6 
LEAFLET 15 3, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
IGROWTH 3 TIMES FASTER AFTER TH I MNINGI 
Trees in overcrowded stands grow slowly. Thinning them out pays 
in the same manner as does thinning out cotton or corn. The cross- 
section photograph shows a crowded pine tree that grew only 5 }2 inches 
in diameter in 29 years. But after the stand was thinned its growth 
stepped up to an increase of 7 inches in diameter in only 15 years. 
However ;the wood volume produced was three times greater than before. 
This pine stand has been repeatedly cut lightly for timber for sale 
or home use. A full stand of young trees is now growing, indicating- 
good management. The high-grade saw-timber trees ma}^ be cut 
very profitably. Timber is a perpetually renewable crop. 
