Vol. 15—1961 - NorthEastern Weed Science Society

452.
UMASSACHUSETTS PROGRESSREPORTONRESEARCH
WITHMALEICHYDR:AZIDEIt.
1.
JOSEPH L. BEASLEY" .
The grassed areas of the 2,400 miles of 'State highway in
Massachusetts present a continuous mowing problem to the
personnel charged with the responsibility of",their maintenance.
Experience has taught us that there is no single phase
of our roadside development operations that can be termed a
"cure alIt! for a reduction in mowing costs. It is rather a
well planned combination of:
Planting
(1) Planting and mulching
(2) Contract mowing
(3) The use of Maleic Hydrazide (MH-30) as a grass
growth inhibitor
and Mulching
Since we are not interested in growing grass, the planting
of seedlings, vines, prostrate shrubs and natural growth
sad takes place on new roads immediately after the completion
of the prime contract for the construction of the highway
itself.
In all areas where ground cover is practical, this second
contract f~r planting and mulching removes such areas from the
necessity of future mowing.
Contract
Mowing:
The second phase in our war against increasing costs is
the practice of mowing grass by contract.
Massachusetts is a pioneer in:the field of mowing grass
by contract. After a number of trials and revisions, it is
felt that we have the most practical mowing specifications in
the country. When you consider that the grass on each and
every mile of our State highway system is mowed annually, and
that our contract mowing costs per acre are as low as any state
in the country (with comparable standards), our maintenance
personnel may be justified in feeling proud of themselves.
.,...._.:
IHighway Landscape Supervisor, Massachusetts Department of
Public Works.