24 THE STUDY OF PLANT COMMUNITIES ■ Chapter II 





FlG. 4. Very much overstocked stand of naturally seeded, eight-year-old, 

 loblolly pine. Although many individuals will die in the next few years and 

 thus produce natural thinning, the remaining trees will remain spindly and 

 growth will not be satisfactory. Artificial thinning to reduce competition is 

 apt to pay dividends in such stands.— Photo by C. F. Korstian. 



Fig. 5. Young loblolly pine stand, which was overstocked (left) for best 

 growth. The stand was thinned experimentally soon after it was photo- 

 graphed. Same stand (right) onlv two years after thinning, shows marked 

 increase in size in the reduced number of trunks. The increase in rate of 

 growth will be apparent for a number of years.— Photo by C. E Korstian. 



exposed stratum is made up of mosses, lichens, and sometimes 

 algae, which may form a mat or ground cover on the forest floor, 



