GOLD COAST UKPORT <>N FORESTS. 29 



gold mining industry t< determine any such restrictions; these 

 are the signs of a change in the climate (water supply) towards a 

 drier condition or a marked denudation oi the hillsides. Of 

 these two the former is b}* far tiie greater danger to be guarded 

 against, and at the first symptoms of such a change occurring 

 the fellings should be placed under the control of a Forest 

 Department. Fortunately in the " Umbrella tree' (Musanga 

 Sinitliii), however troublesome a plant it may be when competing 

 against the growth of more valuable timber trees, we possess a 

 species of extraordinarily rapid growth and strong dominance 

 that quickly and effectually occupies cleared areas, and with 

 the help of the dense shade cast by its foliage affords ample pro- 

 tection to the soil against the action of the sun and of desiccating 

 winds. In the vicinity of the Prestea mines whole hillsides that 

 have been denuded of tree growth are now clothed with pure, 

 dense patches of that species, and providing such cover is not 

 removed at too frequent intervals, as would be the case if the 

 felling rotation was a short one, the're is but little danger of any 

 marked effect being produced on the climate, especially as the 

 locality in question is surrounded by tropical evergreen high 

 forest and is far removed from any arid tracts of country. As 

 the question of a cheap fuel is of vital importance to the mines, 

 the felling of valuable timber trees for that purpose, especially 

 when the timber they yield happens to be the best in heating pro- 

 perties, should be considered, so far as the interests of the timber 

 trade are concerned, as of but small importance. After all, the 

 use of timber for fuel is a well-recognised one, and whole forests 

 are systematically exploited for that purpose. It is simply a 

 question of local convenience, and to which purpose the product 

 of the trees happens at any particular place to be of the most 

 value. But for whatever purpose the forests are exploited they 

 should, as far as possible, be placed under the treatment that 

 best ensures the objects in view and provides for a continuous 

 supply of produce. "With this important principle in mind there 

 is but one condition at present that I would insist on when the 

 forests are being exploited for fuel, and that is that the 

 stems of the trees should, wherever possible, be felled flush with 

 the ground so as to promote the regeneration of the forests by 

 means of coppice shoots which this method of ctttting favours. 

 Of course in the ca-se of trees provided with large buttresses the 

 fellings will have to be made at a greater height from the ground, 

 above the point where the buttresses merge into the stem, other- 

 wise the expense and time taken up in cutting through the former 

 would be prohibitive. However, whenever it is possible to do so, 

 the felling of the timber flush with the ground should be insisted 

 upon. Even in the case of buttressed stems, when once cut 

 through, the subsequent felling of the large coppice shoots that 

 spring up from the stumps will present no further difficulty as 

 they will in general not be furnished with buttresses or possess 

 only feebly developed ones when cut at that age. Under this 

 system the expense of cutting through the buttresses will be 

 incurred once for all and will not be recurrent. 



Where large timber is also in demand, as it is at most of the 

 mines, the ideal system of managing the forests is that known 



