Abstract: Mu-sheng (Homalium hainanense Gagnep) is one of the rare tropical broad-leaf tree species found in Hainan Island. It is fast growing and gives fine quality timber. Growth rate of plantations began to decrease in 2 or 3 years after the stands closed. Foliar analysis was used to find out the status of mineral nutrition of the stand, which appeared to be the cause of slowling down in growth. Soil samples from the same plots were also analyzed. As results of both these analyses were compared, changes in N or P content of the leaf showed a close relation with that of the soil. In the beginning, young plantations, either in the humid or in the arid part of theIsland, sohwed fast growth both in height and diameter on soils of high N and P content. As they were getting older, growth rate fell down, because N or P was depleted in the soil, mean while a decrease of N or P content in the leaf was also observed. Foliar analysis is, therefore, considered as a very satisfactory diagnostic method to ascertain the mineral nutrition status of the young Mu-sheng stand. Based on such findings, silvicultural treatment, such as application of fertilizers,was suggested to improve growth of the stand.