BRITISH SPHERE OF THE CAMEROONS 421 



For the furtherance of all agricultural and forestal interests, the very 

 extensive Botanical Gardens had been made. Not only is it the 

 largest, but it contains the most extensive collections of plants of 

 economic value and for ornament of any place on the West Coast 

 of Africa. The very numerous test plots of most of the tropical 

 commercially known plants, such as Nutmeg, Rubber, Cocoa, Cola, 

 Cocoanut Palms, Oil Palms, Vegetable Ivory Palms, demonstrated 

 how these grew in the Cameroons. 



Then the agricultural areas of Cacao-yams, Casada, Sugar-cane, 

 Rice, one and all were destined to demonstrate the value and pos- 

 sibilities of growing these products in the Cameroons. Then again 

 the forest tree plots of Teak, Casuarina, Mahogany {Sivietenia macro- 

 phylla), Trinkomalee Wood {Berrya ammomilla), Gum Copal (Copaifera 

 Demeusii), Candle Nut (Aleurites Moluccana), Balsam of Peru {Toluifera 

 Pereirce), Terminalia sp., Dillenia Indica, show how these trees will 

 thrive in this locality. In growth, an avenue of Indian Almond, 

 Terminalia Catappa, could not be compared with those at Lome. 



Again, all showed what forest products and forest trees were most 

 suitable to that climate. 



In the garden Museum, there were collections of timbers, 

 fibres, rubber, gums, resins, as well as mineral products ; also 

 very full collections of the seeds, nuts and fruits of the trees and 

 plants. Finally, there was the large and well-equipped building of 

 the Experimental and Agronomical Institute, where chemical analyses 

 of the soil and other j)rocesses could be undertaken and tested. Here 

 also all the very full meteorological results were tabulated, as well 

 as other observations on the spot. This served also as a centre to 

 which planters or Government officers could send specimens or material 

 to be named or to be examined as to their value. Allied with this, but 

 having a separate building, was the Agricultural School, where pupils 

 were trained in the elements of agriculture and forestry, so that they 

 might subsequently act as instructors at the different Government 

 stations and also serve as assistants on the plantations. 



Although economically much more backward than Nigeria, and 

 with a smaller population in a proportionate area than that in the 

 Southern Provinces, the possibilities in the development of the forest 

 products are even greater, especially in regard to that of palm kernels 

 and all the various kinds of timber for which West Africa is gradually 

 becoming well known. The main difference in working would appear 

 to be that owing to the lack of population, much greater use of animal 

 and mechanical means of transport, and especially mechanical 

 appliances, as well as machinery, are necessary to make the labour most 

 productive, as well as to economize without upsetting the present 

 agricultural system and the very necessary production of food-stuffs 

 for the local population, as well as for sending to the larger towns. 



