IX 
AGRICULTURE, FARM, AND FOREST PRODUCTS 
We have already pointed out that the temperature and rainfall of Liberia give 
rise to an unusually luxuriant vegetation, and that the country is largely a 
forested one; and also that the most important productions are agricultural 
in character. In preparing the forest land for farming, the men first cut down the 
larger trees, brush, and undergrowth, leaving the stumps of larger trees in the 
ground. For this work they generally use the machete, a sword-like knife often 
three feet in length, with a sharp, broad blade. Sometimes they have adzes 
and occasionally a saw. The clearing is made usually in January and February, 
since in these months the weather is relatively dry. After a short time, when 
the slash is dry, it is burned. Such logs as do not burn are then broken or cut 
up or moved aside. Next the women begin to prepare the soil for planting by 
mixing it with the ashes of the burned vegetation. They have no plows or 
spades, but they employ a few hoes, the heads of which are made either of iron 
or wood. They also use sharpened poles for digging up the earth and in planting. 
The ground is prepared ready for sowing when the rains begin early in April. 
For collecting the crops the women have a number of small knives, but no 
scythes. They do all the farm work, planting, weeding and harvesting. It is © 
customary for them to leave their villages very early in the morning, often 
accompanied by their young children who are sometimes taught to frighten the 
birds away from the crops. Occasionally they remain all day at the farms, but 
in other instances they return to the villages before the great heat of the day at 
noon, to cook. One sees many abandoned farms in the interior, which are — 
spoken of by the natives as ‘“‘dead farms.” As they have no system of manur- 
ing, the land after one or sometimes two crops, is not tilled again, but is allowed 
to be overgrown by weeds and other secondary growth. After several years 
the land is again burned over, and of course is somewhat enriched by the 
ashes. 
The prevailing crops are rice and mandioca or cassava. The rice is of the 
mountain variety and of good flavor. It is known as manthoro, and has a slightly 
blackened husk. It is said to have been introduced into the country by the 
Mandingoes. There is also a red variety in the interior, and, particularly nearer 
the coast, there is a white variety with larger grain. Mandioca or cassava, & 
euphorbiaceous plant with abundant latex, is found growing about almost every 
village. It constitutes one of the chief foodstuffs of the aboriginal tribes. Two 
varieties of Manihot, M. utzlissima, are found in Liberia; the first or sweet 
variety, is so-called because its roots can be eaten raw; the other, contains in 
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