Abstract
The literature on growth stresses is reviewed and discussed by considering the distribution, manifestation, and causes of growth stresses together with their practical significance and methods of reducing their effects. The basic patterns of stress within softwoods and hardwoods in both normal and reaction wood are now well established. However, considerable variability in stress level occurs between trees, most of which cannot be explained in terms of environmental or developmental factors. The occurrence of growth stresses is generally related to the shortening of the fibres following their formation. However, the actual process of fibre shortening is not yet explained adequately.

This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit: