In "A Research on the Eucalypts of Tasmania and their
Essential Oils," Messr's. Baker and Smith have made
frequent reference to my work, and some observations are
necessary. They have given undue prominence to a paper
by me in these Proceedings for 1902, sometimes ignoring
that in two of my works (Critical Revision of the Genus
Eucalyptus and Forest Flora of New South Wales) additional
knowledge has enabled me to modify opinions
in the earlier paper considerably. I emphasise the point
that an author can claim to be judged by his latest utterance
on a given subject.
The store of laboriously acquired details, as incorporated
in the above works, has brought difficultly accessible descriptions
and specimens under the notice of those interested,
and it would be well if my readers would make it
their business to directly consult the evidence in regard to
Tasmanian species thus brought together.
The paper of the joint authors to which I have referred
owes much of its value to determinations of the composition
of various oils ; further, there is much reference to
determinations of species on grounds which have no direct
reference to those substances. It will be desirable to investigate
some of the principles which underlie the relations
of essential oils and the species which yield them
