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Show New Chemical Weapons To Combat Weed Pests Farmers and householders waging wag-ing war on crab grass and other troublesome weeds and grasses can look for help from two new weapons. weap-ons. The weed-killing chemicals bear the Jaw-breaking names of sodium isoDronvl xanthate and allvJ mixed chlorophenyl carbonate. They have been tested by federal and state agricultural experiment stations "with excellent results against many weeds and grasses not economically eco-nomically or satisfactorily controlled con-trolled by other chemicals or practices," prac-tices," the announcement said. They are being used in active experimental experimen-tal programs but are not yet available avail-able commercially. The second-named herbicide is the one that combats crab grass, as well as barnyard, orchard and blue grass, cattails and similar plants. It has a hormone-like action which attacks the root structure of the weed and arrests growth immediately immedi-ately by preventing seed development, develop-ment, even though no effect is apparent ap-parent on the surface for the firttt week or longer. It also is used effectively effec-tively in combination with 2-4-D against some broad-leaved weeds not affected by 2-4-D used alone. The sodium isopropyl xanthate is described as a "complete killer which should not be applied directly direct-ly to crop plants. It shows promise prom-ise for pre-emergence treatment, in spray or dust form, and has been used with success in the chemical weeding of growing crops. |