330 WEST AFRICAN FORESTS AND FORESTRY 



than G. Thompsonii, but it has not so much sheen. On the 

 whole the colour is poorer. It is not considered quite so durable 

 as G. Thompsonii, nor is it termite-proof. It planes well 

 and saws easily, splits moderately well, and takes nails with- 

 out diflficulty. It is of a very light colour for mahogany. It 

 has a good, mellow texture. 



It is at first slightly shade-bearing, but later a light- 

 demanding tree. It grows comparatively rapidly. It 

 thoroughly protects the soil and enriches it with its leaf fall. 

 Natural regeneration appears to be only moderate, perhaps 

 owing to the fact that the seeds soon lose their germinative 

 capacity or are eaten by animals. It appears to be somewhat 

 exacting as to soil, liking one with considerable depth, 

 mineral content and a fair degree of moisture. 



In 1906 sample logs of this timber were considered of a 

 lower value than mahogany, and were sold as Scented Mahogany 

 at 3|d. to 3|d. per superficial foot. Since that date the timber 

 has been regularly shipped from the Benin district and sold 

 as Scented Mahogany, and it is usually worth from 2|d. to 6d. 

 per superficial foot. Owing to the comparative scarcity of 

 large girth mahoganies [Khaya sp.) in some localities, it is being 

 felled in increasingly large quantities. 

 Trichilia Heudelottii. Rere, Ako Irere, Asana (Yoruba) ; Ovallo 

 (Benin). 



It is found in the Abeokuta and Benin provinces of Nigeria. 



It has a smaller leaf than Trichilia sp., and is rather 

 a smaller tree than T. Prietiriana. The heartwood is brown- 

 red and very hard ; the sapwood is white. 



It is a slow-growing, shade-bearing, soil-protecting and 

 soil -improving tree of the mixed forest zone. 



Occasionally it is used as a house-building timber, when 

 there is nothing else available. 

 Trichilia sp. Iseko (Yoruba) ; Ogiovalo (Benin). 



It has a larger leaf than T. Heudelotii. It is found in the 

 Abeokuta, Ondo and Benin provinces of Nigeria. The heart- 

 wood is brownish -red and the sapwood is white. It reaches 

 rather a larger size than T. Heudelotii, attaining a bole length 

 of about 15 feet and a girth of 5 feet. The seeds are very 

 similar to those of P. Prietiriana. It is termite-proof. 



It is a somewhat slow-growing, shade-bearing, soil-protecting 

 and soil-improving tree. Natural regeneration appears to be 

 slight It apparently demands a good soil, and is found in the 

 mixed deciduous forest. 



It has not yet been tried as an export timber, but it might 

 be iisef ul as a hard mahoganj^ both for export and for local use. 



