2326                                             LAWS OF MARYLAND                                         Ch. 362

(2) Knowingly contaminate CONTAMINATE any uninfested
land with Johnson grass OR THISTLE through the movement of
rootstocks, seed, soil, mulch, nursery stock, farm machinery, or
any other ARTIFICIAL medium.

(b) Each landowner or person who possesses and manages the
land shall mow, cultivate, or treat with chemicals, or use any
other practice prescribed by the Secretary as effective in
preventing seed set on all Johnson grass OR THISTLE infestations
on his property.

(B) EACH LANDOWNER, INCLUDING A LANDOWNER OF PUBLIC LAND,
OR PERSON WHO POSSESSES AND MANAGES LAND INFESTED WITH JOHNSON
GRASS OR THISTLE SHALL PREVENT SEED SET OF JOHNSON GRASS PLANTS
OR FULL FLOWERING OF THISTLE PLANTS ON THAT LAND BY MOWING,
CULTIVATING, TREATING WITH APPROVED HERBICIDES, OR BY USING ANY
OTHER PRACTICE PRESCRIBED BY THE SECRETARY.

9-405.

Every failure to comply with the provisions of this subtitle
shall be reported to the State's attorney for the county in which
the violation occurs. The State's attorney shall prosecute all
violations and bring an action to enjoin any nuisance. However, a
landowner or other person who possesses and manages the land may
enter into a written agreement with the Secretary of Agriculture
which sets forth a program for the eradication and OR control of
Johnson grass OR THISTLE, and if all the terms and conditions of
the agreement are met, there is no violation of this subtitle as
to the land covered by the agreement.

[9-501.

The existence of thistles belonging to the asteraceae or
compositae family is declared to be a public and common
nuisance.]

[9-502.

A person who owns, or possesses and manages land shall make
a reasonable effort to prevent thistle seed set as provided in
this subtitle through mowing, the application of an approved
chemical, or any other accepted practice as defined by the
Secretary.]

[9-503.

Before the Secretary reports any violation of this subtitle
to any State's attorney, the person against whom prosecution is
contemplated shall be given reasonable notice of an alleged
violation of this subtitle and an opportunity to adopt an
approved thistle control program.]

[9-504.