UNITED 
STATES 
GREEN  SECTION 

GOLF  ASSOCIATION 
EASTERN  REGION 

N O R T H E A S T E RN   D I S T R I CT 

M I D - A T L A N T IC   D I S T R I CT 

R U T G E RS  

U N I V E R S I TY 

P L A NT  

I N D U S T RY  

S T A T I ON 

N EW   B R U N S W I C K.   N EW  

J E R S EY 

B E L T S V I L L E,  

M A R Y L A ND 

EASTERN 

TURFLETTER 

R A D KO 

A L E X A N D ER   M.  
E A S T E RN  

D I R E C T OR 

C H A R L ES   K.  
M I D - A T L A N T IC  

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 

N o.  1 

February,  i960 

"Every  quotation  contributes  something  to  the  stability  or  enlargement 
of  the  field".  Anon. 

From  the  Rutgers  Conference 

NOTES  AND  QUOTES 

D r.  Russell  B.  Alderfer,  Chairman,  Soils  Department,  Rutgers  University. 
—  An  adequate  supply  of  plant  nutrients  cannot  always  be  obtained 
simply  by  adding  lots  of  fertilizer,  often  to  the  soil  ...  there  is 
such  a  thing  as  balance  ... too  much  may  be  as  bad  or  even  worse  than 
not  enough  of  the  many  things   in  the  soil  ...  too  much  of  one  element 
may  affect  uptake  of  the  other  elements  in  plants  ..,  this  fact  must 
be  understood  if  one  expects  to  get  the  most  from  the  soil. 

D r.  Alderfer  cited  the  example  of  soil  pH  ...  in  extremely  acid  soils 
we  have  lots  of  soluble  aluminum,  and  other  minor  elements, which  ties 
up  the  phosphorus  in  the  soil  ...  if  we  overlime  we  can  create  the 
same  effect  in  tying  up  the  phosphorus  availability  ... and  we  may 
also  tie  up  the  minor  elements  ..
the  effects  on  the  soil  ... do  things  in  moderation  so  as  not  to  create 
a  temporary  but  harmful  fixation  of  the  soil  ... which  evidences  itself 
through  vegetation  grown  upon  it. 

  therefore  if  any  doubt  exists  as  to 

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D r.  Harold  E.  Clark,  Plant  Physiology  Department,  Rutgers  University  — 

T r

T period  of  cloudy  weather  reduces  photosynthesis  and  the  relative 

supply  of  carbohydrates  within  the  plant,  An  increase  in  temperature 
increases  the  rate  of  plant  respiration  and  this  consumes  carbohydrates 
synthesized  during  the  daylight.  High  night  temperatures  tend  also  to 
shift  the  plant  toward  the  side  of  carbohydrate  deficiency." 

We  have  all  noted  the  lacklustre  growth  of  grasses  after  several  cloudy 
days  and/or  hot  summer  nights  ... and  this  may  be  tied  up  in  the  carbo-
hydrate  story  above  ...  it  is  a  natural  reaction  ...  so  don't  be  quick  to 
push  the  "panic  button"  if  other  things  are  right  ...  give  the  plant  the 
chance  to  rebuild  the  carbohydrate  reserve  and  grow  its  way  back  to 
good  health. 

D r.  Leland  G. Merrill,  Entomology  Department,  Rutgers  University  — 
"Since  arrival  pf  the  newer  chemicals  outstanding  results  in  insect 
control  has  been  a  reality  ... unfortunately  however  tolerance  or 
resistance  to  insecticides  is  noticeable  within  a  few  insect  species 
... and  this  apparently  came  about  in  this  manner 
among  the  wild 
population  of  certain  insects,  there  exist  some  that  are  naturally 
tolerant  to  the  insecticides  ...when  controls  are  applied  more  than 
99%  are  killed,  however  the  resistant  ones  breed  and  produce  a  popula-
tion  which  after  a  few  years  is  highly  tolerant  to  insecticides." 

"To  add  to  the  problem,  the  unusual^phenomenon  of  cross  resistance 
has  appeared  ... this  means  that  an  insect  in  becoming  resistant  to 
one  insecticide  also  acquires  resistance  to  a^ chemical  to  which  It 
never  has  been,  ^xposed  ... this  is  known  as  gross  resistance  and  is 
becoming  increasingly  important  to  us  ...  currently  many  studies "are' 
being  carried  on  to  combat  this  new  problem,

n 

We  have  noted  this  phenomenon  in  the  control  of  chinch  bug  ...  which 
were  easy  to  control  in  the  early  days  with  the  newer  insecticides 
... and  many  of  them  gave  good  control  ...  it  appears  that  the  chinch 
bug  now  has  become  immune  to  these  insecticides  ... and  Diazinon, 
a  new  chemical,  is  now  reported.as  giving  good  control   of  this  insect 
Pest. 

Sherwood  A.  Moore,  Superintendent,  Winged  Foot  Golf  Club,  Mamaroneck,  N.Y. 
In my  experience,  I've  found  that  before  you  do  any  work  in  installing 

irrigation  lines  in  fairways  ...  it  is  advisable  to  correct  drainage 
problems  first  ... otherwise  soils  will  dictate  use  of  the  system  ... 
not  the  Superintendent." 

JRj  Jenkins,  Entomology  Department,  Rutgers  University  — 

" ^ he  Golden  Nematode  ... a  problem  of  the  Long  Island  area  ...  does  not, 
attack  the  turf  plant  ...  it  has  only  five  known  hosts  ... and  these 
are  the  potato,  tomato,  eggplant,  and  two  other  weeds  of  the  eggplant 
family." 

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A

  helping  hand  --  In  the  East  there  are  presently  two  Turf  Management 

"Tfchools  conducting  short  course  programs  for  students  interested  in 
the  Golf  Course  Superintendents  Field  ... these  are  the  University  of 
Massachusetts  and  Pennsylvania  State   University  ..'. part  of  the  program 
consists  of  placement  training  ... whereby  students  gain  valuable  on 
the  job  experience  ...  if  you  have  need  of  a  hand  to  help  —  lend  a 
helping  hand  and  hire  a  student  ... write  to  D r.  Joseph  Duich,  Penn  State 
University,  University  Park,  Pa.  ... students  will  be  available   from 
April  1  through  late  October  ... there  will  be  no  students  available 
from  the  University  of  Massachusetts  this  year  as  they  are  all  assigned 
to  clubs  at  this  writing  ... normally  they  too  are  available  yearly 
from  April  1  through  October  ...  if  interested  for  1962  however,  get 
your  bid  in  early  with  M r.  Joseph  Troll,  University  of  Massachusetts, 
Amherst,  M a s s. 

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Green  Section  Visiting  Service  (GSVS)  --  Does  your  club  avail  itself  of 
the  visiting  service  offered  by  the  Green  Section  of  the  UoS.GoA,  . 
the  Green  Section  employs  eight  Agronomists  nationally  whose  sole  pur 
pose  is  to  serve  U.S.G.A.  Member  Clubs  . 
behind, the  Green  S e c t i o ns 
direct  service  to  bourses  fetands  Experience  and  Research  . 
knowledge  flows  unendingly  ...  in  your  Interest  golf  turf  research  pro-
jects  are  sponsored  directly  through  the  U.SoGoA.  Green  Section  Research 
and  Education  Fund,  Inc.  grants  to  Stations  engaged  in  Turfgrass  Research. 

Prom  Research 

Presently  we  have  two  staff  members  servicing  214  courses  in  the 
Northeastern  District  and  one  staff  member  servicing  115  courses  in 
the  Mid-Atlantic  District.  The  Green  Section  agronomists  are  not 
super-superintendents  or  wonder  workers  ...  they  are  specialists  who 
represent  the  subscribing  clubs  and  do  a  specialized  job  for  their 
superintendents  and  chairmen. 

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  however,  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  U

Part  of  the  Visiting  Service  includes  a  half-day  on   the  course  consultation 
followed  by  a  written  report  to  the  course  Superintendent  and  the  Green 
Committee  Chairman.  A  second  visit  is  made  on  request,  Because  of  the * 
popularity  of  this  aspect  of  GSVS, we  have  often  had  requests  for  extra 
visits  which  are  made  usually  at  no  additional  cost  to  the  club  .
.  this 
year
A.  adopted  the  policy 
that  for  more  than  two  GSVS  visits  the  club  will  be  charged  $50,00  addition 
al  fee,  plus  travel  expenses  ...  in  order  that  Green  Section  Staff  members 
may  uniformly  and  fairly  service  all  subscribing  clubs.  Should  you  desire 
more  information  on  GSVS  ... please  contact  either  of  the  Green  Section 
officers  listed  on  the  first  page  of  this  letter  ..
y o u. 

  our  job  is   to  serve 

S . G

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and  as  is  the  case  with  most  of  our  tough, 

Since  the  dry  year  of  1957,  knotweed  has  made 

A  reminder  for  knotweed 
serious  inroads  into  golf  turf  areas  . . . this  weed  normally  makes  its 
appearance  in  early  April 
tenacious  annual  weeds, weather  permitting,  it  is   best  to  control  them 
by  treatment  in  the  seedling  stages  ..
  before  the  plant  matures  and 
goes  to  seed  ... this  has  been  done  effectively  with  the  old  standby 
sodium  arsenite  ... normally |at  rates  about  one  pound  per  acre  ...  rates 
can  be  adjusted  according  to  climatic  conditions  ... if  cool  and  moist 
slightly  higher  rates  could  be  used  ... up  to 
lbs.  could  be  applied 
safely  ...  if  April  is  dry  and  warm,  about  3 / 4
for  one  treatment  ... be  sure  there  is  adequate  moisture  in  the  soil 
before  sodium  arsenite  treatment. 
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s  lb.  should  be  sufficient 

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From  the  G.C«S.A.  Conference 

"Know  your  soils  --  it's  your  future"  --  D r. M.  E.  Bloodworth,   Soils 
Physics  Department,  Texas  A.  &  M.  College. 

Eastern  Turfletter 

USGA  GREEN  SECTION 

B U LK  

R A TE 

U.   S.  

P O S T A GE 

P A ID 

P E R M IT   N O.   3 66 

N EW   B R U N S W I C K.   N.   J. 

M R.   WILLIAM   BE::CEYF:SLD 
u.  s.  GOLF   A S S G R E EN   S E C T. 
13267  VERAUO  S T. 
GARLEN  GROVE,  CALIF.