PREFACE 



While going round inspecting timber areas being worked by European 

 firms in Nigeria, I have often been asked for a book with illustrations 

 showing the different kinds of trees which might be felled, and also 

 giving some account of the trees themselves, as well as the main work 

 of the Forest Department. It is with the idea of trying to supply 

 this want that I have mainly compiled this work, in the hope that, 

 however imperfect it may be, the various timber getters and users 

 in Nigeria may find it useful. 



I have not attempted to give accurate descriptions of the trees, 

 as this has already been done by Mr. Foster in his work Notes on Nigerian 

 Trees and Plants, and I would refer readers to that volume, and to 

 the botanical works, such as Useful Plants of Nigeria, issued under 

 the authority of the Director of Kew Gardens, and the Flora of Tropical 

 Africa, by Oliver ; but only refer to some specific feature of the trees 

 that are most common or useful, by which they can be recognized 

 by an ordinary observer without botanical knowledge. 



I wish to acknowledge with thanks the assistance given to me by 

 the Central and Southern Secretaries for permission to use the annual 

 Forest Report from the year 1906 onwards. 



I wish also to express my thanks to the Under-Secretary of State 

 for the Colonies for permission to use my Reports on the Forests of 

 Sierra Leone and th^ Afforestation of Togo. 



To Mr. H. N, Thompson, the Chief Conservator of Forests of 

 Nigeria, I am indebted for much useful information obtained from 

 his Report on the Gold Coast Forests. 



To Mr. R. E. Dennett, Deputy Chief Conservator of Forests, 

 who has given me much help and advice in compiling this work, and 

 more especially for reading through the proofs, I tender my grateful 

 thanks. 



