178 WEST AFRICAN FORESTS AND FORESTRY 



tion in the various plantations. Long-capsuled Mahogany grows very 

 fast, usually with an undivided stem and a big tuft of long pinnate 

 leaves near the top of the tree. Stump shoots form very readily and 

 soon attain a large size, as is noticeable in the specimen in the Benin 

 Arboretum. 



The plantations of Ebony [Diospyros mespeliformis), Kanran 

 of the Yorubas, have been made in the Olokemeji Forest Reserve. 

 Although, of course, very slow growing, it demands further attention, 

 as it yields a good black ebony. 



Amongst the soft woods there are plantations of Triplochiton 

 Nigericum, Arere of the Yorubas and Obechi of the Benis, in the 

 Olokemeji Forest Reserve. At first growing rather slowly, they bid 

 fair to prove one of the most rapid growing trees. A mixture where 

 teak was introduced to fill up the blanks will be interesting to watch 

 in its future development, as to whether the teak will eventually 

 outgrow the forest maple. 



Although the firewood plantations at Ibadan and certain parts 

 of the plantations of Olokemeji have been filled up with West African 

 Walnut {Albizzia Brownii), Ayinre Bonabona of the Yorubas, they 

 will prove probably of greater value for the production of timber than 

 for firewood. However, as a firewood tree it has yielded several cords 

 of wood from one tree after only seven years of growth. So far it has 

 certainly proved to be the tree which produces the greatest amount 

 of firewood in the shortest period of time. It sprouts well from the 

 stump, so that for a time its reproduction is very easy and assured. 



The Oil Bean {Pentaclethra macrophylla), Apara of the Yorubas and 

 Opaga of the Benis, is found chiefly reproduced artificially, either by 

 being sown at stake or planted along the sides of the roads in the 

 Owerri and Benin provinces. Considering the hardness of the wood, 

 the tree grows not excessively slowly, though, of course, compared 

 to a softwood it is slow. 



Camwood {Pterocarpus Osun), Osun by the Yorubas, Ume by the 

 Benis, has found a place in the Mamu Forest Reserve, its congener 

 Pterocarpus Indicus having been planted in the Olokemeji Forest 

 Reserve. However, as far as the size and habit of growth is concerned, 

 the African Redwood or Barwood appears to be much superior to 

 the Indian Paduak. The latter usually soon develops a triple stem 

 with many small side-branches, whereas the African species always 

 shows an undivided stem. In rate of growth " Osun " seems to be 

 rather slow compared to many other trees. Self-sown seedlings come 

 up readily in suitable localities, such as the Ikrigon Reserve, and on 

 the whole develop more quickly. Anyhow, the continual demand 

 in increasing amounts of this red dye-wood necessitates the careful 

 preservation of the tree in the forest, as well as its continual reproduc- 

 tion by natural regeneration or plantations in the Forest Reserve. 



