LIBERIA
I. THE GOLA FOREST.
This comparatively narrow strip of Africa, extending from Cape Palmas on
the east to the Mano River on the west, an area of 40,000 square miles,
is a Negro Republic under the nominal protection of the United States.
It is bounded on the west by the British Colony and Protectorate of
Sierra Leone, and on the north and east by the French possessions of
Senegal and the French Ivory Coast.
Some years ago a large rubber company was formed to exploit the wild-
growing rubber vines and trees, and until recently fairly large amounts
were secured. Apart from rubber, however, there are large forests, one
of the best being the Gola Forest, on the western boundary and
contiguous to the Sierra Leone Protectorate.
This Gola Forest is formed by the confluence of the Morro and Mano
Rivers, being thus triangular in shape and approximately 250 square
miles in extent. No natives actually live in it, though there are a few
villages at the edge, such as Yandahun and Dambarra. The typical forest
is seen in the view of the River Morro near the junction of the Mano.
Here herds of elephants roam and make tracks through the dense growth of
numerous trees; in fact, the only paths there have been made by the
elephant. The Chief of Tunkia always has at least ten youths with him
learning the art of elephant-hunting, for which a large fee for tuition
is paid. In illustrations Nos. 10 and 12 views of the inner parts of the
forest are given.
II. THE MOST VALUABLE TREES.
The chief species of trees suitable for cutting for export are the
following:
1. Mahogany (_Khaya ivoriensis_), probably, a very well textured wood
with some very pretty medullary rays and a thorough sheen on it when
planed. Illustration No. 13 shows a specimen of this tree.
2. Satinwood (_Afrormosia laxiflora_), a large tree with smooth bark,
which varies from light green or yellow to an orange-red shade, thus
making it very conspicuous in the forest. See illustration No. 11, which
shows one of these trees of medium size.
[Illustration: FIG. 10.—=Large Brimstone Tree (Sarcocephalus sp.), Gola
Forest.=]
[Illustration: FIG. 11.—=African Satinwood (Afrormosia laxiflora). Gola
Forest.=]
To face p. 66.
3. The African Oak (_Oldfieldia africana_), Paulai of the Mendis is more
common in the southern than in the northern part of the forest. It
attains a large size, but has not yet been exploited either by a
European or a native firm. This is one of the most durable of African
timbers. As it has already been described in the chapter on the Sierra
Leone trees, further notes on this tree are unnecessary here.
Illustrations Nos. 5 and 6 show this tree to advantage, especially its
straightness of growth.
4. The real Satinwood (_Zanthoxylum macrophyllum_), not an uncommon
tree, of small size. It is most easily recognised by its very long
pinnate leaves. One leaf may attain a length of 6 feet. There is another
species of Zanthoxylum which also has a similar kind of timber.
5. African Walnut (_Lovoa Klaineana_). This tree is not very prevalent,
but is scattered in small groups throughout the forest.
6. Cedar Mahogany, a species of Guarea which attains a large size. It is
none too prevalent, though it is scattered singly throughout the forest.
7. African Pearwood (_Mimusops lacera_) is a very good reddish timber,
often with figure in the grain. Although much harder than mahogany, it
has been sold as such.
8. The Iroko (_Chlorophora excelsa_) is common near the old farms, but
is not so prevalent in the forest proper. It has not yet been exploited
from here, nor is it cut locally.
9. The Red Ironwood Tree (_Lophira procera_) is very prevalent, and
attains much the same size as elsewhere. It has not yet been exploited.
10. The so-called Mahogany, the timber of a tree, a species of
Parinarium, known as Pauwilli of the Mendis. This is one of the most
prevalent trees in the forest. It is also somewhat gregarious, as many
as forty specimens being sometimes found in one group. The timber of
this tree was exported from Southern Nigeria some years ago. It grows to
a height of 150 feet, with a clear bole of 60 feet in height, and
upwards of 18 feet in girth. Illustration No. 2 shows the trunk
especially, and the base of one of these trees. A most typical scene in
the northern part of the Gola Forest is shown in illustration No. 12,
several of the trees in that picture being Pauwilli.
All the above-mentioned trees have been cut and exported in the log from
various parts of Western Africa. There are, however, several other trees
which might be cut and used as export timbers, as, for instance:
11. The White Mahogany (_Canarium Schweinfurthii_), which attains the
same size as elsewhere, but is not so commonly found.
12. Rhodesian Mahogany (_Afzelia bracteata?_), which is fairly common
and attains a medium size.
13. _Brachystegia spicæformis_, which yields a light-brown hardish
timber with very pretty grain. (See illustration No. 104, which shows a
very large specimen of this tree in Nigeria.) It is very prevalent, in
fact one of the commonest trees in the Gola Forest, so that large
quantities of timber could be obtained.
14. Wismah (Sierra Leone name) is also found, and apparently grows up
very quickly in old farms.
15. The Red Oak (_Berlinia auriculata_) is quite prevalent, especially
near the banks of streams. It attains a large size, and the timber has
been sold as oak in the European market. Here it has not yet been cut.
In addition to the trees which can be felled for conversion into export
timbers, there are others which may be cut for sale locally, such as:
16. The Brimstone (_Morinda citrifolia?_), one of the most suitable
trees for the purpose. One of the largest trees was 5 feet in diameter,
and had also a clear bole of 50 feet. On the whole it grows to a larger
size in the Gola Forest than in Sierra Leone. Illustration No. 10 shows
one of these trees from which a timber specimen had been cut.
17. The Hamon, which is apparently a species of Sterculiaceæ, although
not of enormous size, has a straight bole, which divides up into four or
five very large and thin root flanges. It is one of the most prevalent
trees in the forest. Illustration No. 14 shows the peculiar formation of
the roots of this tree.
18. _Piptadenia africana_, a very large tree with small and fine pinnate
leaves. It is frequently met with, in fact one of the commonest of the
trees in the forest. It yields a hard brown wood which is durable.
19. The so-called Mountain Mahogany, probably a species of Leguminoseæ.
It attains a large size, and yields a timber not unlike that of Red
Pine.
Up to the present no local or other sawyers have worked in this forest.
Although only a few trees have been mentioned which could be cut for use
locally, there are many others out of approximately a hundred different
kinds which are found in the forest.
There are other products, such as oil beans, obtained from _Pentaclethra
macrophylla_, a large forest tree; gum copal, obtained from _Daniellia
Ogea_, one of the largest forest trees; palm oil and kernels from the
Oil Palm (_Elæis guineensis_), which is found in all the clearings.
Piassava, obtained from _Raphia vinifera_, is found on the banks of the
two rivers, Morro and Mano. Rubber could be obtained from the African
Rubber Tree (_Funtumia elastica_) and various rubber vines, such as
_Landolphia Owariensis_, and others. Dika nuts could be procured, as the
tree which bears them, _Irvingia Barteri_, is commonly found; also the
Tallow Tree (_Pentadesma butyracea_), which bears a large number of oil-
bearing nuts in its large fruit; the Dita (_Detarium Senegalensis_),
which yields a mango-like fruit, eaten locally. Bitter Kola (_Garcinia
kola_) is found, but not often sold in the local market. The rough-
skinned _Parinarium excelsum_ yields a fruit which is eaten locally; the
African Star-apple (_Chrysophyllum Africanum_) is found in the forest,
and also planted. In other villages the Akee, being obtained from
_Blighia sapida_, is quite common in the forest, though the edible fruit
is not used. The Mackay or Sea Bean (_Entada scandens_) is a huge
creeper which grows to 350 feet in length and 3 feet in girth. Near
Dambarra, from a stout specimen hung a complete pod containing fourteen
beans.
III. CONDITIONS OF WORKING TIMBER.
The Mano or Bewa River forms the natural outlet for the extraction of
timber, as the Morro River forms one boundary of the Gola Forest, and
this river joins the former rather more than half-way through the
forest. The Mano River reaches the sea about 80 miles from the end of
the forest; thus logs of timber could be brought down the Mano straight
into the sea.
Very good timber of various kinds of mahogany has been shipped from
several ports, such as Sassandra and Grand Bassam on the Ivory Coast.
Good prices, such as 1s. to 2s. 3d. per superficial foot, have usually
been paid for this timber. There is therefore no reason why similar
timber from Liberia should not fetch equally good rates, when properly
cut, squared, and sold under similar conditions.
Conditions of working are very similar on the West Coast of Africa, but
may vary somewhat in detail from place to place. However, if at the
outset natives accustomed to working timber in Nigeria or the Ivory
Coast were employed, good results would be obtained. Gradually a local
native staff would be built up, so that the services of those from
another part of the coast could be dispensed with and cheaper working
thus assured; because imported labour, whether skilled or otherwise, is
usually more expensive than that of the locality. Lower shipping rates
should be paid from Liberia than from the Ivory Coast or Gold Coast,
owing to the distance being less to the European markets where the
timber is sold.
The other forests of Liberia should be thoroughly examined to see what
amount of timber is there. It is usual to work several areas in
conjunction, as the cost of management per unit of output (the log) is
thus reduced.
IV. TREES AND RUBBER VINES
=Palmæ.=
_Elæis Guineensis_. Oil Palm.
The well-known Oil Palm. It does not thrive in the forests among
taller trees. It grows best near villages. (Found in Sierra Leone,
too.) Quantities of oil obtained from it. The leaves are used for roof
coverings.
_Raphia vinifera_. Wine Palm.
The leaves used in weaving, brushes, mats, etc. Grows in swampy
ground.
_Borassus flabellifer_ and _B. Æthiopium_. Fan Palm, Piassave.
Both most useful trees. The leaves for roofs, fibre for ropes. The sap
made into a sweet kind of toddy. Wood for house and bridge building.
The _B. Æthiopium_ grows from 60 to 80 feet high, the leaves 5 to 12
feet long.
_Ancistrophyllum_.
Fibre used for weaving.
=Liliaceæ.=
_Dracæna surculosa_. Dragon’s Blood.
A much branched tree, having white flowers and red berries. Found in
Sino Kim, Kakatown and Monrovia.
=Moraceæ.=
_Chlorophora excelsa_. Oroko, Teak, African Oak.
A large, well-known tree, used for many purposes where durability is
required. Frequently found; it grows well near old farms. It is also
found in Sierra Leone. The wood seems to be proof against termites and
fungoid diseases. It is the best wood for railway sleepers.
_Musanga Smithii_. Corkwood.
The first tree to appear after a farm has been abandoned; its thick
leaves, when they fall, form a heavy layer of humus.
_Antiaris_. Fig species.
Fig-like fruit, used in medicine.
_Ficus Vogelii_. Rubber.
Grows from 20 to 40 feet, yields so-called Balata, or an inferior
rubber. Found on St. Paul’s River, Grand Basā.
_Ficus sp._ Rubber.
Yields rubber; branches reddish colour; grows in the Kuru country.
_Ficus Whyteii_. Rubber.
A large forest tree yielding abundant rubber.
_Myrianthus serratus_.
A deciduous tree having mulberry-like fruit of pleasant taste.
=Olacaceæ.=
_Coula edulis_.
Bark and leaves have a resinous sap. The oily seeds of this tree are
very pleasant to the taste; it has no connection, however, with the
Cola Nut.
=Anonaceæ.=
_Xylopia oxypetala_. Yellow wood.
A moderate-sized tree with white, scented flowers, growing in the bush
of the littoral.
_Xylopia Dinklagei_.
A small glabrous tree.
_Xylopia Æthiopica_.
From 30 to 60 feet in height. Fruit aromatic, used as a tonic. Wood
elastic, made into masts and oars.
_Xylopia humilis_.
A small tree with broad top and pendulous branches, growing in the
primary forests of the littoral.
_Uvaria scabrida_.
A moderate-sized tree in the primary forest, found on the banks of the
Cestos River.
_Uvaria Dinklagei_.
Similar to the last; grows in the humid parts of the coast bush.
_Uvaria Afzelii_.
Similar to the above.
_Polyalthia Oliverii_.
A small glabrous tree growing in the coast forests.
_Popowia Whyteii_.
A small tree with glabrous leaves.
_Anona muricata_. Sour Sop.
A small glabrous tree, the Sour Sop of English colonists.
_Anona palustris_. Alligator Apple.
A tree with soft wood, used as cork. Fruit edible, frequently made
into a refreshing drink. It is found in the swamps of Grand Basā.
_Monodora myristica_. Calabash Nutmeg.
A small tree having showy flowers and aromatic seed; the much esteemed
Calabash Nutmeg of West Africa.
_Monodora tenuifolia_.
Found in the primary forests of Grand Basā. Very similar to the last;
narrower leaved.
=Myristicaceæ.=
_Pycnanthus Dinklagei_. Muskat Nut.
Tree reaches the height of 30 feet, with drooping branches. It
supplies good timber and oily seeds.
_Pycnanthus kombo_.
The seeds of this variety contain 73 per cent. of fat and burn like a
candle.
=Rosaceæ.=
_Parinarium macrophyllum_. Rough-skinned Plum.
A very common tree, used locally for building purposes; oak-like
texture. Fruit yellow, the size of a goose-egg; sometimes called
Gingerbread Plum.
_Parinarium excelsum_. Wild Plum.
_Parinarium sp._ Wild Plum.
Also found in Sierra Leone. Used for building locally; grain too open
for export. _P. excelsum_ and _sp._ very similar.
_Chrysobalanus icaco_. Cocoa Plum.
_Chrysobalanus ellipticus_. Cocoa Plum.
A tall shrub or small tree, with greenish-purple edible fruit known as
Cocoa Plums. These two are very similar; both found near Grand Basā.
=Leguminosæ.=
_Lonchocarpus laxiflora_. Mountain Mahogany.
Supplies a good useful wood and dyes. It is also found in Sierra
Leone.
_Lonchocarpus sericeus_.
An ornamental tree with downy twigs, reddish-violet papilionaceous
flowers; wood hard and heavy, not very well known. Found in Grand
Basā.
_Lonchocarpus Barteri_.
Similar to _L. sericeus_, but a loftier tree.
_Lonchocarpus Zenkeri_.
_Entada scandens_. Mackay or Sea Bean.
The well-known liana, the fibre used in rope and net making.
_Dialium Senegalense_. Black Tumbler.
A hard wood, useful in the building trade; also grows in Sierra Leone.
_Dialium Englerii_.
Timber useful for many purposes. A refreshing drink is made from the
edible fruit.
_Dialium Dinklagei_.
A small tree with umbrella-like top.
_Albizzia fastigiata_. Albizzia.
All Albizzias are proof against termites. Wood used where durability
is required, and therefore very valuable. The branches are pendulous,
flowers white and fragrant. Found in Monrovia and Sino Basin.
_Albizzia Brownei_. Albizzia.
A hard, useful wood. A large forest tree with cracked greyish bark.
_Albizzia sp._ Albizzia.
A large tree of good form and hard wood. The tree cylinder-shaped,
heartwood a bright, pretty colour. Not very plentiful. Quite worthy of
export.
_Detarium Senegalense_. Mahogany, Dita.
A beautifully marked hard wood, with a bole of 30 feet and girth of 12
feet.
_Pentaclethra macrophylla_. Oil Bean Tree.
Yields oil-bearing seeds or beans, used as an article of food. The
ashes after burning the dry pods are useful in soap-making.
_Parkia filicoidea_. Forest Locust or Locust Bean.
A very common tree in Liberia, but wood of little value. The bean is
eaten locally.
_Erythrina Senegalense_.
Deeply cleft bark; wood of little value.
_Piptadenia Africana_.
It grows everywhere in great quantities in Liberia. The wood is hard
and valuable.
_Afrormosia laxiflora_. Satinwood.
A beautiful clear brown wood, used for building purposes.
_Baphia nitida_. Camwood.
Very valuable as a red dye-wood.
_Baphia pubescens_. Camwood.
Valuable dye-wood.
_Cassia podocarpa_.
Grows best on very dry ground; common on native farms, 70 miles up the
St. Paul River. Wood extraordinarily hard.
_Mimosa Dinklagei_.
A small tree found in the coast woods of Grand Basā.
_Daniellia Ogea_. Benin Gum Copal.
Wood soft. When the tree has attained a large size, it is attacked by
the boring beetle; the gum then exudes and falls to the ground, and is
so collected. Value, 5d. or 6d. a pound.
_Daniellia sp._ Gum Copal sp.
Very similar to the _C. Ogea_.
_Didelotia Engleri_.
A small tree found in the humid woods of the coast.
_Polystemonanthus Dinklagei_.
A small tree growing on the banks of St. John’s River, Grand Basā.
_Xylia Evansii_.
Beautiful plumed trees; small heads of flowers. A pretty ornamental
tree.
=Rutaceæ.=
_Zanthoxylon sp._ Satinwood.
Fairly hard wood, with rough, knotty bark in the shape of cone-like,
woody protrusions.
_Zanthoxylon macrophyllum_. Spiny Satinwood.
Smaller than the last, but somewhat similar; the wood a very pretty
yellow, with open grain.
_Citrus aurantium_. Common Orange.
A very ornamental tree. Leaves and buds used in perfumery. Fruit
edible, valuable for export. Timber useful in many ways.
=Simarubaceæ.=
_Irvingia Barteri_. Dika Nut or Borbor.
The fruit is edible, seeds oily. Dika butter, dika bread and a kind of
chocolate are made from it. The wood is also used.
=Burseraceæ.=
_Canarium Schweinfurthii_.
Wood useful in commerce. The oily seeds are edible.
=Meliaceæ.=
_Lovoa Klaineana_. African Walnut.
Has a shady crown of branches. A good shade tree.
_Carapa procera_. Crabwood.
A small tree cut and sold as cedar mahogany for building purposes.
_Carapa Gayensis_.
This tree supplies a good timber; the oily seeds are used in medicine.
_Pseudocedrela_. Cedar Mahogany or African Walnut.
The tree is 65 feet in height, wood used for building purposes and for
furniture; not very common. It should be a useful export timber.
_Trichilia Heudelotii_.
A small tree; wood easy to work; not well known.
_Khaya grandis_. Benin Mahogany.
A fine tree, sometimes attaining the height of 130 feet, and 14 feet
in diameter. The trunk has slight root flanges. The wood of a
beautiful surface, a most valuable wood in furniture and carriage
making.
_Guarea Africana_. Satin Mahogany.
Grain similar to mahogany and might be sold for it. Should be a useful
export wood.
_Pynærtia ealænsis_.
Not very well known; flowers in long, showy panicles.
=Euphorbiaceæ.=
_Ricinodendron Heudelotii._? Mahogany.
Sold as mahogany. The wood is used locally for boat-building. The tree
seeds readily, so could easily be planted.
_Hasskarlia didymostemon_.
Attains the height of 40 to 80 feet; leaves yellowish-green and yellow
catkins. Not well known.
_Oldfieldia Africana_. Real African Oak.
A tall, fine tree, with a bole of 50 feet and girth of 16 feet. Most
useful in boat-building, especially for the keels. It seeds very
readily. Many years ago it was exported as teak (1827-35), though this
afterwards ceased.
=Anacardiaceæ.=
_Mangifera_. Mango species, Greenheart.
The Mango Tree, very plentiful. It attains a girth of 12 feet. A
greyish wood used for building purposes.
_Mangifera sp._ Bush Pawpaw.
Used in building.
_Mangifera sp._ Whitewood.
Used in building.
_Odina acida_.
A small deciduous, glabrous tree; the powdered bark, mixed with other
substances, used as a paint for the face.
_Spondias lutea_.
A tall, glabrous tree, with yellow, plum-like fruits, which are
edible. They are often made into a refreshing drink. The wood bright-
coloured and hard; it has the useful quality of growing when put in as
fence posts.
=Sapindaceæ.=
_Blighia sapida_. Akee.
A useful shade tree near dwellings, growing to the height of 97½ feet.
Wood light yellow in colour.
_Allophyllus Africana_.
A small, common tree with hard, blackish fruit, growing along the
coast of Grand Basā; wood useful in many ways.
_Dodonæa viscosa_.
A small tree having viscid branchlets saturated with resin, which
serve as torches. The wood is used for engraving and in turnery.
=Malvaceæ.=
_Gossypium Peruvianum_. Kidney-tree Cotton.
These African cotton-plants are still imperfectly known. Probably used
locally.
=Bombacaceæ.=
_Eriodendron anfractuosum_. Cotton Tree.
Grows to the height of 160 feet. Smooth, bright grey bark, having
cracked appearance. Wood not of much value in commerce. Handsome,
brilliant crimson flowers.
_Bombax Buonopozense_. Red Cotton Tree.
A large deciduous tree, often attaining 162 feet in height, with
tuberculate, prickly bark and scarlet flowers with firm, velvety
petals. Wood of little value in commerce.
=Sterculiaceæ.=
_Sterculia oblonga_. Yellow Wood.
A tree of medium height, the wood soft, and fibre strong and tough.
Exudes gum.
_Sterculia sp._
Fruit edible, the oily seeds used medicinally.
_Triplochiton_.
Fruit winged, flowers panicled, leaves ragged.
_Cola acuminata_. Cola.
Much like the Poplar in appearance. The wood is used in ship-building,
house-building and furniture. The oily, edible Cola Nut is in great
demand.
_Cola digitata_.
The oily seeds much used in medicine.
_Heritiera utilis_.
The timber hard and useful for various purposes, the bark in tanning.
Fruit woody.
=Dilleniaceæ.=
_Tetracera potatoria_. Water Tree.
A small, hairy tree growing on the dry and sunny parts of the coast
savannahs. It yields a profuse amount of water from the stems; hence
its name.
_Tetracera leiocarpa_.
Very similar to the above. Used as a medicine by the natives.
_Tetracera Dinklagei_.
Similar to the other Tetracera species.
_Tetracera sp._ White Cedar.
Reaches a girth of 10 or 12 feet. Wood soft and grain too open for
export.
=Ochnaceæ.=
_Lophira procera_. African Oak or Red Ironwood.
This tree yields oil-bearing seeds. The wood is hard and heavy, of a
reddish brown. Sold as African Oak. The wood is also used in charcoal-
making.
=Guttiferæ.=
_Pentadesma_. Butter or Tallow Tree.
A tall, slender tree growing by the streams. Wood light in colour,
useful in various ways. Also found in Sierra Leone.
_Garcinia kola_. Bitter Cola.
A large but slow-growing tree, with a hard, prettily grained wood,
rather uncommon.
_Garcinia sp._? Mahogany.
The wood sometimes sold as mahogany.
_Garcinia sp._ Chew-stick.
The smaller roots are used as chew-sticks, but taking these in the
drastic method in which it is done generally means death to the tree.
It is found on summits of the mountains.
=Flacourtiaceæ.=
_Smeathmannia lævigata_.
_Smeathmannia sp._
The buds are single, growing in the axils of the leaves. Leaves
toothed. There are fifteen species of this tree; not very common. Wood
of little value.
=Rhizophoraceæ.=
_Rhizophora mangle_.
The Mangrove species. It grows in swamps or on the banks of rivers of
Liberia. The wood is hard and heavy but easily worked; much used for
poles and firewood, the bark in tanning.
_Rhizophora racemosa_.
The Mangrove species. Very similar to the above.
=Myrtaceæ.=
_Psidium guajava_. Guava.
A small tree growing near Monrovia. Fruit edible, the well-known Guava
of commerce.
=Sapotaceæ.=
_Mimusops sp._ The Bobby Water or Benin Mahogany.
A very common kind of Mahogany, attaining a bole of 50 feet and girth
of 12 feet. It will grow at a higher elevation than most forest trees.
Wood very useful in the making of furniture.
_Mimusops lacera_. African Pearwood.
A tall, fine-looking tree, with good bole. It would pay to plant these
unsparingly. It grows well near the coast. The hard, red wood is very
useful and most valuable in furniture-making, inlaying, veneering,
etc.
_Chrysophyllum sp._
A tree of medium height. Fruit edible. The wood not well known in
commerce.
_Sideroxylon longistylum_.
This tree supplies a good timber. The fruit is edible.
_Omphalocarpum_.
A kind of Guttapercha is obtained from this tree. It supplies also a
good, useful timber.
=Apocynaceæ.=
_Rauwolfia vomitoria_. Swizzle-stick.
A good workable timber is obtained from it. Stone fruit.
_Funtumia Africana_. False Rubber Tree.
The rubber is useless, being sticky, like birdlime. Height from 15 to
20 feet.
_Funtumia sp._ Boxwood.
Much the same as above. Found also in Sierra Leone.
_Funtumia elastica_. True Rubber Tree.
One of the most important rubber-trees of Africa (also Sierra Leone);
produces good rubber. Height 100 feet.
_Conopharyngia_. Rubber.
Another rubber-tree, yielding only small quantities, of little use in
commerce.
_Landolphia Owariensis_. Vine Rubber.
Another of the best rubber-trees; grows in the Sino Basin.
_Landolphia jenje_. Vine or White Ball Rubber.
A very good rubber, even better than _L. Owariensis_.
=Bignoniaceæ.=
_Newbouldia lævis_.
A pinnate-leaved tree with dense panicles of pink flowers like the
foxglove; the fruit long and slender. The bright-coloured wood is very
even in texture, much used in fence-making.
=Rubiaceæ.=
_Sarcocephalus esculentus_. Sierra Leone Peach.
Flowers in large heads, white and fragrant. Deep-red fruit, the peach
of the country, the size of a man’s fist. The wood much used for
inlaying.
_Morinda sp._? Brimstone.
A tree with bole of 50 feet in height, girth from 16 to 20 feet. The
wood is bright yellow in colour, not of much value, but the root-wood
is sold in the native markets for yellow dye and the bole wood for
weather-boards. It is very hard and resists attacks of insects.
_Randia maculata_.
A very pretty ornamental tree, with glossy leaves and white flowers.
_Coffea Liberica_. Liberian Coffee.
A tree about 20 feet in height. Coffee-berries the size of a cherry.
APPENDIX
LIBERIA—FOREST EXPORTS
-----------------+---------+-------+---------+------+---------+-------
Products. | 1908. | £ | 1909. | £| 1910. | £
-----------------+---------+-------+---------+------+---------+-------
Palm kernels | 200,489 | 41,916| — | — | — | —
| bush. | | | | |
| | | | | |
Palm oil | 876,000 | 60,223| — | — | 1,149 | 359
| gals. | | | | bush. |
| | | | | |
Rubber | 169,566 | 8,478| — | — | — | —
| lb. | | | | |
| | | | | |
Coffee |1,459,082| 27,966| — | — |6,774 lb.| 353
| lb. | | | | |
| | | | | |
Coffee seed | — | — | — | — |1,690,955|32,978
| | | | | lb. |
| | | | | |
Coffee scions | — | — |2,082,540|35,830| — | —
| | | lb. | | |
| | | | | |
Coffee trees | — | — | — | — | — | —
| | | | | |
Piassava |7,396,863| 38,528| — | — | — | —
| lb. | | | | |
| | | | | |
Kola nuts | — | — | — | — | 384,830 | 2,408
| | | | | lb. |
| | | | | |
Calabar beans |4,318 lb.| 37| — | — | — | —
| | | | | |
Guttapercha | — | — | — | — | — | —
| | | | | |
Camwood | — | — | — | — | — | —
| | | | | |
Ivory | 14,514 | 4,447| — | — | — | —
| lb. | | | | |
-----------------+---------+-------+---------+------+---------+-------
TOTALS |9,044,343|181,599|2,082,540|35,830|2,082,559|36,098
| lb. | | lb. | | lb. |
| | | | | |
| 876,000 | | | | 1,149 |
| gals. | | | | bush. |
| | | | | |
| 200,489 | | | | |
| bush. | | | | |
-----------------+---------+-------+---------+------+---------+-------
[Continued]
-----------------+---------+-------+---------+------
Products. | 1911. | £ | 1912. | £
-----------------+---------+-------+---------+------
Palm kernels | — | — | — | —
| | | |
Palm oil | — | — | — | —
| | | |
Rubber | — | — | — | —
| | | |
Coffee | 103,032 | 5,648| 93,822 | 4,589
| lb. | | lb. |
| | | |
Coffee seed | — | — | — | —
| | | |
Coffee scions |1,851,993| 38,508|1,514,193|47,456
| lb. | | lb. |
| | | |
Coffee trees | — | — | — | —
| | | |
Piassava | — | — | — | —
| | | |
Kola nuts | — | — | — | —
| | | |
Calabar beans | — | — | — | —
| | | |
Guttapercha | — | — | — | —
| | | |
Camwood | — | — | — | —
| | | |
Ivory | — | — | — | —
-----------------+---------+-------+---------+------
TOTALS |1,955,025| 44,156|1,608,015|52,045
| lb. | | lb. |
-----------------+---------+-------+---------+------
[Illustration: FIG. 12.—=Gola Forest, general view, near Morro River.=]
[Illustration: FIG. 13.—=Mahogany (Khaya Ivoriensis), the late Mr. C. W.
Smythe standing beside it, Gola Forest.=]
[Illustration: FIG. 14.—=Young Yawey Cedar (Heritiera?), Gola Forest.=]
To face p. 80.