stunting

verb

1. (form-of, gerund, participle, present)present participle and gerund of stunt

noun

1. (countable, informal, uncountable)The act of performing stunts or ostentatiously showing off.
2. (countable, uncountable)Stunted growth, often caused by chronic malnutrition.

   “Hence happens the frequent stuntings, blighting, and destruction of young trees […]”