236 FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 



tendency to under-estimate the importance of local 

 action, in the expectation than an unlimited supply of 

 timber will always be obtainable, either on the mush- 

 room principle as to growth, or from other sources. 

 It can be stated without fear of contradiction that 

 in our Possessions on the Coast of Africa the timber 

 is rapidly and visibly diminishing, and that the 

 adoption of steps such as are suggested, or some 

 others, for re-planting and preventing waste, has 

 become worthy of early consideration. 



I would next call attention to the wanton periodical 

 burnings — perhaps in some cases in part unavoidable, 

 at least at present, but not restricted even then as 

 they should be — that extend to sites on which trees 

 have been felled for farming purposes, or from which 

 they have disappeared altogether, as also to those 

 where nature is struggling to regain herself as regards 

 foi-est protection. Where a farm site has to be fired, 

 standing trees and surrounding forests should be pro- 

 tected as much as possible ; and where Nature seems 

 to be recovering herself, as is to be seen at times on 

 the grass plains to which I have alluded, she should be 

 rendered secure from the wanton mischief of those 

 who take more delight in a good blaze — which they 

 usually originate at night — and in their own ignorance, 

 than in interest in the country. Forests attacked in- 

 discriminately and inconsiderately by axe and fire are 

 on the road to a rapid detimbering. 



My remarks are not so selfishly directed as to 



