Using non-destructive samples and focusing on the predominantly temperate species, this text describes how to assess wood properties in plantation eucalypts. It provides information needed to design a sampling programme, obtain and process wood samples, and shows how to relate the data to an average tree value. In addition, sufficient background information is provided to allow the reader to appreciate some of the difficulties, and therefore the risks, involved in defining these procedures. Specific features include: preliminary model for th estimation of whole-tree property values from a single sampling point; description of within-tree variation of various properties in several eucalypt species; discussion of issues involved in modelling property variation; outlines of sampling procedure; and a summary of existing knowledge as literature reviews.