STATES »GOLF ASSOCIATION UNITED GREEN SECTION EASTERN REGION NORTHEASTERN DISTRICT MID-ATLANTIC 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. NEW J E R S EY P L A NT IN D U S T RY S T A T I ON B E L T S V I L L E, M A R Y L A ND EASTERN TURFLETTER A L E X A N D ER M. R A D KO E A S T E RN D I R E C T OR C H A R L ES K. H A L L O W E LL M I D - A T L A N T IC 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 C O R N E LL '58 PJELD .DAYS December, 1959 New turf plots set up under the direction of Dr. John Cornman were exhibited. Seeded areas were planted in the fall of f57> while vegetative bentgrass strains were planted in summer of f58. The stand of turf in all plots was excellent by Field Day time in September of this year. In conjunction with the Field Day, there was an inspection tour of the newly constructed Ithaca Country Club. The architect, Mr. Geoffrey Cornish, was present and guided a tour of the course, discussing construction methods used, equipment necessary for large scale construction, and techniques in installing pipe for watering tees and greens. Cornell University also sponsored a sectional Field Day at Salisbury, Long Island. They have there approximately two acres of turfgrasses containing more than 250 individual plots. This work is a cooperative venture with Nassau County Park. Mr. Robert G. Mower, graduate student, is in charge of the plots under the direction of Dr. Cornman. Over 1500 persons attended the Salisbury Meeting, including many local golf course superintendents. P E N N S T A TE Penncross bentgrass, Pennlawn fescue, and Merion bluegrass tests caught the eye of more than 200 persons when Professor H. B. Musser and his associates interpreted experiments conducted at Penn State this year. Plot3 seeded with a mixture of 70% bluegrass and 30% Pennlawn fescue made a dense, high quality turf. Where Merion bluegrass made up 60$ of the mixture, it predominated in all plots, except where bentgrass was included. In answer to the question of checking bentgrass growth in Merlon plots, Prof. Musser reported that 2,i|-D applied in October weakened the bent and allowed the Merlon to predominate. A new research project supported by a grant from the U. S. Golf Assn. Green Section is underway. This project is designed to study the inheritance of the stoloniferous habit of growth in selected strains of Colonial bentgrass with the ultimate aim of developing non-creeping, upright types. Such types would be very much desired for fairway and general turf use in contrast with the creeping bentgrass strains which quickly develop thatch and sponge. This project is being conducted by Albert Dudeck, graduate student, under direct supervision of Prof. Musser. A further note on Penncross Creeping Bentgrass -- Because many have the mistaken notion that the Congressional and Arlington strains of creeping bentgrass make up part of the Penncross parent stock, we quote from a release oy Prof. Musser. » Penncross creeping bentgrass is the first generation (Syn-O) SEED only, produced by random crossing of 3 vegetatively propagated strains of creeping bentgrass selected for this purpose by the Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station. Parent strains for Penncross seed production are identified under the following Station accession numbers: 10(37)1+ — Pennlu creeping bentgrass 9(33)5 11(38)11- NOTE: The only name strain used is the 10(37)i|, which has been approved and released by the Venn Station University as Pennlu. The other two strains are unnamed. R H O DE I S L A ND Lime compost studies on velvet bentgrass putting green plots brought comment from many in attendance. The trained "feel" of the superintendents footsteps over these plots could pick out the heavily limed plots as compared with those receiving little or no limestone. Dr. Jesse DePrance says ,!A little limestone is needed each year, even when pH reading is good. Doloxaitic limestone is preferred in magnesium deficient soils, also compost (top dressing) each year to help control thatch11. Seed mixtures containing Merlon bluegrass were outstanding. Dr. DePrance highly recommends a mixture of 2$% Merion, 2&fo Kentucky bluegrass, and 50% Chewings, or Illahee, or Pennlawn fescue. pH must be high for bluegrass for best results. Fescue is widely tolerant to pH. Urea-formaldehyde fertilizers in seedbed preparation — 8 lbs. of nitrogen per 1000 sq. ft. mixed intimately into seedbed prior to seeding produced high quality Merion bluegrass sod in months. Also Dr. DeFrance states there has been a terrific nhold over" in these plots no fertilizer has been applied since planting date May 29, 1957* R U T G E RS Some of the highlights Dr. Ralph E. Engel and associates showed were as follows: Successful pre-emergence control of crabgrass was obtained with chlordane (dry application) at the rates of 60 and 80 lbs, of actual chlordane per acre. Also the 80 lbs. rate gave more consistent control than the 60 lbs. rate. Suggested areas to treat at these rates: Greens, aprons, and tees where crabgrass is a problem* Late March-early April was the best season for application. Chlordane can also be used for pre-emergence control of goosegrass. Late April appears to be the best time of application for this weed* A Preventative schedule for disease control on putting greens Mixtures paid big dividends during the x>ret, humid season of of Thiram plus mercury gave very good overall results in these trials. New creeping bentgrass selections being tested for putting green purposes drew much interest. Three or four selections look very good after 2 years of testing. Observations and data over 3 to l\ years will be required to evaluate these creeping bentgrasses in comparison with name strains presently in use. V I R G I N IA Turfgrass research is conducted on golf course at Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg. This nine hole course was constructed by Mr. S. K. Gassell, Business Manager of the Institute with his associates at the Agricultural College. The Virginia turfgrass research program is directed by Dr. Roy E. Blaser, assisted by Mr. Dick Schmidt, who received his Master's Degree from Penn State. Of primary interest to golf course representatives at the August Field Meeting were the putting greens which were planted to different strains of creeping bentgrass as follows: 3 to Pennlu, 2 to Cohansey (C-7), 2 to Congressional (C-19), 1 to Arlington (C-l), and 1 to a combination of Arlington and Congressional (C-l and C-19)* All produced a uniform putting surface and on the day of inspection many superintendents rated Cohansey very high. TURFGRASS CONFERENCES January 8-9 January 12-15> January 25-30 Mid-Atlantic, University of Maryland, College Park, Md. Dr. George S. Langford Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey Dr. Ralph E. Engel Golf Course Superintendents Association of America Sherman Hotel, Chicago, Illinois February 16-19 Penn State University, University Park, Pa. Prof. H. B. Musser University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Mass, Dr. Eliot C. Roberts HBveh $-6 Eastern Turfletter USGA GREEN SECTION B U LK R A TE U. S. P O S T A GE PAID P E R M IT NO. 3 66 NEW BRUNSWICK. N. J. Mr. Ralph W. White, Jr. nasi, ma rents I iort- ^ h r ir * e d t. of . r • a ^ t^ . j;• : i • . r n i vers i ty o : l orf«t uainesviiic, - ...