PREFACE 



WHEN the publishers asked me to undertake this work it 

 was stipulated that it was to he essentially a " practical 

 work," and that botany was only incidentally to be touched 

 upon. Only those timbers have been dealt with which 

 are most generally used, either in their native districts or 

 in the general timber trade, together with some others 

 which are likely before long to come into the market. 

 Those most largely used have been dealt with at greatest 

 length. 



It is impossible for any one individual to have a close 

 acquaintance with even all the well-known timbers of 

 commerce ; even in " the trade " those well acquainted 

 with a class of timber in which they deal often know com- 

 paratively little about others. The timber trade, like most 

 others, is now highly specialised. I have, in order to 

 supplement my own experience, had recourse for informa- 

 tion to those well acquainted with particular timbers of 

 w 7 hich I have not equal experience, and I have to thank 

 many professional friends in all parts of the world, and 

 many strangers, for valuable assistance. Much useful 

 information concerning United States timber has been 

 drawn from the bulletins and circulars of the United 

 States Department of Agriculture, Division of Forestry, 

 whose officials have been most helpful in placing informa- 

 tion at my disposal ; the same applies to the Agents 

 General and officials of our own Colonial Governments. 



