vu. 
FOREWORD. 
I 
”^HE author of this book, the Rev. J. H. Simmonds, is well known through¬ 
out New Zealand and in Australia as an enthusiastic promoter of Afforesta¬ 
tion and Silviculture. But he is also one of the very few men in the 
Dominion who combine scientific accuracy with wide practical experience 
in the planting and rearing of trees. 
The many valuable articles that Mr. Simmonds has contributed from time to 
time to the Journal of Agriculture, the New Zealand Farmer , and other periodi¬ 
cals have been largely instrumental in arousing that public interest in Forestry 
which is so widely manifested in this country to-day. In these articles, the author 
describes at length many selected species and varieties of Conifers, Broad-leaf 
trees, and Eucalypts. This book, however, is devoted especially to the Eucalypts, 
but with the expressed hope that the other great groups of timber yielders will be 
similarly treated in separate volumes in the near future. As an authority on the 
Eucalypts, Mr. Simmonds has earned the right to command attention amongst 
botanists and foresters in Australia, the natural home of the genus, as well as in 
New Zealand. 
This book covers a wide range of topics relevant to its main theme. In 
Section III. seventy species, including all the most valued timber yielders of the 
genus, and some others of less importance, are described in detail, each being 
given a separate botanic plate. At the end of the volume is a descriptive list of 
all the species of Eucalyptus named and recorded up to the date of this publica¬ 
tion. Based upon the very latest investigations into the character and growth 
of the Eucalypts, splendidly illustrated, and enriched with constant references to 
the classics of Eucalyptology, this book is certain to become a standard authority 
on the cultivation of these trees, and long to retain its position. 
An original and unique feature of Eucalypts in New Zealand, is the distri¬ 
bution of species in thermometiic groups. The seventy species described and 
illustrated in Section III. are arranged in six groups, according to the mean 
and exceptional degrees of temperature it is believed they will endure. The 
scheme is bold and admittedly tentative; but to those who will heed the grouping 
and instructions, it cannot fail to ensure immunity from serious loss due to the 
thermometric conditions of any given locality. 
The list in Section VII. of the book is an alphabetical and briefly descriptive 
index to the 400 species described in Maiden’s Critical Revision. This index will 
greatly facilitate the task of reference to Maiden’s work; and for those who cannot 
possess the Critical Revision it will still serve as an exceedingly valuable botanical 
catalogue of the species. 
In addition to sound and comprehensive scientific information, this book con¬ 
tains a great store of general instruction and suggestion of immense value to the 
practical man. For many years Mr. Simmonds had charge of Wesley Training 
College, first at Three Kings, near Auckland, and subsequently at Paerata. At 
both places he established experimental plantations of Eucalypts and other timber- 
yielding trees. Many species of Eucalyptus were included in the experiments. 
The author has thus had a large amount of actual experience in tree culture; and 
