The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-02-17
SHIPS ITS
FRU| 7 8
To IS.
Or. Shantz Tells of Resources
of Dark Continent Now
UndeveIoped.
Bv GEORGE FRANKLIN.


fore the Biological Society of
Washington tonight when it meets
in the new assembly hall of the
Cosmos Club.
The lecture will be delivered by
DR.. H. L. Shantz, head of the
Bureau of Plant Industry, Depart
ment of Agriculture. 1t will be
illustrated with a series of slides
made by DR.. Shantz during his
trip through Africa three years
ago with the Smithsonian African
Exploration. DR.. Shantz made a
botanical study of the plant life
of that continent which carried
him through many of its most
interesting sections.
Has Varied Climate.
Africa is a wonderful country"
said DR.. Schantz today. Its north.
ern and southern sections have eli
mate similar to that of southern
California. But between them one
finds all that is characteristic of the
tropics. the jungle and the arid des'
erts.
what makes Africa extremely
Interesting in connection with plant
and animal life is the relationship
existing between them. There are
vast sections of densely wooded
country, where practically no game
can be found. On the other hand,
in eastern Africa, just beyond the
borders of the big grass country,
and stretching clear across the con-
tinent, is a section overgrown with
short grass, where game of all kinds
can be found in great quantities.
Contains Elephant Herds.
In the vicinity of Capetown, to the
north and east, there is a small
forest, where the trees average some
twenty feet in height. In this wood
land, which is not over fifteen miles
across, exists one of the largest
herds of elephants on the continent.
AT times they have become so trou-
bleSome that the authorities have
sent hunters in to kill them off,
That America is indebted to Africa
to any such extent as the dark con-
tinent is to America is questioned
by DR.. Schantz.
1t is true we have transplanted
some valuable plant life from Africa
to the arid regions of our Western
country, but in return America has
contributed much more to the de-
velopment of Africa. One variety
of African sorghum has been found
extremely valuable in the Nevada
desert, to which it was transplanted,
but in return we gave Africa Ameri-
can corn"
Adapted to Fruit Culture.
That the fruit belts of Africa are
destined to play an important part
In the fruit markets of the world,
DIR. Schantz declared to be certain.
Various sections of Africa are
peculiarly favorable to fruit cultiva-
tion," he said. AT present Cape
town is shipping citrous fruits to
New York. But the fruit growing
industry is little organized and by
no means developed. There is no
reason, however, why there should
not be built up great fruit-produc-
ing industry in Africa.
"At present African fruit is grown
largely for home consumption. But
eventually it will be taken up on q
larger scale, and then the orchards
and groves will prove great revenue
producers"
France has a monopoly on the
African peanut crop, stated DR..
vegetable oil products. Millions of
pounds of peanuts are shipped to
southern Europe each year. There
they. are converted into various
edible oils. largely entering into
the olive oil production.
British Control Palm Oil.
British interests. on the other
hand. it was learned, control the
palm oil output. The oil extracted
from the nut casing is shipped in
liquid form from African depots.
The kernel of the nut is freighted
to England, where it enters into
various oil meal products.
Hunting regulations, the game
laws of Africa, he declared to be
drawn largely in the interests of
local revenue. The annual hunting
license issued to non-African resi-
dents costs approximately 1915.
while a two weeks travellers
license can be secured for some
thing like $40. Each carries it's
prescribed killing limits, but they
are sufficiently liberal TO insure the
huntsman all the sport he wants
while the license is in force.
Protection for Elephants.
Elephant killing for ivory is nro-
tected 10 the extent that no ele-
plant having tusks weighing less
than thirty pounds may be killed
In cases where the hunter makes a
mistake and shoots an elephant
with underweight tusks, the latter
are confiscated by the government
No elephant tusks can be Skinned
from Africa which have not been
passed upon by government in
spector.
at may not be generally known.
but at present Africa is producing
one-half the worlds gold supply.
while the copper yielding sections
of the Congo river promise an
other valuable asset" said DR..
Shantz in referring to African re-
sources.
Has Herds Of Antelope.
incidentally" he continued, re-
rerting to African game, ut is
worth noting that If the deer is
represented i'm Africa. it has not
been discovered. At least l never
heard of any being killed there.
the antelope family, however. is
literally represented and well scat
tered through the game country.
speaking of the latter, l have seen
helds or game on the move which
required three hours TO pass a