26 o 
of lands, and short steep embankments may also be protected with 
this same covering. On longer and steeper slopes, however, this 
method is not so effective as that of reforestation. 
In enumerating the effects to be obtained by the growth of gras- 
ses and other herbaceous vegetation on washing lands, or lands 
liable to be eroded, it should be stated that such growths are cal- 
culated to break the force of the rainfall and prevent its packing 
the soil ; to render the ground more porous through the root pene- 
tration into the subsoil ; to make the soil more absorbent and more 
retentive of moisture through the addition of humus to the soil from 
the decay of the plants to retard the rate with which the surface 
waters flow off, and lastly, to bind the particles of soil together, 
which is especially effective in the case of light sandy lands and of 
newly formed embankments, whether of sand or clay. 
The turf which would answer the present purposes should be 
composed of perennial grasses of varieties which have creeping 
rootstocks and it is frequently essential that they be able to grow 
upon an impoverished and often hard soil. To secure a strong 
turf on lands of this character it is very important that the soil 
should be thoroughly ploughed or loosened, and some variety of 
field pea or clover be seeded down, such as the cowpea, well adap- 
ted to this purpose. There crops may either be cut off, leaving a 
high stubble to be turned under, or the whole may be ploughed 
under, thus furnishing a quantity of organic matter to the soil as a 
preparation for the grasses which are to be seeded. 
With this preparation of the soil Bahama grass is one of the best 
grasses for the purpose of preventing erosion, or of reclaiming 
eroded land. This should be planted by cutting up a turf rather 
than by seeding, as the seeds do not germinate very readily, even 
where they have been gathered in a mature condition. 
Where the soil will support other good turf grasses of higher 
value for hay or pasturage, or where the soil can be brought into a 
condition to support them, these more valuable grasses should be 
introduced. 
AGRICULTURE IN THE CAMEROONS AND 
TOGO LAND. 
In the Diplomatic and Consular Reports on the German Colonies 
occur the following : — 
Rubber, iyory and palm oil are the most important arti- 
cles of native trade, though, in consequence of the fallino-- 
off of the supply of rubber and ivory in those parts of the 
country from which they have hitherto been obtained, it is 
only by the opening-up of fresh districts that the trade can 
be kept up to its present standard. 
The progress made by the plantations, under European 
management, is satisfactory. Though the cultivation of 
