Vol. 15—1961 - NorthEastern Weed Science Society

446.
ROADSIDEBRUSHCONTROLWIM PHENOXYHERBICIDESIN THE
NEWENGLANDSTATES
by
John B. Roy
INTRODUCTION
The development and sales of 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T
Phenoxy herbicides during the past 15 years for brush
control have provided the state highway departments,
utilities, telephone companies, and towns with a
tool that if properly used will benefit all. These
public agencies with the use of these chemicals are
able to give the public and the taxpayer better electrical
and telephone service, and safer roads for
each dollar spent than if hand and mechanical cutting
of brush and weeds continued. The National Safety
Council reports that one out of eight fatal automobile
accidents is caused by poor visibility (1).
Not all these accidents can be credited to uncontrolled
vegetation; however, a significant percentage
of these is caused by obstruction to vision from unwanted,
uncontrolled brush. Brush that hinders
visibility on curves, road crossings, and railroad
crossings certainly should be eliminated for safety
to the public. Also by the elimination of brush,
areas are left for plowed snow, disabled vehicles
have room to pull off the road for repairs, better
drainage is obtained, and noxious weeds and brush such
as poison ivy and ragweed are kept under control and
even eliminated. The economics of chemical brush
control is very favorable when compared with the cost
of continual cutting and mowing.
EARLYBRUSHCONTROLWORK:
Tests in 1945 and 194p indicated that 2,4-D
would control many woody species including willow,
birch, aspen, alder, and sumac. Many species, however,
were somewhat tolerant of 2,4-D, and utility personnel
urged the chemi~al companies to develop a
product which would be effeetive on certain problem
speoies including bramble, oak, maple, ash, and
hickory.