UNITED  STATES  GOLF  ASSOCIATION 

GREEN  SECTION 
NORTHEASTERN  OFFICE 

College  of  Agriculture 

Rutgers  University 

NEW  BRUNSWICK,  NEW  JERSEY 

Telephone:  CHarter  9-0225 

tè'm^ tè 

ALEXANDER  M.  RADKO 
N O R T H E A S T E RN  D I R E C T OR 

NORTHEASTERN  TURFLETTER 

Vola  3, No. 5 

November, 1956 

T Ü R F GR  A SS  S U R V EY  0 F  N E W  J E R S EY 

Now that the excitement of Election Day is past (and because of it too, 
for we do not wish to run the risk of being accused of "politic-ing" in any way), 
we should like to focus attention on one form of "Big Business", which in our 
humble opinion receives altogether too little publicity.  "V/e feel sure no one 
will need a second guess, it is this business of turf. 

Earlier this year, members of the New Jersey Turf Advisory Committee, 
which cooperates with Rutgers University, published a report on turf which is 
indeed impressive, and without question earmarks turf in the "Rig Business" 
category. / The report is entitled, "In the Garden State, Turf is Big Business". 
Excerpts from ttiis report follow: 

Table 1. —  The turf grass survey of New Jersey 

Type of Turf Areas 

No. 

Airports 
Athletic Fields  . . .. 
Cemeteries 
Churches 
GOLF COURSES 
Home Lawns 
Industrial Lawns  . . .. 
Parks:  Muni cipal, 
County and State  . . . 
Public Firoperties (Other) 
Roadsides 
Schools 

76 
5oo 
1,200 
2,850 
90 
1,100,000 
1(50 

2, Oil 2 

Acreage  Maintenance 

Annual 
Cost 

Current 
Installation 
Costs 

$ 

- 23,251 
2,500 
. 12,000 
331 
9,000 
16b,000 
2,150 
8,000 
1,000 
16,28b 
b, 000 

581,000 
250,000 
2,boo,000 
99,300 
b,050,ooo 
b6,290,000 
1(30,000 
700,000 
100,000 
977,obo 
boo,000 

$ 11,625,000 
2,000,000 
12,000,000 
662,000 
13,500,000 
lb0,000,000 
2,150,000 
6,boo,000 
800,000 
32,568,000 
3,200,000 
2b2,5l6  $ 56,277,3bO  $22b,905,000 

"New Jersey's 2l{2,500 acres of turf cost more than $56 million 
each year to maintain,  Thismakes turf the third largest 
agricultural enterprise in the state. 
If we had to replace this turf with new grass, the installation 
cost at present prices would be close to $225 million. 
These figures are estimates arrived at by the Turf Advisory 
Committee of the Experiment Station after a careful study of 
all the available data.  They represent the first attempt 
to evaluate the turf-grass areas of New Jersey as a single 
commodity." 

The figures above should serve to point up the importance of the greater 
need for proportionate distribution of funds for Turf Research, Extension, 
and Teaching at our Land Grant Colleges and Agricultural Experiment Stations. 
To date in most states, turf grass work has been assigned a "back seat" in 
favor of agricultural commodities of lesser  financial  value.  .  For too 
long a time now, turf has been feeding at the "second table". 

HAVE YOU BEEN ASKED ABOUT MONDO "GRASS"? 

During the year we have received many inquiries in connection with 
a product cailed Mondo "grass", which has been widely advertised for lawn 
cover purposes in the Northeast.  To bring to you the facts about this plant, 
the following release by Dr. Felix V. Juska, Research Agronomist, United States 
Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland, is presented verbatim. 

Lily-Turf (Qphiopogon Spp.) 

Mondo 1Grass1 

"Mondo is the old generic name for the genus Qphiopogon, commonly 

referred to as lily-turf or snake's beard.  It is a semi-tropical 
oriental plant originally introduced into the United States by the 
U.S.D.A. from Tang hsi, China, in 1906.  Two species, japonicus and 
Jaburan  are well known in cultivation.  The last named species is 
used chiefly as a greenhouse foliage plant growing from 1-1/2 to 3 
,feet tall. 
Characteristics and Uses; 

Mondo or Qphiopogon japonicus is not a grass but a low growing 
evergreen perennial closely related to the lily-of-the-valley.  The 
grass-like leaves are 1/8 of an inch wide, rather rigid, 6-12 inches 
long and have a tendency to droop.  Small violet or bluish-tinged 
flowers are produced, followed by pale blue terries.  The stemless 
tufted plants spread by means of underground stems and tuberous-
thickened roots and are thus readily propagated by division. 

Research is somewhat limited, but evidence indicates that the 
Ophiopogon species are winter-hardy in the Washington, D. C. area, 
although browning of the leaves may occur beginning with the tip 
extending an inch or more downward.  Further south the plant remains 
green the year-round.  This genus is shade tolerant and needs no 
mowing when used as a ground cover, where a height of 6-12 inches is 
not objectionable. 

The Ophiopogon species are not recommended for general lawn 

purposes.  They are used as a ground cover under shade trees, terraces, 
rock gardens, edgings, borders, and other areas where a grass cover 
cannot be grown satisfactorily.  Since the plant is drought tolerant 
in humid regions, it may be planted on steep banks and terraces for 
erosion control. 

The plant recovers slowly when mowed.  Removal of the top portion 
of the leaf exposes an open unsightly "sod" that may thin out fhrther 
if mowing is continued.  Lily-turf has been largely used for borders 
and edgings in Italy and southern France and is being used for the 
same purpose in some of the Southern States." 

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE FOR WINTER, 1957 

January 21 - 2k 

Rutgers Turfgrass Conference 
New Brunswick, New Jersey 

Rutgers University 
Dr. Ralph E. Engel 

28th National Turfgrass Conference and Show 

The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America 

February 10 - 15 
Kentucky Hotel 

Louisville, Kentucky 

Cornell Turfgrass Conference 

February 25 - 28 
Cornell University 
Ithaca, New York 
Dr. John F. Cornman 

Northeastern Turfletter 

USGA GREEN SECTION 

BULK  RATE 

U.  S.  POSTAGE 

P A ID 

PERMIT  No.  366 

New  Brunswick,  N.  J. 

Mr. 0. J. Noer 
Milwaukee Sewerage Commission 
Box 2079 
Milwaukee lt Vis.