72 



RAPIDITY OF GROWTH 



[CH. 



badly enables them to rise rapidly out of the undergrowth 

 into the light and air above. 



The Silver Fir, Beech, Hornbeam, Lime and Spruce, 

 on the contrary, are as a rule slow growers and can stand 

 shade very well. 



The case of the Spruce mentioned above, however, 

 shows that other circumstances affect the matter, of which 

 depth and quality of soil and amount of moisture are 

 important. 



Still, it is generally true that the growth of the leader 

 of any tree in a suitable environment begins slowly, 

 attains a maximum, and then puts on shorter and shorter 

 seasonal lengths until it ceases, and some interesting cases 

 are quoted by Hartig in illustration of this, as shown in 

 the accompanying table. 



Hence we have evidence that the maximum growth 

 differs in value for each species, and occurs at different 

 ages in each. 



Biisgen gives the following as the maximum growths 

 of the leader, according to the soil and situation, as well 

 as the age of the tree. 



