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PLANT DISEASE ERADICATION AND CONTROL 
Recent reports from the 14 Morth-Certral States receiving Public 
he funds for control of the black sten rust DY means of barberry 
radication indicate that many areas of cormon barberry bushes re— 
Bring the attention of labor crews heve been located and mapped by 
the 20 trained agents that have continued work during the winter months. 
This preliminary activity prepares the Department for an effective 
season's work on the black stem rust control program, which is impor- 
tant in stabilizing yields and improving quality of wheat, oats, 
barley, and rye. The common eee benes (Berberis vulfdris: Ly) Wis the 
spring host plant for the fungus which causes black stenm'rust. In 
August. 1933, when Public Works money first became available, the number 
of field men employed in the control of black stem rust was repidly 
expanded. from about 50 to a totel of approximately 900.- These men 
continued working late into December, but inclement weather necessi- 
tated suspension of labor—crew Ereteities for the months of January, 
February, and part of March... The reerployment of labor crews with 
‘Public Works money vill begin about March 15 and by April 20 the max 
imum number that can be carried on the remaining unexpended funds 
should be at work, 3arberry—eradication crews are > made up of & to 
10 locally employed men supervised by crew foremen trained in plant 
disease control work, . From one to three crews may work in ae county, 
depending upon the extent of territory infested with barberry bushes. 
Since Ausust, eradication work has been conducted. in more than 100 
counties in the 14 States.,; During the period approximately 350,000 
barberry bushes have been destroyed. Extensive areas of bushes in 
northern Michigan, north 1eastern Ohio, southeastern Minnesota, north 
“eastern Iowa, and .central Wisconsin have been given attention. In 
many counties where crew work wes performed barberry. bushes were so 
numerous that it was impractical: for local property owners to bring 
them under control. . Im organizing; the stem rust control project 
each State has been considered a unit anc first attention has been 
fiven to those parts of the. State where berberry bushes are niost 
numerous or.where stem rust has caused noticeable camage in recent 
years. Unutire counties are not surveyel unless bushes’ are known: to 
Sxist: or recurring rust epidemics have been causing losses to' grain 
growers. During the winter the’ leaders have, on request, supervised 
some State and local 0 W-A seek $ in Wisconsin, Illinois, and 
Minnesota. This work is: being performed in areas where bushes are — 
numerous and where cold swhetd does not interfere to any: great ex- 
tent with the transportation of. men ond equipment. With the good 
results which have accrued to both farmers and consumers as a result 
of progress in control of. the black stem rust disease, Have come very 
decided benefits to the laborers-employed in the work, . Barberry 
