Vol. 15—1961 - NorthEastern Weed Science Society

499.
FOLIAR APPLICATIONOF 2.4.5-T FOR HARDWOODCONTROL
ON FOREST LANDIN THE ATLANTICCOASTALPLAIN
Sharon R. Hi.ller l
Over the past decade, the use of herbicides has developed into a widely
discUssed and much publicized tool directed, from the forest management standpoint
at least, towards control of undesirable plants on lands suitable for
production of more desirable forest products. At first, it took on the common
asp~b.ti:f l1Edng an· a'U-purpose process capable of neutralizing or eliminating
a ,.host of thorny .p~oblems constantly facing forest: management personnel. As
with most things -of this nature, however. limitations aDd problems soon
appeared.
The primary challenge has been to place the use of herbicides in the
proper perspective, and determine the many factors governing their successful
use in forest management. This activity is in full swing at the present, and
is by no means complete. If this were not true, there would be little need
. for -our presence'here today. It is quite obvious that meetings such as this,
and the host of others that have been held over the past few years, are
valuable and nece'ssary to disseminate information and discuss ideas. Prospects
for use of herbicides in forestry are encouraging enough, as a result
of past work, to warrant attention and due consideration by those individuals
and organizations wishing to improve upon and add to present forest management
procedures.
Summary of Work in Georgia and South Carolina
Union Bag-CampPaper Corporation became interested in the use of herbi­
cides in 1956, and, at that time, began exploratory work with foliar sprays
forcontr01ling undesirable hardwood species on potentially-valuable pine­
productive land in Eastern Georgia and South Carolina. This work was largely
predicated upon positive results from large-scale'aerial applications of
herbicides elsewhere. The need for hardwood control in the southeast was and
still is .very definite; on many thousands of acres, hardwood brush is holding
back established pine seedlings, while' em additional thousands of acres,
hardwood. have completely taken over , Iii. the first instance, species
selectivity is of primary importance in any treatment. The latter condition
calls -for a herbicide and a treatment· technique that will bring about nearly
complete 'eradication of all species preparatory to artificial regeneration
of pine.
Our first spraying, in July, 1956, was laTgely a gamble simply ~cause
so little was known about such work at .that time. The objectiveso£ this._
work were both forest type conversion and release of existing pine, depending
on the specific area being treated. Hardwoods of all sizes, species, and
densities were present on the treated areas, and in some instances, slash or
lResearch Forester, Union Bag-CampPaper Corporation, Franklin t Virginia.