 developed well and fully deserves mention. 



The teak has grown well everywhere, except in a small swampy 

 area, where the trees look unhealthy. The very large crops of seeds 

 during the last three years have caused the height-growth to fall off 

 in comparison with earlier years. 



Most of the trees are planted too far apart, but nevertheless, 

 seeing the whole hillside, east of the station, covered with a teak forest 

 produces a very wonderful effect on the mind. 



If the teak alone is taken as a basis of valuation, the total value 

 cannot be less than £2,500. 



The Sokode District plantations have a great advantage over 

 those at Atakpame, as tax labour has been used almost entirely and 

 the population is much larger than elsewhere. As soon as an experi- 

 ment with regard to agricultural crops, fruit and forest trees proved 

 satisfactory, plantations were at once made. 



The orchards, farms and plantations begin on the south-east slope 

 of the hillside, round the station to the south, finishing to the west 

 and north-west of the office building. The plantations occur between 

 the altitude of 1,000 and 1,260 feet. The variations of soil are very 

 remarkable, from poor laterite to rich loam, from sand to swamp ; 

 but it is not to be wondered at, when the large area is taken into 

 account. 



As at nearly all the other stations, teak has been the most exten- 

 sively planted tree, some 81,000 seedlings having been set out on 

 an area of 115-9 acres. Oil palms have also been planted in great 

 numbers. These are set some distance apart to get the full benefit 

 of the sun and develop large crowns and stems. Some of the other 

 species planted are : Khaya Senegalensis, Iroko, Funtumia elastica, 

 Ficus elastica, Ceara Rubber, Para, Hevea Braziliensis, Manihot 

 dichotama, Manihot heptajjhylla and Manihot Pianhyensis. Three or 

 four species only of the following trees : Albizzia Ccesalpinia, including 

 Sappan, Cassia florid a, Cedrela odorata, Berlinia Kerstingii, Ceiba jjen- 

 tandra. Dttarium Senegalense, Diospyros mespiliformis, Anogeissus 

 leiocarpus, Eucalyptus, Melia azedarach, Morinda citrifolia, Ormosia 

 laxifiora, Parkia Africana, Pentadesma Kerstingii, Poinciana regia, 

 Pseudocedrela Kotschyi, Pterocarpus erinaceus and Aspidosperma 

 Quebracho. 



