322 FORESTRY IN THE CROWN COLONIES. 



lasts from February to May, and the wet season from June to 

 September ; showery weather is the rule during the remainder 

 of the year. 



Tobago. — The island may be divided into two parts. The 

 south-western part is of low elevation, and the north-eastern part 

 consists of a range of hills which attain 1,800 feet in elevation. 

 Coral rocks overlay the igneous rocks of the south-western part 

 of the island ; the remaining mountainous part consists of 

 igneous rock, often weathering to a considerable depth, and 

 forming a rich soil. The climate is much the same as in Trinidad, 

 but the maxima and minima are slightly lower. 



2. Main Types of Forest Growth, 



There are two types : (1) the tidal forests, and (2) the mixed 

 evergreen forests. The tidal forests cover an area of about 

 40 square miles and consist chiefly of mangrove (Rhizophora). 

 They are worked for fuel and to some extent for tan bark. The 

 mixed evergreen forests contain a few deciduous species, without, 

 however, interfering with their general evergreen character. 

 Above 1,500 feet elevation their character changes somewhat, but 

 not sufficiently to divide the type into two. They are, as a rule, 

 " high forest " with trees over 100 feet high. The principal 

 species in this class of forest are : — 



(1) Cedrela odorata, the Indian Cedar, a tree up to 120 feet high, 



yielding a wood which is reddish brown, scented, soft and 

 easily worked ; used for building, cabinet work and 

 extensively for cigar boxes. 



(2) Mimusops globosa, the Balata, 90 to 120 feet high, giving 



a hard, heavy wood, durable ; used for bridge work, 

 sleepers ; yields balata. 



(3) Teco77ia serratifolia, giving a greenish, hard and heavy wood. 



(4) Carapa guianensis, a kind of mahogany. 



(5) Vitex capitata, called Black Fiddlewood. 



(6) Dimorphandra mora, Red Mora, about the only species 



which appears gregariously, wood very hard, heavy, 

 strong and durable, excellent shipbuilding wood. 



(7) Hymemva courbaril, the Locust, 70 to 90 feet high. 



A considerable number of other species ; also 2 species of bamboos 

 and palms. 



