EARLY GROWTH OP SHORTLEAF PINE. 



99 



to 2i inches iu diameter. At tbe age of fifteen to twenty years, with a total lieiglit of from 20 to 30 

 feet and a diameter breast high of i to ."> inches, the crown of the tree occupies from one-half to 

 five-eighths of its height. Henceforth thronghout the ])eriod of quickest growth its rate is greatly 

 influenced by conditions of light and soil. At the age of fifty years the height of the trees varies 

 between 40 and GO feet and the diameter breast high between 10 and 14 inches. About this age, 

 or perhaps a short time before, the lieight growth begins to decline and the branches become 

 somewhar reclining below and spreading toward the top, and consequently the head of the tree 

 becomes more rounded in ontliue. Between the ages of sixty and seventy years the trees are from 

 50 to 70 feet high and from 12 to 15 inches in diameter, with the trunk clear of limbs for 30 to 

 rarely over 40 feet. From this period on the growth proceeds at a slower rate. On reaching its 

 one hundredth year tlie tree has attained a height between 90 and 95 feet and a diameter of 

 from K! to 19 inches at most. Having now passed its period of vigorous life, the growth is 

 henceforth insignificant. Between the ages of one hundred and twenty and one hundred and 

 thirty years trees were found 90 to 110 feet high and from IS to 24 inches in diameter. The oldest 

 tree encountered in the measurements, with two hundred and eight rings of annual growth iu 

 the stump, scarcely exceeded 109 feet iu height and measured 24 inches in diameter. The largest 

 tree felled was 117 feet high and 25 inches iu diameter, with one hundred and forty-three rings iu 

 the stump. Occasionally trees are found of a diameter exceeding 3 feet, but such are exceptional. 



Table I. — Croivth of Sliorthaf ri)ie (Piniis echinata), from eight to fifty years. 



Diame- 

 ter at 



breast 

 hiKh. 



Incites. 

 2 



Height 

 to 



first 

 limb. 



Feet. 

 6 



12 



10 

 15 

 22 

 10 

 14 

 8J 

 12 

 12J 

 22 

 15 

 51 



Total 

 height. 



Feet. 



n 



11 

 11 

 17 

 11 



11 

 H 

 20 

 16 

 19 

 16 

 17 

 20 



24 



20 



36 



37 



20 



26 



25J 



25 



25i 



33' 



34 



70 



Locality. 



Remarks. 



shoot, 



Cullman, Ala Clearing made in 1879 for pasture in dense pine thicket. 



do Do. 



.do Do. 



-do Rocky hillside, border of thicket. 



■do Kocky liillside in dense thicket of vigorous growtli; youngest i 



19 inches. 



ivins. Tex Exposure free in opening of forest. 



Grandin, llo ' Kocky tableland: opening in forest. 



Cullm.an, Ala IJorderof tliicket; freely exposed. 



Graudin.Mo Rocky table-land; partially exposed ; in forest. 



Cullman, Ala Exposed ; border of woods. 



do Do. 



do In midst of thicket; old clearing. 



do \ Old p.asture, cleared in 1879; most vigoruuH growth; young shoot 19 



inches. 



...do Do. 



Grandin, Mo Rocky hills ; open forest. 



Bivins, Tex Open forest. 



Gurdon, Ark Exposure free: open grove of second growth. 



Grandin, Mo Oppressed in forest opening by oak scrub. 



do Rocky ; open woods. 



Gurdon, Ark Open grove : closely oppressed. 



do Open grove of second growth. 



do Do. 



do Do. 



Bivins, Tex Partially free; iu forest. 



Gurdon, Ark Free; old tield. 



