Although this book aims to provide sufficient information for wood to be identified, it is strongly recommended that modern reference material is also examined for two reasons. The first is to be able to take account of the inherent variability of wood (described above) which is only possible through the examination of a large number of samples from a range of growing sites and positions within a woody plant. The second reason, important for those beginning identification, is that the only way to familiarise yourself with the threedimensional organisation of wood anatomy is by spending many hours looking at thin sections through a microscope. It is difficult to gain this familiarity by looking at photo­ graphs in this or any other book.