326 FORESTRY IN THE CROWN COLONIES. 



It appears that the home consumption is considerably below the 

 home production. The consumption per head of population is 

 about 10 cubic feet annually. 



The Colony can, under a systematic management of its forests, 

 doubtlessly grow all the hardwood which is likely to be required, 

 and there seems to be no reason why it should not produce, in 

 course of time, the required coniferous woods. It might even be 

 possible to increase the export of Cedrela odorata, unless the 

 population should very rapidly increase. 



The measures to be taken in the immediate future seem to be :- - 



(1) To give to the Reserves a more permanent character and to 



see that no fresh settlements are effected in them. 



(2) To institute a regular system of fire protection. 



(3) To develop the system of regeneration of the Reserves at any 



rate, by natural means assisted by planting and sowing. 



(4) To plant suitable areas with conifers, so as to make the 



Colony by degrees independent of imports. 



(5) To prepare at an early date working plans, to provide for 



the systematic execution of these, and to secure a 

 sufficiently educated staff for the purpose. 



T. THE BAHAMAS. 



1. General Notes on the Colony. 



The Colony of The Bahamas consists of 18 principal islands, 

 or groups of islands ; the whole number, large and small, amount- 

 ing to several thousands. They are situated between the 21st and 

 27th degree north latitude and the 72nd and 79th degree west longi- 

 tude. The total area is estimated at 4,400 square miles, with a 

 population of 55,944 in 1911, making about 12 to the square mile. 



The islands are all of the same formation, namely coral rock. 

 In most parts the land is flat and little elevated above the sea, 

 the maximum being 100 feet. On some of the islands are exten- 

 sive tracts of swamps and marl below the level of high tides. 



The soil is scanty but of a productive nature, so that vegetables, 

 pineapples, bananas, citrus fruits, coconuts and fibrous plants 

 are cultivated. On four of the islands extensive pine forests 

 grow on so-called " pine barrens." 



The climate is pleasant and salubrious. The mean temperature 



