THE MANGROVE

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 3, 4 July 1922, Page 3

THE MANGROVE

IS THERE A USE FOR IT?

Few people south of the Auckland province know that the mangrove tree, in a more or less stunted form, flourishes on the mud-banks of nearly all of the northern tidal rivers. In well-sheltered places it assumes the dignity of quite a respect-able-sized tree-, its bright green foliage contrasting strangely with. the surrounding yellow flood waters of a spring tide, states the Forestry Newsletter. Dr Foxworthy, Forestry Research Officer of the Federated Malay. States, who paid a visit to the Forestry Head Office during the month, states that with them the mangrove is a big tree, and forms the principal source of firewood supply. The tree, like all the mangrove species, grows on tho tidal flats, and has to be worked between the tides. Contracts are usually let to the Chinese, who, with theii wellknown thrift, make a good thing out of it The mangrove regenerates freely, the seeds being borne along on the tide and deposited all over the mud flats, where it rapidly takes root and grows into big timber. ' In the Congo River (West Africa) the mangroye forms a well-nigh impenetrable jungle along the tidal reaches. Gnarled and twisted roots, and dense foliage overhead, . shade the wide expanse of evil fever-breeding mud flats, and this gloomy forest is alive with great crabs, snakes, and orocodiles. A jolly-, looking kroo-boy, who boarded a certain steamer lying in the offing one fine morning, capped the opinion already formed by several of those on board. -

"Where's Jim Binnacle?" he was asked, in alluding to a well-known character generally first alongside an in-coming ship. .'"'■■■'

"Oh! he lib for die along dem mangrove!" came tho answer, illuminated by a wide grin, "Dem crocodile make chop!" '"Looks just the right setting for that kind of drama," muttered the ship's doctor, and certainly no stage effect could give one a more creepy feeling than those Weird mangrove forests under a setting sun, with mist wreaths stealing like wraiths among the gnarled -and twisted trunks.