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Show Reclamation Bureau Joins War Against Weed Invasion Of West Flame throwers like the ones used in Pacific battle areas, beach-storming amphibian tractors, trac-tors, new war-developed chemicals, chemi-cals, plus skills and time-tested techniques acquired in nearly a half century of irrigation experience, exper-ience, are going into the Bureau of Reclamation's all-out assail t on weeds in the reclamation areas ar-eas of the West, according to Commissioner of Reclamation Michael W. Straus. To blast weeds from their footholds foot-holds in irrigation ditches and farmers' croplands, the Bureau of Reclamation in cooperation with agencies of the Department 61 Agriculture, local weed districts, dis-tricts, and project settlers, hos set up a comprehensive weed control program, the commission er said. The program will be pushed vigorously in every region, reg-ion, under the technical guidance guid-ance of trained weed specialists. The Bureau of Reclamation will throw its own forces directly direct-ly into the fight against ditch bank and channel weeds that clog up canals and smaller ditches, ditch-es, stop drains, and play havoc with project operations. To this end the Denver laboratories of the Bureau of Reclamation are; conducting weed research andj cooperating closely with re-j search programs of the Bureau of Plant Industry of. the Depart-; ment of Agriculture, Bureau of! Reclamation Agronomist R. R. Balcom reported to Commissioner Commission-er Straus. Mr. Balcom, of the Bureau's Washington staff, is heading up the technical aspects of the program. Actual weed work on project farms is not carried on by tho Bureau of Reclamation. This work is done by the farmer him self, local weed districts, and by participating state and county agencies. As part of the general weed proaram the Bureau of Reclamation Recla-mation will survey and analyze the weed problem, particularly on new projects; select the best control methods and plan the prevention pre-vention campaign; improve control con-trol methods by conducting tests and applying research findings: cooperate with all interested agencies ag-encies in an educational campaign cam-paign by providing slide and film-strip lectures, color sound films, advice at farm meetings, and by participation in weed tours. Amphibian tractors without their wartime armor are getting their "boot" training in the weed battling forces. The "amtracks" take rough going in their stride and find plenty of it in the southwest south-west weed front. They fight through swampy jungles that stop boats and other vehicles. They nimbly crawl in and ou-of ou-of canals .cross streams and lakes, and it is expected that tests will reveal their value in clearing areas of tules and cattails. cat-tails. "Weeds cost the farmer more money every year than aU crop and animal plagues, insects, end nrodtorv animals and rodents combined," according to Bureau of Reclamation Agronomist R. B. Balcom. "An estimate taken before the war placed the cost of weeds to the averaee farm at around $450 a year. During the war control work was greatly reduced in most areas. As a result re-sult weeds gained a big lead and a larger chunk of farm income. Only recently has control of weeds received major attention," |