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^[SPA-1] 

23 September 1966

AIR MAIL

Dr. Edwin L. Tyson
c/o U.S. Embassy
Seoul, Korea

Dear Ed:

   I spoke with Dr. Eagler yesterday about the stabilization of vegetation on an experimental basis in the DMZ study area, especially along the 130-mile fence, with the use of herbicides. Dr. Egler knew of no chemicals as satisfactory as 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T. Arsenicals and other toxicants tend to accumulate in the soil and have long-range effects. Black locust is a real problem since it suckers so readily. Repeated treatment will be required to achieve total root kill. It might be desirable to use a foliage kill followed up by basal spraying on the outside of the bark to achieve root kill. The best time to treat is in late summer when the photosynthates are moving downward through the phloem to the roots, carrying with them some of the herbicide. Experiments will be required to determine the best time for basal spraying in Korea. In spring the treated black locust may leaf out temporarily, but eventually the plant dies. The exact physiologic processes are not known. As Dr. Fosberg mentioned during our conference with General Bonesteel, each species of the plant will have to be investigated thoroughly with regard to its response to herbicides. A series of careful experiments and followup observations must be designed. This is one important project that you could start, perhaps even this fall if you can obtain a small supply of herbicides.

   I have noted that you have received a xerox copy of Egler's "Vegetation as an Object of Study." For a philosophical background to the proposal that you are helping to develop this paper will be extremely valuable. Some of these ideas (without reference to Egler's early anticipatory paper) were discussed in a recent issue of BioScience, a copy of which I will have sent to you.

More later.

With best wishes.

Sincerely yours,

Helmut K. Buechner
Head, Office of Ecology
Museum of Natural History

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