UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION GREEN SECTION M i d - C o n t i n e nt No. 5 T u rf l e t t er October - 1959 D R. M A R V IN H. F E R G U S ON M I D - C O N T I N E NT D I R E C T OR N A T I O N AL R E S E A R CH C O O R D I N A T OR J A M ES L. H O L M ES M I D - W E S T E RN A G R O N O M I ST J A M ES B. M O N C R I EF S O U T H W E S T E RN A G R O N O M I ST M I D - W E S T E RN D I S T R I CT R O OM 2 4 1. L A S A L LE H O T EL C H I C A GO 2. I L L I N O IS T E L E P H O N E: S T A TE 2 - 7 4 85 S O U T H W E S T E RN D I S T R I CT T E X AS A fie M C O L L E GE C O L L E GE S T A T I O N, T E X AS T E L E P H O N E: V I C T OR 6 - 5 2 10 ORCHARD LAKE COUNTRY CLUB BUILDS A PUTTING GREEN In early August, Mr. Clarence White, Superintendent at the Orchard Lake Country Club, rebuilt and relocated the No. 2 green at the golf course. Much local interest centered upon this project because of the fact it was built according to Green Section recommendations and with a soil mixture which corresponded to specifications derived from laboratory studies. Several other clubs in the Detroit area plan to rebuild greens and therefore were interested in observing methods of construction as well as materials which were incorporated into the green. Jim Holmes and Marvin Ferguson worked with Mr. White in the beginning stages of the construction work. NEMATODE LITERATURE Increasing recognition of the nematode problem is evidenced by the fact that the September 1959 issue of California Agriculture, a publication of the Division of Agricultural Sciences, University of California, is devoted in its entirety to a discussion of nematodes. This publication does not include a discussion of nematodes in turf but it is nevertheless of interest to the turf grower because it deals with body structures and habits of nematodes. It is also concerned with the fundamental matters of host-parasite relations; natural enemies; chemical control methods; biochemical relationships; and the problems involved in plant quarantine. SWITCH TO FERTILIZER FOR SURER FOOTING For a better lawn in the spring, switch from salt to fertilizer this winter. That's the advice of Dr. James Shanks, of the Maryland Extension Service, who recommends trying fertilizer instead of table salt to melt ice and snow on sidewalks and drives. Every spring he receives complaints about lawns that are damaged by salt which has washed onto the grass from walks and drives. Since fertilizer contains salts that lower the freezing point of water, it not only does the job of keeping walks ice-free, but, more important, benefits the grass instead of burning it. It also provides a safer surface to walk on. - from Plant Food Review - Fall, 1959 KEMTUCKY BLUEGRASS SEED PRODUCTION DOWN The following paragraph taken from Seed World indicates that Kentucky bluegrass seed production villi be lower than for any year in the last 25 years. "The 1959 crop of Kentucky bluegrass seed is forecast by the Crop Reporting Board at 9,340,000 pounds (667,100 bushels) of cured seed which is only 14 per cent of last year's large crop of 64,570,000 pounds (4,612,000 bushels) and is below any year since 1934. Sharp declines occurred in both the eastern and western producing districts. Recovery of thresh-out of 1959 crop seed weighing 21 pounds a measured bushel is expected to be 36.8 per cent. If the production of cured seed turns out as forecast and recovery is as expected, there will be approximately 3,440,000 pounds of recleaned seed from this year's crop compared with 28,610 pounds last year." ST. LOUIS FIELD DAY Approximately 100 turned out for the annual St. Louis Field Day, September 29. Plots of bermuda selections were observed for winter hardiness. Kl-51 and Tifgreen showed best winter recovery. Among bent selections the C-l and C-19 combination appear to be best of several plots observed. Post-emergence con- trol of crabgrass showed that best control was obtained with material containing DMA, NEW OFFICERS OF NEW MEXICO TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION Mew officers of the New Mexico Turfgrass Association were elected during the conference recently held at the New Mexico State University. They ares Billy Mann of Carlsbad John Bramble ofLas Cruces Clarence Watson of Las Cruces - Secretary - President - Vice President Definitions Dr. Robert K. Black, Dean of Agriculture at New Mexico State University, spoke about the Value of Research at the New Mexico Turfgrass Conference. In the course of his talk, Dr. Black provided his hearers with some simple but interesting and apt definitions. r- "Research - a systematic approach to the uncovering of unknown facts." In characterizing the difference in basic research and applied or practical research, Dr. Black said that these two types of research were represented by attempts to answer two questions; "Basic research - What makes grass grow? Practical research - How do you grow grass?" ARIZONA CLUB MANAGERS AID RESEARCH The Arizona chapter of Club Managers of America has undertaken the task of soliciting and collecting contributions from golf clubs for the purpose of supporting turfgrass research. During the recent Arizona Turfgrass Conference a letter from Mr« Bill Hodges, president of the Arizona chapter and manager at Paradise Valley Country Club, was read to the conferees. The letter was directed to the University and it stated that the Club Managers group pledged a minimum contribution of $2,500 for the next year. One of the aims of the Arizona University research program will be to search for improved bermudagrass types. Dr. Arden Baltensperger of the University staff has collected numerous bermudagrass types which will be used in a breeding program. It is hoped that a strain which will retain its green color through most of the winter will be developed. SOCIETY OF AGRONOMY MEETS IN CINCINNATI Turfgrass matters will be the subject of twenty-two papers to be presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Agronomy when it meets in Cincinnati on November 16-20, 1959. In addition to these papers which deal directly with turf, there will be presentations in other divisions which will be concerned with fundamental problems of soils, water, plant breeding, soil fertility, and weed control. A 98-page publication containing abstracts of the papers to be presented is available from the American SDCiety of Agronomy, 2702 Monroe Street, Madison 5, Wisconsin. The price is $1.00 per copy. Headquarters for the meeting in Cincinnati will be the Netherland-Hilton Hotel. A tour of golf courses and turf installations in the Cincinnati area is being planned. TURFGRASS CONFERENCES October 21-22-23 — 10th Central Plains Turfgrass Conference Kansas State College, Manhattan, Kansas December 2-3-4 14th Annual Oklahoma Turfgrass Conference Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma December 7-8-9 14th Annual Texas Turfgrass Conference Texas A. & M. College, College Station, Texas id-Continent Turflettei USGA GREEN SECTION B U LK R A TE U.S. POSTAGE PAID College Station, Texas Permit No. 80 Dr."J. R. Watson, J r. Chief Agronomist Toro M f g. Corporation Minneapolis 6, Minn.