An artifact in book form of wood specimens produced from the Acadian Forest in 1861 is described and considered in relation to tree and shrub diversity within New Brunswick. Specimen names in this ‘wood book’ reveal problems in species nomenclature and classification that continue to affect forest management practices in Canada. Analysis of the historical setting prompted reflections about conservation, physiological diversity, silviculture, forestry education and tree science in relation to sustaining future survival fitness in trees.