NIGERIA. 315 



with a view to investigating silvicultural questions. The total 

 area of plantation is 950 acres. 



7. Increment and Utilization. 



There appear to be no data available by means of which the 

 increment of the forests could be determined. As regards 

 destructive influences, the most fatal is the shifting cultivation 

 carried on by the natives. Next to that comes damage by 

 fire, especially in the savannah forests. 



Nor can a satisfactory estimate of the Utilization be made, as 

 the home consumption of the natives is only partially known. 

 All that can be given is the number of trees felled under State 

 control in the southern forests ; they were as follows : — 



Annual average during the years 1917 — 1919 : — 



The cubic contents of the trees is not known except of those used 

 for Government purposes. The latter contained 301,798 cubic 

 feet, which gives 95 cubic feet per tree on an average. 



8. Exports and Imports. 



According to the data given by the Customs Authorities, the 

 average annual exports and imports during the years 1912 — 1913, 

 the last two years before the war, were as follows : — 



Cubic feet. Value, £. 



Exports .... 1,388,700 .. 92,319 

 Imports .... 1,185,800 .. 64,231 



Excess of Exports . 202,900 .. 28,088 



9. Summary and Outlook. 



As the total increment is unknown, no comparison between 

 increment and utilization can be made. If the shifting cultivation 

 could be stopped, or at any rate regulated, the local authorities 



