174 WEST AFRICAN FORESTS AND FORESTRY 
tree soon compensates for this disadvantage. In three or four 
years it may be from 18 to 24 feet high and 8 to 16 inches in girth. 
Both the largest individual specimens as well as plantations are found 
in the Olokemeji forest as well. 
More in place in the firewood plantations near Lagos and Ibadan 
is the Casuarina (Casuarina equisetifolia). At Olokemeji this tree 
has only done comparatively well. Also an exotic, it is most useful 
for planting near the sea-side on sandy sgil, and in places with a smaller 
rainfall. It will also stand a comparatively dry atmosphere. The 
wood of this tree is very hard, almost like Ironwood. It is sometimes 
known as the Australian Beef Tree. Its numerous small branches on 
the stem make the wood rather knotty and of less value for general 
construction work. However, its heating power as a firewood is very 
great. Amongst all the forest trees it is-one which yields the 
greatest amount of acetic acid, which forms the basis of an 
explosive. 
Another Australian tree which has been used to a lesser extent for 
Afforestation purposes is the Blue Gum of various kinds. Eucalyptus 
citriodora and E. amygdalina have proved to grow the quickest of 
any planted in Nigeria. Many others have been tried, but most have 
not survived. Specimen trees and small groups are seen as far apart 
as Onitsha, on the banks of the Niger, Ikassa, near the mouth of the 
Nun branch of the Niger, the Botanical Gardens, Calabar, the Oloke- 
meji Arboretum and Forest Plantations, not to forget the streets of 
Lagos. In a similar way Casuarinas are seen near Government 
House at Calabar and in Lagos, besides the forest Arboretums 
and plantations. 
Another exotic from India, Lagostremia (Lagostremia flos 
Regine), has grown well both on the banks of the Ogun and on poor 
laterite soil of the Olokemeji Forest Reserve. For the sake of the 
flowers alone it is worth planting to ornament a garden or the edge of 
a plantation. The masses of mauve flowers last a considerable time and 
blend most beautifully with the foliage and any green grass near by. 
Although of branching habit when planted 10 feet apart, if planted 
closer it will grow straighter and with cleaner bole. The timber is 
hard and very durable. So far this tree has proved a valuable intro- 
duction, especially for planting poor soils and river banks liable to 
‘ inundation. 
A later, though an exceedingly good introduction is that of 
the Satinwood (Swietenia chlorozylon), which gives promise in the 
Olokemeji Forest Reserve of making a valuable addition to the 
number of timber trees of indigenous and exotic origin. This tree 
yields the Ceylon satinwood, which is usually worth at least £12 per 
ton. The almost silvery-white tufted formation of the leaves is re- 
miniscent almost of the Eucalyptus, though the leaf is rather smoother 
