STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION UNITED GREEN SECTION NORTHEASTERN DISTRICT R U T G E RS U N I V E R S I TY NEW B R U N S W I C K. N EW J E R S EY EASTERN REGION MID-ATLANTIC DISTRICT 7 11 WEST AVENUE J E N K I N T O W N. P E N N S Y L V A N IA EASTERN TURFLETTER A L E X A N D ER M. E A S T E RN D I R E C T OR R A D KO C H A R L ES M I D - A T L A N T IC K. H A L L O W E LL D I R E C T OR T. T. T A Y L OR N O R T H E A S T E RN A G R O N O M I ST No. 6 December, I960 Some Light Philosophizing As any year draws to a close, people in all v/alks of life reflect some on the year past... superintendents too have good opportunity (like all who work with nature) to reminisce...to think of friends gained and lost...of things learned and of perhaps a few things that had to be "unlearnedft.. .of things accomplished and things left to do...and not least to reflect some on this ever quickening pace of golf, and wonder a little about where we are going...and what it takes to keep pace... problems concerned with the heavier use of the golf courses ...and the necessary sure-handedness of those responsible for their care...day to day decisions that call for every ounce of "know-how" from practical experience together with the technical advances picked up from many sources including the turf meetings, field days, refresher courses, and conferences. January through March are months for the conference phase of "technical" learning in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern Regions. Several important conferences are now firmly scheduled. Jan. 9-10 Mid-Atlantic Turfgrass Conference Jan. 16-19 Rutgers Pour Day Turfgrass Jan. 27 Conference USOA Green Section Educational Program — The Golf Course Worker, His Training and Direction 32nd Annual GCSA Turfgrass Conference and Show Jan. 29- Feb. 3 Lord Baltimore Hotel Baltimore, Md. Rutgers University New Brunswick, N.J. Biltmore Hotel New York, N. Y. Royal York Hotel Toronto, Canada Pebc 14-15 Virginia1B First Turf Conference Feb. 20-23 Penn State Turfgrass Conference Feb. 27- Mar. 2 Cornell Turfgrass Conference Jefferson Hotel Richmond, Va. Penn State Univ. University Park, Pa* Cornell University Ithaca, N. Y. Some Suggested Reading The months of January through March are also good months for catching up on the turf reading and .re-reading that we didn't always have time for in the growing season...and recommended high on the list is the article "Specifications for a Method of Putting Green Construction11 which appeared in the September, i960 issue of the USGA JOURNAL and TURF MANAGEMENT. If you happened to miss this article, reprints will be available soon at either office listed on the letterhead. This is another Green Section "bonus11.. .along with the many other activities which makes your Green Section support a valuable asset to your club, your superintendent, your members, and to golf in general. We welcome your participation and if you wish Green Section Visiting Service particulars, please send us a note along with your request for the reprint mentioned. * * * * ** Some Ways to Prevent Wintertime Damage to Trees and Shrubs Here are a few suggestions that specialists in ornamental horticulture at the New York State College of Agriculture recommend you follow: (Reprinted from Westchester County Farm and Home News, by Arthur S. Lieberman, N.Y.S. College of Agriculture at Cornell Univ.) 1. "Harden off" the plants (allow their tissue to become less succu- lent) In late "summer and early fall. One way to do this is to avoid pruning trees and shrubs from July 15 on. This helps to prevent late tender growth being forced out. Also, remember that it is advisable to prune plants in the spring because wounds heal most rapidly at that time. 2. Maintain plants in a healthy state during the growing season so food production Is at a maximum . It has been found that plants going Into the winter with a good reserve of carbohydrates will generally be better able to resist winter damage. Therefor, keep the leaves (which produce the food for the plant) free from disease and Insect problems In the growing season, winter sets In. In upstate New York, it is safer to transplant most trees and shrubs in the spring than in fall. This is especially true for 3. Allow the root systems of plants to get well established before those trees x^hlch are known to be difficult to trans- plant, as birch, beech, hawthorn, and white oak. The same is true for cotoneaster and pyracantha shrubs as well as roses and broadleaved evergreens (such as rhododendron, mountain laurel, holly, and others)• There are some ex- ceptions to the above rale, but in general spring is the recommended planting season, III fall, mulch and water all evergreens once leaves from non-evergreen trees* have fallen. Put on 2" to 3 inches of peat moss or similar material and water it in well before the ground freezes. Water thoroughly to moisten soil to a depth of 8 inches or more. ThiB wilM help to prevent leaves on the evergreens from scorching (turning brown in winter- time ). 5* In future plantings, choose plants hardy enough for the location in which you~intend to-plant them. Remember to go by the temperature that actually occurs at the location rather than in general weather bureau temperature listed for the vicinity. There is frequently a considerable variation between the officially recorded temperature and the temperature in your garden where the plants are located. * * * * * * * Some Thing to Remember A limited number of turfgrass students of Penn State and the University of Massachusetts will be seeking placement training for the summer months of f6l...however, arrangements should be made well in advance... for information on student placement contact... Dr. Joseph Troll University of Massachusetts Amherst, Massachusetts Dr. Joseph Duich Penn State University University Park, Pennsylvania * * * * * ** Holiday Greetings To All Our Readers From the Green Section Staff —— B U LK S. U. R A TE P O S T A GE PAID P E R M IT N O. 3 66 N EW B R U N S W I C K. N. J Eastern Turfletter USGA GREEN S E C T I ON MR. WILLIAM BENGEYTIELD U. S. GOLF A S S G H E ES SECT 132b7 VERANO S T. G A 3 1 E G R O V Ef C A L I F.