Increment of Scots pine seed bearers was measured on 69 regeneration sites in southern and northern Finland. On average, the trees were measured and bored 17 years since regeneration felling (range 8-35a). Growth models at both stand and tree level were then calculated on the basis of the measurement results. The effect of pine trees left as hold-overs on the structure and development of young stands was also examined. Increment of seed bearers began to increase approx. three years from the time of regeneration felling and in 15 years their volume increment per year almost doubled. Due to the drastic reduction in number of trees per hectare, radial increment was most pronounced at the base of the trees. Growth per hectare exhibited an almost linear dependence on the volume of the growing stock in study material where the maximum number of stems per hectare was 200. Site fertility and the temperature sum also had a significant influence on tree growth. The volume increment, with a mean of 1 m3/ha/a, consisted almost entirely of high-quality saw timber. Due to poor stem form, however, about half of the volume increment will be unsuitable for the production of sawn goods. This means a economic losses. Due to competition at the root system level, the young growth around seed bearers left to grow for lengthy periods of time had become sparse with openings here and there. The height increment of young trees was so much the slower the closer such a tree was to a seed bearer. When comparing regeneration methods in terms of their economic outcome, seed bearer increment contributes to the profitability of natural regeneration. The increase in growth does not, however, provide adequate grounds for leaving seed bearers standing longer than is required for the establishment of new growth. A two-storeyed stand of Scots pine may be a desirable goal for landscape and other such reasons.
