EN
The relative crown length, needle loss, and vitality of fir trees of older (above 160 years of age) and younger (from about 70 to about 130 years, with single trees up to 160 years of age) generations were significantly correlated with the current 10 year, (1985-1994), radial increment at breast height. In the case of trees of the younger generation the type of tree-top and the degree of crown deformation were also significantly correlated with the radial increment at breast height. The best growing fir trees of the younger generation were characterized by narrow conical (trees 41 to 60 years of age at breast height) to flattened (trees 101 to 120 years of age at breast height) tree-tops, well-proportioned or little deformed (loeses up to 20%) crowns, and a relative crown length amounting to at least 56%.