UNITED STATES GREEN GOLF SECTION ASSOCIATION M I D - W E S T E RN D I S T R I CT M i d - C o n t i n e nt T u r f l e t t er No. k October 1957 R O OM 2 4 1, L A S A L LE H O T EL C H I C A GO I L L I N O IS 2. 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 ÖC M C O L L E GE C O L L E GE S T A T I O N, V I C T OR T E L E P H O N E: T E X AS 6 - 5 2 10 »•s ; t f mm PROTECT AGAINST FUNGI NOW D R. M A R V IN H. M I D - C O N T I N E NT N A T I O N AL R E S E A R CH C O O R D I N A T OR F E R G U S ON D I R E C T OR J A M ES L. •— —• ' M I D - W E S T E RN H O L M ES 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 Snow mold One of the most damaging turf diseases in the northern states is snow mold. Snow mold may be gray or pink depending upon whether it is caused by Typhula or Fusarium. The pink snow mold seems to be able to thrive under a broader range of conditions and therefore is to be feared most. Incidentally, snow is not neces- sary for the activity of this kind of snow mold. Fortunately, there are fairly effective control measures for the snow mold fungi. Two to four ounces of calomel-corrosive sublimate mixture or 3 ounces of phenyl mercury acetate to 1000 square feet have given good results when applied with topdressing or activated sewage sludge as a carrier. If snow melts off during early spring thaws, treatments should be repeated because the mercury vapors tend to dissipate and turf may be left without protection. "Fusarium Patch" is a preferred name Turf pathologists are agreed that "pink snow mold" is somewhat misleading as a name for the damage caused by Fusarium nivale and closely related species. Fusarium does not require a snow cover and has been found to produce abundant disease symptoms in many areas where snow seldom falls. Turf growers in the southern part of the Mid-Continent Region should take notice of the fact that they can have "snow mold" and protect against it. Mercury fungicides, along with the newer broad spectrum materials, are effective controls. Helminthosporium spp. There are a great many species of Helminthosporium that produce a variety of plant disease symptoms. We have "leaf spot" of bluegrass, "melting out" which may occur on several different grasses, and "gray leaf mold" which attacks Bermuda- grasses, usually after the grass has been weakened by drouth. A genus or group so versatile in its ability to produce various symptoms might be expected to occur within a broad range of climatic conditions. This is the case with Helminthosporium. It occurs during almost every month of the year. Semi- dormant Bermudagrass is often damaged by this organism during the winter months throughout much of the South. Bermudagrass growers should keep a close check on tees, collars, and other important areas. Leaf spotting usually is apparent when this organism is active. Organic mercury fungicides and the broad spectrum fungicides appear to be fairly effective controls. "GREEN PLASMA" with "INSTANT GREEN" It is doubtful if many golf course superintendents have been much impressed by the recent large display ads in newspapers throughout the country which announced the discovery of "Green Plasma" with "Instant Green." This discovery is supposed to tui n grass green in 60 seconds after application. You may interpret the statement so that it claims that grass will be kept green 365 days a year. However, the advertisement mentions several sprinklings of "temporary brown areas." Most experienced turf managers know instinctively that such miraculous claims should be accepted with caution. So it is with this latest "find." "Green Plasma" consists of urea (4.6$ nitrogen) and a coloring agent (primarily malachite green dye) which the advertiser calls "Instant Green." Of course, urea is a good source of nitrogen and malachite green has been used for a great many years as an ingredient of some fungicide formulations and as a dye for turf. Sometimes, however, the claims of an advertiser are such that (despite careful and critical reading) one may not recognize that the advertiser is talking about products that are thoroughly familiar to the reader. The National Better Business Bureau, Inc., Chrysler Bldg., New York 17, N. Y., serves a very fine purpose in acting to protect consumers from misleading adver- tising. The Bureau has investigated this particular product and has been able to affect some modification of the wording of advertisements. In advising local Better Business Bureaus, the National organization has anticipated some complaints and has stated: "The validity of such complaints depends on the individual customer's propensity to take claims out of context." SOIL TESTS Fall is a good time to check up on your soil nutrient status. Most states maintain soil testing laboratories to analyze soils at a very low cost. If you are not acquainted with soil testing procedure in your state, ask the county agent. In many cases he can provide you with containers prepared especially for use with soil samples. If these are not available, cardboard ice cream containers may be used. At any rate, get a test made. Dr. W. H. Daniel, of Purdue University, reports that U0% of the putting greens and 34$ of fairways in the Midwest showed a de- ficiency of potassium. He also reports that 43$ of Midwest golf course fairway soils have a pH below 6.5 and therefore may benefit from applications of lime. Soil tests are cheap and little effort is required to submit the samples. A better knowledge of nutrient conditions in the soils of your golf course may enable you to do a much better job of analyzing your fertilizer needs. HAVE YOU MADE YOUR PLANS TO ATTEND THE NATIONAL TURF CONFERENCE AND SHOW? WASHINGTON, D. C., FEBRUARY 2-7, 1958 SEED SUPPLIES According to the Seed Crop Forecasts page of Seed World magazine of September 6, 1957, there will be more plentiful supplies of some turfgrass seeds this fall and next spring. Production of Chewings and red fescues, bentgrasses and Merion bluegrass should be higher this year than last, while production of tall fescue seed is smaller, Chewings fescue - 1957 production forecast at 6,660,000 pounds of clean seed. This compares with 5,100,000 pounds produced last year. It is the third largest crop on record. Carry-over of this seed from last year on June 30, was 2,738,000 pounds. Imports for the year ending June 30, 1957 were 132,000 pounds, fescue - 1957 production is forecast at 3,030,000 pounds and is about 50% higher than last year's production. This production was exceeded only in 1954 when 4,692,000 pounds were produced. Carry-over from last year is estimated at 2,350,000 pounds. Imports during the year totalled 5,438,400 pounds» Tall fescue - production is expected to be 4,148,000 pounds, about 5% less than last year's crop. Bentgrass - to be 16 percent larger than last year's production. A record crop of 6,550,000 pounds is expected. Stocks on June 30 were estimated at 3,011,000 pounds, also a record high. Very little bentgrass seed is imported. Merion Bluegrass - production of 2,181,000 pounds is forecast. Acreage continues to expand and yields per acre are about the same as last year. This forecast is about 1/4 higher than last year's production. 667,000 pounds were estimated to have been carried over. This is the first year that a significant quantity of this seed was carried over. MEETINGS YOU SHOULD ATTEND October 14-15 New Mexico Turfgrass Conference New Mexico College of Agricid ture & Mechanic Arts Las Cruces, New Mexico - Prof. Clarence Watson October 16-17-18 — Central Plains Turfgrass Conference Kansas State College, Manhattan, Kansas Dr. Ray A. Keen December 4-5-6 Oklahoma Turfgrass Conference Oklahoma State College, Stillwater, Oklahoma Dr. Wayne W. Huffine December 9-10-11 — Texas Turfgrass Conference Texas A. & M. College, College Station, Texas Dr. Ethan C. Holt Continent Turf letter USGA GREEN SECTION Sec. 3 4 . 66 P.L.&R. U. S. POSTAGE i y2< PAID College Station, Texas Permit No. 80 Mr. 0« J. Noer Milwaukee Sewerage Comm» Box 2079 Milwaukee lf Wisconsin