GOLD COAST REPORT ON FORESTS. 99 



scale, and to decide, in consultation with the native chiefs and 

 communities concerned, what forest areas are to be protected from 

 the axe of the farmer. 



There is certain to be great opposition on the part of the natives 

 to the formation of the reserves, and it will probably be very 

 difficult to convince them that the proposed measures are being 

 introduced for their own interests and that of the country at 

 large. 



Nevertheless, a determined effort should be made to ensure the 

 protection of at least the forests situated at the sources of the 

 more important streams, and for this purpose it will not suffice 

 io select small patches of vegetation here and there; nothing but 

 continuous belts of forest will serve the purpose. If, in addition, 

 it can be arranged to leave intact strips of forest vegetation 

 between the different farming centres to act as barriers to the 

 spread of plant diseases, so much the better. 



On no account should a scratch commission composed of 

 members possessing no special qualifications for the work in hand 

 be selected, otherwise irreparable damage may result from their 

 labours. 



The best forests seen on the main Abetifi-Aburi road are 

 situated between the villages of Abetinso and Kankan, and 

 between the former place and the southern escarpment of the 

 A.betifi Hill system. They are rich in all the valuable timber- 

 yielding species of this coast, with the exception of the Nyankon 

 and Kaltu, species which are restricted in their distribution to 

 the maritime zone. 



From the village of Kankan onwards towards Aburi cocoa and 

 other farms are very plentiful, more particularly between Kuku- 

 rantium and Koforidua and between the latter place and Aburi, 

 where, with the exception of the '' standards " left as shade 

 trees, practically the whole of the tree growth has been destroyed. 

 This part of the country already shows signs of becoming drier, 

 and plants characteristic of the mixed deciduous and evergreen 

 forests bordering the dry zone have made their appearance. 



The forests situated in the upper basin of the Densu River 

 have been much destroyed for farming purposes, but those pro- 

 tecting the sources of its main feeders on the Kyebi range of hills 

 and the south-eastern extension of the Begora Range have so far 

 been left intact. As long as these forests are preserved there is 

 little risk of the water-supply of the stream being seriously 

 diminished. 



When at Bunsu the opportunity was taken to visit Mr. 

 Pritchard's plantation. It consists of 2,500 acres, of which 

 170 acres have been mainly planted up with Para rubber and 

 140 acres with kola. 



The plantation has been divided up into blocks by a well 

 laid out system of roads, and the Birrim River flows through the 

 centre of it. The Para rubber trees appear to be doing fairly 

 well, but the great interest centres round the kola plantation. 

 The growth of this species in its early years is very slow com- 

 pared with that of other crops, but when it does come into bearing 



12315 G 2 



