WHEN DUTY WELCOME HE AND WILL COMES HIM IN; DEPART BRING SEVEN A-KNOCKING FOR ONLY IF YOU TO COME OTHER AT BID DUTIES YOUR HIM ONCE TO GATE, WAIT, MORE YOUR DOOR, Edwin Markham 194® lisflisaM This N E W S L E T T E R is published monthly by the Greenkeepers Club of New England, and sent f r e e to its members and their Green's Chairmen. Subscription price t e n cents a copy, or a dollar a y e a r . GUY C. W E S T Editor 64 P r o s p e c t St., W e s t B a r r i n g t o n , R. I. G E O R G E J. ROMMELL, JR. Business Mgr. 54 E d d y St., W e s t N e w t o n , August, 1940 Mass. Vol. 12, No. 8 C o n t r i b u t i n g Editors Homer Darling R. A. Mitchell Howard F a r r a n t Charles P a r k e r F r a n k Wilson The ideas and opinions expressed in the subject matter of this NEWSLETTER are not necessarily those of the Editor or the members of the club as a whole. AUGUST MEETING . The well-known hospitality of the Highland C o u n t r y Club of Attleboro, Mass. was very much in evidence on A u g u s t 5th when the G.C.N.E. and the R. I. Greenkeepers Association met together there. The Bayer-Semesan Company demonstrated their methods of applying Special Semesan. Following lunch, the usual golf t o u r n a m e n t was held, a n d m a n y of the boys f o u n d the course to their liking, as was shown by t h e m a n y low net scores. Prizes, donated b y m e m b e r s of the Highland Club, were won as follows: 1st net, Guy West, 81-64. 2nd net, tie, H e n r y Mitchell, 91-65 N. J. Sperandio, 75-65. 4th net, Sam Mitchell, 91-67. Most fives, A1 B a r n e y Most sixes, A. F o n t a i n e Most birdies, Tom Clark In the blind bogie t o u r n a m e n t f o r R.I.G.A. members, Oscar Chapman won with net of 79, closest to hidden par of 77. Dr. T. E . Odland won high gross. A n n u a l Greenkeepers Field Day at the Rhode Island S t a t e College and E x p e r i m e n t Station on September 23rd. Keep this d a t e open for a trip to Kingston ! The following i n f o r m a t i o n is t a k e n f r o m the latest issue of "Timely Turf Topics", issued by the Green Section. Clubs t h a t belong to the U.S.G.A. get such timely i n f o r m a t i o n f r e e . Your club should belong! P y t h i u m Disease: Turf f r e q u e n t l y suffers in hot w e a t h e r f r o m a diseasep r o d u c i n g f u n g u s known as P y t h i u m . So f a r , no s a t i s f a c t o r y f u n g i c i d e has been developed to control this f u n g u s . However, it is encouraged by a b u n d a n t w a t e r and excessive h e a t and is, theref o r e , more severe in w e t t h a n dry summers. Excessive w a t e r i n g of t u r f should be avoided in hot w e a t h e r to minimize the i n j u r y f r o m a t t a c k s of this f u n g u s . Sampling Soil: In t u r f the s u r f a c e 1 or 2 inches are most significant so f a r as chemical analyses are concerned. To r e p r e s e n t t h e a r e a in question, 5 or more plugs of the s u r f a c e 1 or 2 inches of soil should be removed f r o m an a r e a of 1,000 s q u a r e f e e t . These can be cut a p p r o x i m a t e l y 1 inch s q u a r e with a k n i f e or with a n y other device you care to use. It is well to w r a p each plug separately in waxed paper to preserve it intact in its original condition and to p r e v e n t crumbling. If the t e s t s are to be an aid to a general fertilizing or liming p r o g r a m it is not necessary to test every g r e e n and f a i r w a y , b u t only r e p r e s e n t a t i v e ones f o r each t y p e of soil. Samples of soil are of no value unless properly labeled. W h e n you send t h e m to the Green Section or to your S t a t e A g r i c u l t u r a l E x p e r i m e n t Station they should be accompanied by certain inf o r m a t i o n to aid the l a b o r a t o r y m a n in i n t e r p r e t i n g the results of the t e s t s and in f o r m u l a t i n g recommendations f o r you. This should include: 1. L o c a t i o n — g r e e n , f a i r w a y or lawn. 2. Kind of grass growing on area. 3. Reasons f o r w a n t i n g soil tests made, such as f o r instance thin stand of g r a s s ; excess of clover; excessive drying in spots; yellow, u n t h r i f t y g r o w t h ; etc. 4. Account of fertilizing or liming prog r a m and arsenical t r e a t m e n t s if any, followed the last f e w years. 5. D r a i n a g e — n a t u r a l or artificial and how s a t i s f a c t o r y . 6. Length of time a r e a has been u n d e r turf. 7. A m o u n t of humus, if any, incorp o r a t e d in the soil. 8. A m o u n t of sunshine or shade the a r e a receives. 9. Tendency of soil either to dry out in spots or to r e m a i n soggy. _ ' S New Seeding: Now is the time to grade and p r e p a r e the soil on all areas which are to be seeded this fall, in order t h a t the seed m a y be sown p r o m p t l y in late A u g u s t or early S e p t e m b e r . At this time the summer a n n u a l s are no longer g e r m i n a t i n g and the seedling grass when it appears will be able to take f u l l adv a n t a g e of the f a v o r a b l e growing conditions during the fall months. Ants in T u r f : Many species of ants are troublesome in t u r f because they make m o u n d s a n d also damage the grass by destroying the blades n e a r the openings of the hills as well as the roots. The A r g e n t i n e ant, which is by f a r the most troublesome species is f o u n d only in certain p a r t s of California and in the S o u t h e r n states, south of the a r e a bet w e e n central Texas and N o r t h Carolina. A n t s live in s u b t e r r a n e a n colonies or hills with a social organization comp a r a b l e to t h a t of the honey bee. In each colony t h e r e are the workers which are the ones seen above g r o u n d and which carry the food to the queen and larvae r e m a i n i n g u n d e r g r o u n d in the hill. A n y method of control, to be e f fective, m u s t kill the queen or she will continue to lay eggs and p e r p e t u a t e the colony. Control methods depend either on the injection of chemicals such as p y r e t h r u m e x t r a c t directly into the a n t hill, thereby killing the entire colony a t once, or on the distribution of poisoned bait. W h e n the l a t t e r is used, it must be so dilute t h a t the worker ants, which are the ones to g a t h e r the food, will live long enough to c a r r y it into the colony and t h u s destroy the queen and larvae. Not all poisons which are ordinarily effective against a n t s can be used because they m a y kill the grass as well as the ants. For instance, carbon bisulfide, kerosene, etc. which are o f t e n used to e x t e r m i n a t e entire colonies are n o t r e c o m m e n d e d f o r use in t u r f because of the d a n g e r to the grass. Also, thallium sulfate, the active ingredient in m a n y p r o p r i e t a r y poisoned baits f o r ants, is extremely toxic to grass and m u s t be used with care. Borax which is used in other baits f o r a n t s m a y inj u r e grass and should be avoided, particularly in excess, on grass. Species of a n t s vary in their f e e d i n g habits. Some p r e f e r sweets, whereas others are a t t r a c t e d only by f a t t y foods. Moreover, t h e y seem at times to get wise to certain baits so t h a t what will work at one time m a y not work, even with the same species, at a n o t h e r time. Hence, various control methods are suggested here. If one does not work u n d e r y o u r conditions, t r y others until you find an effective method. W h e r e it is practicable to t r e a t individual colonies, a solution of pyret h u m e x t r a c t can be injected into each colony by means of a spring-bottom oil can, without f e a r of i n j u r i n g the grass. F o r this purpose, the commercial ext r a c t is diluted 1 p a r t to 100 of water, a f e w drops i n j e c t e d into each hill, and t h e hole t h r o u g h which the injection was made a t once plugged with dirt. Where large a n t nests are f o r m e d , it m a y sometimes be necessary to use 2 or 3 ounces of solution in each hill and to cover the a r e a with a wet b l a n k e t or heavy cloth f o r a time. Or, a dilution of 1 p a r t of commercial e x t r a c t in only 50 p a r t s of w a t e r m a y be tried. Several simple baits which have been f o u n d effective f o r a n t s in t u r f are given below. To use the baits, pieces of sponge, a b s o r b e n t cotton, or cloth m a y be dipped into the solutions and t h e n placed in low metal cans, bottle caps, salve boxes, or heavily paraffined pasteboard in which small openings have been made through which the ants can readily e n t e r and leave. W h e r e t u r f is in use during the day, as on the golf green, the bait can be put out in the evening and l i f t e d in the morning. Bait A. Dissolve 4 ounces of sugar in 1 q u a r t of hot w a t e r and add % ounce of t a r t a r emetic. Bait B. Dissolve 1 pound of s u g a r in 1 q u a r t of hot water, add 8 g r a m s of sodium a r s e n a t e and boil. Bait C. This is recommended only f o r the control of the A r g e n t i n e ant. To 4V2 q u a r t s of w a t e r add 9 pounds of g r a n u l a t e d sugar, 6 g r a m s of crystallized t a r t a r i c acid, and 8.4 g r a m s of benzoate of soda. Boil slowly f o r 30 minutes and cool. Then dissolve 15 g r a m s of sodium arsenite (C.P.) in Vz pint of hot w a t e r and cool. Add this poison solution to the syrup, stir well,, add 1 % pounds of strained honey and mix thoroughly. A n o t h e r method f o r using these poisons is to mix the sugar and chemicals dry with an equal volume of b r a n or cornmeal and add enough weak solution of honey in w a t e r to make a crumbly m i x t u r e which can be scattered about the a n t hills. A n o t h e r method is to mix 1 ounce of Paris g r e e n with 1 pound of brown sugar and sprinkle the crumbly m i x t u r e around the a n t hills. Kerowood Velvet Bent SEED - and S E STOLONS E D - in f o r m of chopped h a y — $ 1 5 . 0 0 a b a g (One b a g will seed m o r e t h a n 1500 sq. f t . ) Quicker and cheaper than stolons — — S T O L O N S r e a d y September 1st $20.00 per 1,000 s q u a r e f e e t delivered w i t h i n 100 m i l e s TYNGSBORO COUNTRY CLUB TYNGSBORO, MASS. F r a n k l i n H a m m o n d , Mgr. in the b a r e spots l e f t b y the a n n u a l weeds, such as crabgrass, which die with t h e first light f r o s t s unless t h e y have been killed earlier with chemicals. Green Scum on T u r f : D u r i n g J u l y and August, m i n u t e plants known as algae m a y f o r m a g r e e n scum on t u r f in spots where the grass is thin, particularly in areas w h e r e it has been thinned out by disease. The scum is likely to develop d u r i n g exceptionally r a i n y seasons or in low, heavily w a t e r e d areas where t h e r e is an a b u n d a n c e of plant food and some dead grass. Its growth can usually be controlled by a n application of corrosive sublimate a t the r a t e of 1 to 3 ounces to 1,000 sq. f t . If it persists in being troublesome, it would be wise to p e r m i t the scum to dry out and f o r m a paper-like- crust and t h e n break this u p b y spiking or r a k i n g with an iron rake. This operation should be followed by the application of a light topdressing or reseeding, dep e n d i n g on the e x t e n t of the trouble. The A n n u a l Turf Meeting sponsored jointly by the U.S.G.A. Green Section and the Green-keeping S u p e r i n t e n d e n t s Association will be held at the Arlington Turf Garden on Monday and Tuesday, S e p t e m b e r 16 and 17. SOILS, SUB-SOILS AND Fall Fertilizing: Plans should be made now f o r f a l l f e r t i l i z i n g p r o g r a m s and orders placed, if f e r t i l i z e r s are to be purchased. Fertilizers should be purchased and applied on the basis of cont e n t of plant food, p a r t i c u l a r l y nitrogen, since all experimental work with t u r f to d a t e has shown t h a t n i t r o g e n is the element in the soil which is most imp o r t a n t f o r t h e growth of grasses f o r t u r f purposes. As discussed in the December, 1939, issue of Turf Culture, phosphorus and particularly potassium which are necessary in the successful culture of m a n y a g r i c u l t u r a l crops are less i m p o r t a n t t h a n n i t r o g e n f o r t u r f grasses. A good complete fertilizer f o r turf contains a b o u t one-half as much phosphoric acid as n i t r o g e n and still less potash, as f o r instance a 12-6-4, a 10-5-3 or some similar grade. This should be applied to established t u r f about the middle of September a t the r a t e of about 1 or 2 pounds of nitrogen to 1,000 s q u a r e f e e t , depending on the condition of the t u r f and soil. Applications of such fertilizers a t t h a t time will encourage the t u r f grasses to fill GRASSES By Wm. B. Lindsay P r e s e n t - d a y g r e e n k e e p e r s are expected, as things are to-day, to produce a healthy g r o w t h of grass to withstand the r a v a g e s of the golfers' f o o t w e a r t h r o u g h o u t the year. In m a n y cases the soil on golf courses is of a heavy clayey n a t u r e more suitable f o r producing bricks t h a n growing a first-class t u r f . In other cases it consists of sand t h a t will n o t r e t a i n either f e r tilizer or moisture in any shape or f o r m . Between these two e x t r e m e s we find golf courses laid out on peat, gravel, chalk and loam. Now a greenkeeper, to be successful, must have a working knowledge of all these soils. In a word, he m u s t have a n e l e m e n t a r y idea of the origin, composition and general .classification of soils— in short, a slight u n d e r s t a n d i n g of geology. Let me explain right here. The a c t u a l s u r f a c e of the e a r t h as we see it to-day in the cultivated p a r t s of the c o u n t r y consists of mould or vegetable soil. In other p a r t s we see large t r a c t s of b a r r e n rocks which vary in character. Some a r e brimstone, sand- J u s t T h i n k Of SPECIAL It 8 G M E S A N Treats turf for only 21 cents per 1,000 sq. f t . Costs as little as $1.25 a pound. Special Semesan contains both chlorophenol and cresol mercury for quick, long-lasting- effect against brown patch and dollar spot, yet costs one-half to two-thirds less than inorganic and gives greater effective coverage. Applied in solution or dry with compost or the McClain Hydrolizer by gaging and cutting down the water to a minimum. Write for free Turf Disease Pamphlet. Special Semesan— 5 lbs. $7.00 25 lbs, $32.50 100 lbs. $125.00 Nu Green— 5 lbs. $6.25 25 lbs. $28.75 100 lbs. $110.00 mmm 85 STATE STREET, BOSTON, Tested Seeds, Florida H u m u s a n d stone, granite, slate, etc. The most common of these must have originally been formed by and with the help of water, others formed by fire. Now, bearing these simple facts in mind, it is well to remember that rocks are the mineral constituents of the earth. Beneath any mould or soil that may have accumulated upon these rocks— and most of the soils that we find on our golf courses are originally derived f r o m rocks—many of the important properties of the soil can be traced to the rocks beneath them. It is well known from the best authorities that every kind of vegetable soil was once rock which the repeated action of heat, cold, air and water, has broken down to a fine state of dust, mud and sand. This breaking down process is known as weathering, but vegetation has a good deal to do with this—doubtless you have noticed small lichens growing on the face of rocks exposed on the cliff or quarry. We wonder how any plant can live in such a position, but the secret of it is that lichens draw a good deal of their nourishment f r o m the atmosphere. All this is called weathering and illustrates how soils are formed. MASS. V . C. F a i r w a y Fertilizer Having said so much with regard to the origin of soils, I want to bring your attention to the distinction between subsoils and top soils. This is easy to detect; the sub-soil acquires its richness in humus, mainly through the decaying of deeper roots and the work of earthworms. Top soils are generally rich in humus and the elements of plant life. Fortunate indeed is the greenkeeper whose course is laid out on loam, the richest soil, well supplied with humus and the other elements of plant foods. These soils are usually deep and not compact, thus admitting the percolation of water; consequently very little drainage is necessary. At the same time they retain moisture during the summer months and do not dry up too rapidly. The first necessity for a good soil on a golf green I consider to be one that will hold moisture, and, second, one that has power to suck up water from lower levels by capillary attraction. Of these requirements, sand has the least waterretaining or absorbent power, clay has four times, and humus six times the capacity of sand to hold moisture. When water drains away from loam or clay, the drainage is never complete, for these soils, a f t e r being watered again, retain NEW E N G L A N D . . . . ROTOTILLER SALES R. R. Riddle •—• Distributor Route 20, Palmer, Mass. — Phone — A G E N T S — H. ENGELMANN Dalton Avenue Pittsfield, Mass. P h o n e — 4382 C. D . B L A N C H A R D Chester Center, Mass. P h o n e — H u n t i n g t o n 2618 R. J . A L L E N , J r . 200 H o l d e n S t r e e t W o r c e s t e r , Mass. P h o n e — 5-6370 RAY PEARSON S u m m e r St. L y n n f i e l d Center, Mass. P h o n e — 61 E. N. B A N K S 140 S c h o o l S t r e e t W a l t h a m , Mass. P h o n e •— 1988 ALLAN STARKWEATHER Dover, Mass. P h o n e 309 Osterville, M . B. Mass. ALLEN Phone Conn. ALTON BRAUN Stafford Springs, Conn. Phone Conn. ERNEST ELFGREN East K i l l i n g l y , Conn. P h o n e — D a n i e l s o n 103-4 G E O R G E R. A N D E R S O N 149 S m i t h S t r e e t P r o v i d e n c e , R. I. Phone — MA-9707 A . M. B E L D E N 11 No. A d a m s S t . M a n c h e s t e r , N. H. Phone — 2 3 1 8 - M C H A R L E S G. H A Y E S E x e t e r , N. H . Phone Conn. G E O R G E J. C O O P E R Kennebunkport, Maine Phone Conn. — Let us give you a demonstration— some little moisture, b u t on very sandy soil you will lose even t h a t little a m o u n t of moisture. The moral of this is to change t h a t soil, either by fertilizer or top dressings of good loam. With r e g a r d to g r e a t cohesion, I am convinced t h a t this is sometimes b r o u g h t about by over-rolling with a heavy roller, t h u s causing bad drainage, sourness and coldness. I think t h a t you will readily a g r e e t h a t the ideal soil f o r producing a suitable t u r f f o r golfing purposes the whole year through, having due r e g a r d to climate conditions, is a medium loam. F o r such a soil is fine grained in t e x t u r e , and has the power to lift w a t e r easily b y capillary a t t r a c t i o n during dry s u m m e r s ; a t the same time it is sufficiently open f o r air to e n t e r f r e e l y and w a t e r to percolate d u r i n g w e t weather, and in such a soil you do not get t h e f a u l t s of a clayey or sandy soil. T a k i n g it f o r g r a n t e d t h a t you w a n t to p l a n t seed on the soil I have described, I will t r y to illustrate how grass seed germinates. When grass seeds are moistened with water, the shell begins to absorb moistu r e and becomes soft. W h e n this moistu r e reaches the food m a t e r i a l within the husk it begins to change gradually and g e r m i n a t i o n begins—provided t h a t the t h r e e necessary conditions are fulfilled f o r essential g r o w t h — n a m e l y , air, moistu r e and w a r m t h . Now, some of the carbon in the food reserve begins to b u r n with the assistance of the oxygen which the seeds absorb f r o m the air. W a r m t h and the giving off of charcoal f u m e s or carbonic acids are the o u t w a r d results, thus causing the seedling to be m a d e liquid and r e a d y f o r immediate use. Nourished by the stimulating food, this inward e m b r y o begins to grow and eventually b r e a k s f o r t h f r o m the shell a p e r f e c t little stem capable and s t r o n g and likely to increase in s t r e n g t h if given the proper after treatment. When growing grass seeds always aim at a damp or porous soil or seed b e d — but not too wet. The p r e v a l e n t idea seems to be t h a t you must keep flooding it with w a t e r , which, in my opinion, actually drowns or chokes to death a n y little life t h a t m a y be there. For if you get a too-wet seed bed it will dry into a h a r d brick, t h u s r e f u s i n g to let the y o u n g seedlings come through. The last piece of advice I would give is— always b u y the best seed you can get. Cheap seed does not pay. If it is w o r t h t r y i n g to sow out a plot of g r o u n d it is worth doing well. Always insist on a p u r i t y g u a r a n t e e — a n y reliable seedsman will be glad to give it to you. — A d d r e s s presented a t A n n u a l Meeting of Conn. Assoc. G.C.S. Mar. 4, 1940. " L i s t e n i n g m a y be more t h a n talking." productive Velvet Bent Seed RARiTAN and EMERALD These improved strains are the finest of all t u r f grasses f o r golf g r e e n s and other closely cut t u r f •• OUR S E E D T E S T S H I G H Purity—95% Germination over 85% •• • • I n q u i r e of your dealer or w r i t e us directly •• EMERALD FARM N E W T O N , N. J . Plan Fall Seeding Requirements Now Call on the Woodruff r e p r e s e n t a tive. Get the benefit of the experience his organization brings you. P u t to work Woodruff's unique acquaintanceship with New E n g l a n d climate and soils. H a v e a special m i x t u r e developed f o r your own p a r t i c u l a r r e q u i r e m e n t s . In addition to supplying the largest quantities of native, New E n g l a n d grass seed, Woodruff continually e x p e r i m e n t s with t u r f improvements, offers r a r e and new varieties f o r u n u s u a l conditions. Get in touch with a Woodruff r e p r e s e n t a t i v e today. Distributed by New England Toro Company and Connecticut Toro Company GRASS SEED fr. WOODRUFF AND SONS INC. iPM.l.».|'l«l EZECEPZ T H E SIGN O F Velvet Bent Sod BENT 250,000 sq. ft. Kernwood GRASS 10,000 sq. ft. Piper at putting green length T f T Bent Native Grown Rhode SEED TURF New London GARDENS New Hampshire Strain Velvet Island Bent ALSO FAIRWAY MIXTURES Matured Sod, strips 1' x 4' William Mitchell COOOSEEBi Piper 100% Weed Free Deliver m prices upon request DIVISION Purchase direct with from confidence, the grower, viable, winter hardy seed, at lowest price commensurate with highest quality. A. N. P E C K H A M KINGSTON, RHODE ISLAND KILL TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE 1. T r e a t w e e d s Arsenite. with Sodium 2. A p p l y M i l o r g a n i t e f e r t i l i z e r as a food for your turf this Fall. Use new Milorganite-Sodium Arsenite Mixture p r e p a r e d for this purpose. INQUIRE FOR DETAILS AND PRICES!!! NEW ENGLAND DISTRIBUTORS OF TORO Power Mowers Gang Mowers—Hand Mowers Tractors and G a n g M o w e r C o m b i n a t i o n s of 3-5-7 U n i t s Rollers—Spikers Sod Cutters—Soil Screens BUCKNER — Fairway — Tee — Green Sprinklers and Valves Milorganite — Netco 7-8-4 P u t t i n g Green — Fertilizers FRIEND Power Sprayers — McCLAIN LEWIS Tee Equipment — STANDARD Antube — Arsenate of Lead — Hand Pressure Outfits Green and Tee Equipment Brown Patch Preventatives WORCESTER Lawn Mowers — PEERLESS and CARPENTER Grinders Flags — Poles — Tools — Fertilizer Distributors — Seeders Hose — Markers — Ball Soap — Burners •—- Sod Cutters — Towels Grass Seeds —Special Mixtures •—• Certified Bents New England Toro Co. DISTRIBUTORS FOR N E W 1121 Washington St., West N e w t o n — ENGLAND W E S t N e w . 1658