241 
size to those of the richer American soil. There is a marked absence 
of the dense masses of huge lianas which form so important a feature in 
de 
how different in its manner of growth is this so-called **impenetrable 
forest?" from the really di vegetation which exists in other parts of the 
world. It may be that, elsewhere on the West Coast, are to be found 
more lofty growths or denser and more tangled woods. They did not 
lie in our = ek. 
The only difference between the grass lands lying beyond Ibadan 
towards the Niger, and the forests fringing the lagoons and covering 
growing trees and robbed - the soil of its original covering, leaving 
nothing but a rank growth of tall and hrec vea grass to take its place. 
ough apparently so unfavourable the growth of deor cóotia 
fines the soil shows a truly surprising cadens ‘fertility when subjected 
to cultivation. A glance at the map will show how crowded is the 
population of this part of the interior. Not a single square mile of good 
soil throughout the land of Yoruba but shows traces of recent cultiva- 
tion. Cut off completely from the markets of the coast by a jealous 
and unscrupulous tribe of idle natives who inhabit the forest strip near 
the Eastward Lagos lagoons, this densely peopled land is — 
labour whieh it expends. From samples of the soil which I bon 
os. 1, 2, and 3, it will be seen to be composed of a sandy loam derived 
ossess 
possess un ees seem to be the case. The act remains iile same, that not 
only are the crops which are gathered in Yoruba, and, 
throughout this portion of the interior, of. unusual excellenee, but the 
surface soil shows a marvellous recuperative power, even when co 
with that of more favoured lands in other portions of the tropics. 
The f i 
will serve to show the unusual rapidity with which this shallow and - 
unpromising soil recovers its fertility. It has to be remem! 
during the intervals of its dep epe short as they are, no heavy 
growth of bush is made as in the deeper and richer soil of tropical 
À B 
6 feet to 12 feet high, replaces the crowded crops; heavy rains beat — 
down through its feeble protection upon the sandy soil, and the water 4 
rushes off in all directions into the numerous sandy b brooks and rocky 
streams which hurry towards the lagoons with their burden of sand and 
mud. 
Rotation of Crops. 
First Year.—In the month of November the farmer scrapes a number 
of holes with his hoe, and plants his yams, covering them by gathering 
U 64228. [e] 
