CHESTNUT IN TENNESSEE. 



13 



Table No. 1: Growth in height of dominant trees in sprout 

 chestnut stands, based on 117 plats on different sites. 



First Quality. 



Second Quality. 



Third Quality. 



As the table shows, the rate of height growth decreases rapidly 

 as the trees become older. In all qualities more than onerh^f of the 

 total height growth of dominant trees is made by the twentieth year. 

 The rate of height growth decreases to less than one foot a year 

 by the forty-fifth year in first quality stands ; by the fortieth year 

 in second quality stands, and by the thirtieth year in those of third 

 quality. Beyond the seventieth year in all qualities the annual 

 height growth is inconsiderable. In most trees the length of the 

 stem has been definitely fixed before the sixtieth year by its divisr . 

 ion into branches. Its clear length at this age varies in dominant 

 trees from about 60 feet in first quality stands to 45 feet in third 

 quality. Although the trees continue to grow slowly in height as 

 long as they are alive, the clear length can extend only by the loss 

 of lower branches. 



Table 2 shows the growth in diameter of trees of each of 

 the three classes in unthinned, even-aged stands. 



