VALUE OF LEGUMINOUS TREES AS SHADE 31 



yield no commercial product ; even their wood is of no 

 value. They are objectionable on account of frequently 

 losing their leaves during the dry season. E. umbrosa 

 was planted for shading cocoa in the Botanic Gardens, 

 Aburi, Gold Coast, but as it was invariably leafless during 

 the dry, harmattan season it was cut down and Pitheco- 

 lobium Saman (Rain Tree) was substituted. 



This tree proved satisfactory for several years. The 

 Acting Director, in a letter to the writer dated October 

 1909, on this subject remarks: " They have made such 

 rapid growth during the last year that I am afraid they 

 will soon do more harm than good. Still the cocoa is 

 doing remarkably well under them, and in the centre 

 block they look exceptionally healthy." 



In St. Lucia Erythrina indica is reported to give better 

 results than E. velutina and E. umbrosa, as its shade can 

 be more easily controlled by pruning. 



Albizzia moluccana is an evergreen tree indigenous 

 to the Moluccas and Java. It is a large, rapidly growing 

 tree, with a trunk 3 or 4 ft. in diameter and 70 or 80 ft. 

 high. It produces a dense shade, which is inclined to 

 encourage the spread of fungus diseases. Possibly this 

 might be modified to a certain extent by the systematic 

 pruning of young trees. It is readily propagated by 

 seeds. Its timber is light in weight and of no great 

 value, but might be employed in the manufacture of 

 packing cases. 



Ceylon appears to be the only country where it is 

 planted as shade for cocoa. 



Pithecolobium Saman. This is planted as shade for 

 cocoa in Trinidad, Venezuela, and to a small extent in 

 the Gold Coast. Like Albizzia moluccana it requires 

 constant attention in regard to pruning to prevent its 

 forming too dense a shade. Such prunings, however, 

 rapidly decompose and provide valuable dressings of 

 humus. Being evergreen it is preferable to Erythrina for 

 the reasons already described. The legumes of this 

 tree are sometimes used as cattle food, but otherwise 

 it yields no product of economic importance. The 

 " Medera " (Gliricidia maculata) tree of Nicaragua is 

 reported (Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information, Botanical 

 Department, Trinidad, September 1903) to be used as 

 shade for cocoa in that country ; it is raised from seeds 



