THE BAHAMAS. 



327 



in 1918 varied from 61 to 85 degrees. The total rainfall for the 

 same year was 49 inches, the greater part of which fell in the 

 months of June to September. The winter months are usually 

 dry. 



2. Types of Forest Growth. 



The most important tree is the Yellow Pine {Pinus bahamensis). 

 It appears on 4 islands, Abaco, Andros, Grand Bahama and New 

 Providence, over considerable areas of pine barrens. The tree 

 does not reach very large dimensions, but the timber is fairly 

 good, lasting when used for inside work, but not in exposed 

 positions. The right to cut trees, manufacture lumber or obtain 

 turpentine on the islands of Abaco, Andros and Grand Bahama 

 has been granted by licence to a company. Other woods are 

 found but not in abundance, such as Logwood {Hcematoxylon sp.), 

 Lignum vitee {Quaiacum sanctum), Madeira {Swietenia), Cedar 

 {Junijoerus haliamensis), Cascarilla bark {Croton eleuteria), &c. 



3. Area and Ownership of Forests. 



Much of the virgin forest has been cleared for cultivation, and 

 in many parts scrub or low coppice has come up again. In the 

 case of the pine forests, httle land has been cleared owing to the 

 inferior quality of the soil for agricultural purj)oses. The follow- 

 ing is a rough statement of the existing areas of the Yellow Pine 

 forests : — 



Total A ma 



of Island, 



Squari' Miles. 



Island of Abaco . . 776 



Island of Andros . . 1,600 



Island of Grand Bahama 430 



Island of New Providence 58 



An 'a of 

 Pine Woods, 

 Square Miles. 



160 

 156 

 110 



7 



Per cent, 

 of Forests. 



21 



25 

 12 



Total . . . 2,864 .. 433 .. 15 



The other species appear in single trees and small groups, so that 

 no areas can be given. 



The pine barrens, on which the pine forests stand, belong to 

 the State, but, as mentioned above, the right to cut pine trees on 

 Abaco, Andros and Grand Bahama has been let by licence to a 

 private company. The pine woods on New Providence belong 

 to the State. 



