15 
CLASSIFICATION. A FUTURE TASK. 
volumes of his C?'itical Revision and Forest Flora the expedient plan of describing 
each species as material for its illustration became available. In Vol. VI. of his 
Critical Revision he has with his usual great ability and thoroughness of research 
revised and restated Mueller’s Cortical or bark scheme. The marshalling of data 
is very impressive and instructive. But Maiden was too great and too profoundly 
scientific to suggest that this difficult genus could be classified on any one set of 
characters. His research was wide, and aimed at a due inclusion of all factors in the 
problem. Germination of the seed, form and aspect of the plant in all stages of its 
life; bark and foliage; buds, flowers, and fruits; essential oils and kinos; texture 
and quality of the wood; geographical and climatic conditions of the natural 
habitat; and, lastly, the characteristics of related genera were all regarded by him 
as contributive to a knowledge of the affinities upon which alone a natural and 
permanent classification could be founded. For Maiden life ended while this great 
task was incomplete; but his surpassing industry has left the material by which 
others may advance. 
A TASK FOR THE FUTURE. 
The scheme for the publication of Maiden’s opera magna, the Critical 
Revision and Forest Flora, was to issue each work in Parts and subsequently to 
bind up the Parts in sets of ten into indexed Volumes. The Revision is a technical 
work; the Flora more adapted to general readers. From both, science extends her 
generous hand to all who seek knowledge of the trees with which nature so richly 
endowed the Great Australia. For swift and easy reference to any one of the 
400 species described in the Critical Revision, there was still needed a general index 
covering all the Parts and Volumes. The need has been met by a complete, briefly 
descriptive, and reference-numbered list in Section vii. of this book. 
Early students of Australian botany wandered among trees that were neither 
named nor described. We of to-day see those trees in the shining light of success¬ 
ful research. They of to-morrow will discern in those trees origins and kinships 
that are still hidden from our eyes. From this growing knowledge there will 
gradually emerge for the Eucalypts a classification upon which nature herself will 
place the seal of approval. 
