830                             LAWS OF MARYLAND                     [CH. 368

201.

The State Board of Agriculture is hereby empowered to make
such investigations, studies and determinations as it may deem
advisable in order to ascertain the extent of growth and infesta-
tion of Johnsongrass AND OTHER WEED SPECIES in this State,
and the effect of Johnsongrass SUCH SPECIES on agricultural
production.

The Board is hereby empowered to promulgate such rules and
regulations as in its judgment are necessary to carry into effect
the provisions of this subtitle, and to alter or suspend such rules
when necessary.

THE BOARD IS FURTHER AUTHORIZED TO DESIGNATE,
FOLLOWING PUBLIC HEARING, OTHER SPECIES OF WEEDS
WHICH ADVERSELY AFFECT OR THREATEN AGRICUL-
TURAL PRODUCTION, AND TO CARRY OUT SUCH PRAC-
TICES AS ARE NECESSARY TO BRING ABOUT CONTROL
AND/OR ABATEMENT OF SUCH SPECIES.

The Board is further empowered to institute programs of control
and eradication.

The Board is authorized to enter into agreements with any county
and subdivision of the State, with any adjoining state, and with
agencies of the Federal government to effect a program of control
and eradication.

The Board may accept, use, or expend such aid, gift, grant, or
loan as may from time to time be made available from any source,
public or private, for the purposes of carrying out the provisions
of this subtitle.

202.

The State Board of Agriculture may enter into an agreement with
any county in the State for the purpose of control and eradication of
Johnsongrass OR OTHER WEED SPECIES within the county. When
such an agreement is executed and certified in writing to the Secretary
of State, the Board and the county may conduct surveys to determine
the location and amount of infestations of Johnsongrass OR OTHER
SPECIES within the county, and may provide technical and financial
assistance to landowners in a cooperative control or eradication pro-
gram, and may effect a program of mowing, spraying, or other
control or eradication practices on road rights-of-way, drainage ditch
banks, parks, playgrounds, and other public or private lands. The
agreement between the Board and county may be terminated by either
party on thirty (30) day written notice.

203.

It shall be unlawful to import Johnsongrass into this State or to
transport Johnsongrass within this State in any form capable of
growth, except for purposes of research with the prior written ap-
proval of the State Board of Agriculture. It shall be unlawful to
knowingly contaminate any uninfested land with Johnsongrass
through the movement of rootstocks, seed, soil, mulch, nursery stock,
farm machinery, or any other medium.