THE SPRUCE REGION 263 



dangerous insect, although recently it has been more abundant 

 in Canada than in New England. 



Protection against Fungi. — Both Trametes pini and Poly- 

 porus schweinitzii attack various conifers in the spruce region. 

 There is practically nothing that can be done here in the way of 

 protection except to remove as much of the diseased timber as 

 possible. 



Watershed Protection. — In considering the subject of forest 

 protection, watershed protection quite naturally has a place, as 

 it is one of the most important functions of the forest. The 

 fact is unquestioned, that a forest cover exerts a powerful pro- 

 tective influence in checking the rapid run-off of precipitation, 

 in steadying the flow of springs and streams, and in preventing 

 erosion. 



The necessity for the forest cover as a watershed protector 

 undoubtedly varies in the different districts, depending on such 

 factors as climate, topography, soil, general location, and whether 

 a substitute for the forest exists. In the region under considera- 

 tion the need of a forest cover for watershed protection is not so 

 urgent as in certain other parts of the country in spite of the fact 

 that the region comprises the upper watersheds of all New Eng- 

 land's chief rivers, which are largely used for power purposes 

 and in their lower reaches are navigable. The effect of a forest 

 cover in lessening the volume of floods and in equalizing the run- 

 oft" through the year is here secured through the great areas of 

 swamp and flat country on the upper reaches of the streams 

 and by the large number of lakes. Many of these lakes act as 

 reservoirs, their flow being controlled by gates. This lessens the 

 effect of floods in the lower portions of the streams and assists in 

 making the flow regular. In Vermont and in the White Moun- 

 tain section of New Hampshire especially, the steep topography 

 and lack of swamp land makes a forest cover of great importance 

 in regulating run-off. 



The soil, due to its texture and to the cover of moss and duff 

 so commonly found, is not one which erodes badly, even after 

 lumbering. 



