GOLD COAST REPORT ON FORESTS. 59 



Tlie marshy hollows between the hills contained thickets of 

 canes (Calamus and Ancistrophyllum sp.), and the tree Alstonia 

 cont/citsi*, from the soft wood of which the bnlk of the Ashanti 

 stools are manufactured. 



In the neighbourhood ofEdubia some fairly highhills (1,200 ft.) 

 were seen. Those close to the town had been cleared of forest 

 vegetation right up to the crests and planted up with crops of 

 banana and koko yams. Whilst at N'Kwanta I took the oppor- 

 tunity of discussing forestry matters with the chief, and advised 

 him to insist on the rubber tappers being more careful in their 

 methods of tapping the trees and coagulating the latex. 



As regards the question of taking up a forest reserve in the 

 country situated in the fork formed by the junction of the Offin 

 and Adra Rivers, there are several objections to acquiring an 

 extensive area for that purpose. The country is full of small 

 hunters' villages, and is much cut up with their farms, and is 

 comparatively poor in the more valuable timber trees, such as the 

 mahoganies and cedars. Unless the inhabitants of these villages 

 are compensated and removed to another locality, the exclusion 

 of the farmed lands and village sites will necessitate the adoption 

 of very irregular boundaries to the reserve, and they will in con- 

 sequence be difficult to patrol. 



It should, however, be possible to acquire one or two small re- 

 serves, consisting of a few square miles each, in the richest rubber 

 forests. The object of reservation would be the protection and 

 improvement of what are without doubt some of the best rubber 

 forests on the coast. The natives owning the land should share 

 with Government any profits arising from the sale of rubber or 

 other forest produce collected in the reserves, the management of 

 which should be undertaken departmentally. 



Suitable areas to choose from are the rich forests situated 

 between the villages Yapiakrom and Odumase and those to the 

 north of Tokorase. The actual selection will have to be made 

 with care, and in consultation with the native chief's, and will 

 require more time than we were able to spare. This matter 

 should stand over till a Forest Officer has been appointed to the 

 Gold Coast. For the present it is sufficient to have pointed out 

 the most suitable localities. 



The new white mahogany (the Kiv.abaho of the Asliantis) was 

 a great find, and now makes the fourth species of Khaya known 

 to me. It is quite common in the drier portions of the mixed 

 deciduous forests, and amongst the more valuable timber trees is 

 the most characteristic species to be found in that sub-type. It 

 attains good dimensions and has a very large capsule. 



The dominance of trees such as the Waw-waw, Oicama, the 

 Albizzias, the Stereulias, the Odoum, the Tiama-Tiama, the 

 Sdmaitta, and the white mahogany becomes accentuated in 

 the drier portions of the areas clothed with forests of the mixed 

 deciduous type. They become so common here and are such a 

 characteristic feature that it is almost advisable for purposes of 



