28 SIERRA LEONE 



the larger part of that exported from Freetown is obtained 

 from the adjoining countries of Liberia and French Guinea. 

 The export of rubber declined since 1906, when it amounted 

 to 107 tons, to only 6 tons in 1913, while in 1916 and 1917 

 none was exported. The composition and quality of 

 Sierra Leone rubbers is given in the Bulletin of the Imperial 

 Institute, vol. iv. (1906), p. 29 ; vol. vi. (1908), p. 24 ; vol. 

 viii. (1910), p. 16 ; and vol. xii. (1914), p. 371. 



Rubber Plantations. No plantations of Funtumia 

 rubber have been made although small plots have been 

 planted with the South American Para tree (Hevea brasi- 

 liensis) on an experimental scale at different times and in 

 various parts of the country and a mixed plantation of 

 rubber, cocoa, coffee and fruit has been made near 

 Waterloo. Up to 1909, it should be remarked, the work 

 was in the hands of the Agricultural Service, but from 

 1910, on the formation of the Forestry Department as well 

 as the reorganisation of an Agricultural Department, all 

 forest and plantation work was transferred to the first- 

 named Department. No plantation rubber has yet 

 reached the commercial stage, although further trials are 

 still in progress, and much experience has been gained. 



A few Para trees were planted at the beginning of the 

 present century in the Botanic Gardens at Freetown, 

 but the locality was found unsuitable, and the trees grew 

 slowly and yielded unsatisfactorily. A small plantation 

 was made at Moyamba by Madam Yoko, the late chief 

 of the Mendis, and was well looked after until she died, 

 since when it seems to have been somewhat neglected. 

 At Mano, the chief of the town made a good plantation 

 in 1906, and, as the locality was apparently well selected, 

 the trees have shown satisfactory growth. Small plots 

 have been put out under Para at the Roman Catholic 

 Mission station at Serabu, at Segbwema, Tinainahun and 

 the Bo school, with variable success, in accordance with 

 the cultivation and care bestowed on the plants. Except 

 in the gravelly positions the tree succeeds well. 



Landolphia owariensis and L. Heudelotii have been 

 planted in forested patches in different parts of the 

 country, the supervision of such planting having been 

 entrusted to a native who had seen similar work per- 

 formed by the French authorities in the neighbouring 

 colony. Near Batkanu, a few plants can still be seen. 



