234 FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 



nine," and appeal to those interested in the country to 

 bring about, as regards the subject of this chapter, a 

 more healthy condition of things, which can only at 

 present be done by instruction and advice, and by the 

 later strong inducement of giving practical proof of the 

 value of those forests in the shape of a monetary return. 



The sawyer, the fire-wood collector and supplier, the 

 farm labourer may not know better ; but it surely 

 devolves on their employers to instruct them, and the 

 duty is greater on the proprietors of land who let out the 

 same on lease and can impose their own conditions 

 as to the preservation of forest trees of well-known — 

 or that should be known — valuable timber. 



The harm done would not prove to be so great, 

 were some system of conservancy to obtain. Where 

 it has been deemed to have become a necessity to 

 remove partially a valuable forest, why cannot the 

 removers after they have satisfied their wants be 

 got to plant young trees of marketable value, either 

 as to timber or fruit, in the room of those they have 

 used up or wasted ; why cannot this be made a con- 

 dition by owners of wooded land before liberty of 

 action is accorded to those concerned in wood or 

 agricultural industry ? 



It must be remembered that forests of heavy 

 timber or vines of commercial value are of very slow 

 growth, and means of supply in the distant future 

 should now be taken in hand. It accordingly should 

 be deemed as very expedient to re-plant, at least in 



