GOLD COAST REPORT ON FORESTS. 49 



up the valley of that stream and of one of its feeders. It was 

 interesting to notice the effect of this flooding on the forest 

 vegetation of the submerged area. Two species, Funtumia 

 afncana and Funtumia elastica, have withstood most effectually 

 the prolonged submersion of their roots and the lower portions 

 of their stems. Most of the other species have succumbed to the 

 new conditions ; of the two Funtumias, F. africana has proved 

 to be the more resistant. 



As the forest vegetation of the lower and middle portions 

 of the Offin River drainage has been described in another chap- 

 ter, I will not refer to it here except to remark that it is 

 almost as equally rich in rubber trees (Funtumia elastica} as that- 

 passed through on the journey from the Tano River to the railway 

 line at Dunkwa. 



THE TARKWA AND ABOSSO MINES : SUPPLY OF FUEL. 



On our return to Tarkwa from the Tano River trip, I was 

 obliged to proceed to Sekondi to arrange for carriers to replace 

 those out, of the first lot that had fallen sick. Returning to the 

 former place, I spent some days in examining the fellings that 

 had been made round the mines for supplying them with fuel. 

 Mr. G. A. Stockfeld, the General Manager, very kindly placed 

 at my disposal all the information he possessed on the subject, 

 and, in addition, accompanied me during an excursion made in 

 the forests near the Abosso Mines where similar fellings are 

 taking place. 



As a general rule, the denuded areas have been sufficiently 

 well re-occupied with vegetation to prevent any erosion of the 

 hillsides during the rainy season. The umbrella tree Musanga 

 Smithii) has effectually occupied most of the clearings, and is 

 affording ample protection to the soil. 



The clearings made near Abosso are much more extensive, 

 as several mines belonging to different companies exist in that 

 neighbourhood; a good many of them, however, have now been 

 abandoned, and the cleared areas will no doubt be gradually 

 re-afforested in the course of time. There are a few places on 

 some of the steeper hillsides that show signs of erosion, but I 

 think they will soon be re-occupied by weeds and other vegeta- 

 tion, and be protected against further damage. 



The fuel mostly used on the Tarkwa Mines is procured from 

 the following trees : 



(1) The Kaku. 



(2) The Engantan (probably Heritiero utilis) 



(3) The Aphona (not identified), which is said to yield a goon 



wood fit for export. 



(4) The Grabossi, which yields a very hard wood. 



(5) The Dubinrilli, a local name for the Diibini or ordinary 



mahogany. 



(6) The Kokoti (Pynaertia ealaensis). 



(7) The Athawah (Pentaclethra macro pKylla). 



12316 D 



