. Forest protection and conservation in Maine, 1919. Forests and forestry. XXX FOREWORD tically every fir tree is dead. Also in certain localities quite a percentage of the spruce either has been killed or so badly damaged that it must even- tually die. The greatest damage ap- parently occurred where the young growth consisted principally of fir. The budworm seemed to concentrate to such an extent in these thick fir stands that old growth, mature trees were virtually stripped in a year, and spruce trees in the vicinity of these heaviest outbreaks suffered almost as much as the fir. At the requ
. Forest protection and conservation in Maine, 1919. Forests and forestry. XXX FOREWORD tically every fir tree is dead. Also in certain localities quite a percentage of the spruce either has been killed or so badly damaged that it must even- tually die. The greatest damage ap- parently occurred where the young growth consisted principally of fir. The budworm seemed to concentrate to such an extent in these thick fir stands that old growth, mature trees were virtually stripped in a year, and spruce trees in the vicinity of these heaviest outbreaks suffered almost as much as the fir. At the request of the Department the Chief Wardens reported on the budworm damage in their respective districts. From these reports and from my own observations I would estimate that at least one-third of the fir in the State of Maine has been killed by this insect. In the worst af- fected areas perhaps ten percent of the spruce has suffered with the fir. Entomologists tell us that Maine was visited years ago by the budworm and that other visitations are liable to occur in the future. But some think the present invasion was invited by the dense growth of young fir that was common in many localities. This young fir growth had sprung up dur- ing the last thirty or forty years in old clearings and following heavy cut- tings in thick spruce stands. The theory is that with such a boun- teous supply of green and thrifty young fir available for food, the budworm family waxed particularly strong and numerous and overran the woods before the natural parasites and other enemies of the species could put a check on them. Just what brings such an insect invasion to a sudden end is hard to determine; but we may indeed be thankful that this plague has apparently run its course. _. BUDWORM DAMAGE. Young Spruce and Fir Killed by the Spruce Bud- worm. Photo by Maine Forestry Dept. / /. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectforestsandforestry
