Chapter I: 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 the 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.

Two most valuable chapters on the Forests and botanical features of the Northern Provinces of Nigeria were written by Dr. J. M. Dalziel, to whom I owe grateful thanks for his encouragement in this work.

My greatest thanks are due to Mr. C. E. Lane-Poole, Commissioner of Forests, Victoria, for the use of the list of the Sierra Leone trees.

To M. Chevalier I return grateful thanks for his list of the Ivory Coast trees.

For the constant and unfailing interest and devotion to the work of Miss Christina E. Lacy, acting as amanuensis, I beg to extend my heartfelt thanks.

Further thanks are also due to my wife, who has lent not only practical assistance, but has been the mainspring of inspiration for the completion of this work.

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