124 WEST AFRICAN FORESTS AND FORESTRY 



The mixed plantations are not very plentiful, but teak and oil 

 palms have been planted together, though not systematically, and 

 have proved a very profitable mixture, which is worthy of notice here. 

 In its early years the oil palm is a shade-bearing tree, so that the shade 

 of the teak does not hinder its growth. In the oil-bearing season the 

 teak is leafless, which is beneficial to the formation of fruit in the oil 

 palm. The dense foliage of the oil palm kills the adventitious shoots 

 or side branches of the teak, so rendering pruning unnecessary. In the 

 dry season the soil is protected most thoroughly by the evergreen 

 foliage of the oil palm, and its masses of small roots conserve the 

 moisture of the soil, while the wide-spreading roots of the teak allow 

 the surface water to run away. For instance, teak and Iroko are 

 not so suitable a mixture, as they both cast their leaves at the same 

 time, though when planted together the teak tends to accelerate 

 the height-growth of the Iroko, and also keeps it freer from the 

 attacks of the gall bug. 



If space permitted, many more instances of the advantage and 

 disadvantage of these mixtures might be given. 



Orchards have been largely planted at Sokode too. Oranges, 

 limes, tangerines and Cola vera have done well, and the Spondias 

 dulcis yields very large fruit. The date palms have not yet fruited. 

 Fibre plants, including sisal hemp, and the Panama palms seem to 

 be growing well ; fibre for Panama hats is obtained from this palm. 



A substation of Sokode, Bassari, was my next stopping place. 

 The station is situated on the northern side of the mountain, over- 

 looking the valley of the River Kamaa. The plantations, with the 

 exception of the Ficus elastica, which is 200 feet higher up, are all 

 planted below the station. The approximate altitude is 1,350 feet 

 above sea-level. 



The following species have been most extensively planted : Teak, 

 Oil Palms, Afzelia, Khaya Senegalense, Iroko, Ebony, Kapok, Funtumia, 

 Ficus elastica, Manihot heptaphylla, Manihot Pianhyensis, Aspido- 

 sperma Quebracho, Ccesalpinia Sappan and Cassia florida. Large 

 orchards had been made, and these contained tangerines, lemon and 

 many other kinds of tropical fruits ; and very fine specimens of 

 Eucalyptus trees showed how suitable this localitj' was for them. 



About 200,000 trees have been planted here within ten years. 



Funtumia, when planted with teak, grows well in this area, as 

 the shade of the teak is beneficial to it ; but planted alone, the leaves 

 become a poor colour and drop prematurely. The same thing is 

 noticeable when planted with mahogany. 



In the case of Ebony, one of the knottiest forestry problems of 

 Europe, viz. that of finding suitable trees for admixture, has been 

 solved. Many of them died when planted pure, but the gaps being 

 filled with teak, the ebony seedlings, put into competition with this 



