ECONOMIC TREES AS WIND-BELTS 23 



Trees suitable for Wind-belts. — There are a variety of 

 trees which commend themselves for obvious reasons, 

 but preference should be given to those requiring similar 

 soil and climatic conditions to those in which the cocoa 

 tree flourishes. The Para rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis. 

 Mull. Arg., at once suggests itself as a suitable tree to 

 employ for this purpose, since it is not seriously affected 

 by wind when the trees are planted close to each other. 

 The Rambong rubber tree, Ficus elastica, Roxb., the 

 Ofruntum rubber tree, Funtumia elastica, Stapf, and 

 the West African Memleku rubber tree, Ficus Vogelii, 

 are likewise well adapted for wind-breaks, as also are 

 the following fruit trees : Bread Fruit, Artocarpus incisa ; 

 Avocado Pear, Persea gratissima ; Sour Sop, Anona 

 muricata ; Mango, Mangifera indica ; Guava, Psidium 

 Gvava ; and Mammee Apple, Mantmea americana. 



The Jak Fruit, Artocarpus integrifolia, yields both 

 edible seeds and a useful timber. Its large leaves, which 

 are produced in dense masses, admirably adapt it for 

 a wind-shelter, and it is largely employed in San Thome 

 for this purpose. In the same island several species of 

 Cinchona have been planted as wind-breaks in cocoa 

 plantations situated in the hilly districts. It is, how- 

 ever, doubtful whether these species could be generally 

 employed, as they require a higher elevation than that 

 at which the cocoa tree thrives. 



Amongst the timber trees which coxild be planted 

 with advantage are Red Sandalwood, Adenanthera 

 pavonina ; Lebbek, Albizzia Lebbek ; West Indian 

 Cedar, Cedrela odorata ; Michelia Champaca ; and various 

 species of Eucalyptus. 



Clearing Land for Cocoa Cultivation. — When clearing 

 new land for cocoa plantations some planters prefer to 

 leave a certain number of the indigenous trees to serve 

 as shade for the cocoa. This practice is common in West 

 Africa and in San Thome. Where steep slopes are to 

 be planted the roots of the trees which are left standing 

 wiU certainly tend to hold the soil together and prevent 

 heavy rains washing it away. As it is impossible to 

 leave trees standing at uniform distances apart, regular 

 shading by this method is impracticable. They are very 

 subject to be uprooted by the wind when those trees 

 which previously protected them have been removed. 



