The Tree's Life In Youth 63 



then unable to breathe and get sufficient air. 

 And so the larger, stronger saplings grow rapidly 

 and become taller every year; but the growth 

 of the over-topped trees becomes slower and 

 slower. Finally they stop growing altogether, 

 and before very long they die and are blown over 

 by the wind. 



Most of the trees that are left are now from 

 four inches to a foot thick at the height of a man's 

 chest. This is four and a half feet above the 

 ground, and the height at which the forester 

 measures trees. They have reached the third, 

 or "pole," age. 



