ICZ • CTP I K • March, 1930. WINTER Vol. 2, No. 3. SCHOOL NUMBER MY CREED Happiness is the only good. The place to be happy is here. The time to be happy is now. The ivay to be happy is to make others so. —Robert G. Ingersoll, We are pleased to dedicate this issue of the NEWSLETTER to the Winter School for Greenkeepers at the Massachusetts Agricultural College. The work being done by Prof. Dickinson and his colleagues is being more and more appreciated by greenkeepers and green committee chairmen. More and more greenkeepers and assistants here in New England should avail themselves of this opportunity to use their Winter months to better themselves by studying and discussing greenkeeping problems at the Winter School. Applications must be made early as enrollment is limited. We congratulate the Winter School upon the very able and interesting exhibition held on March 15 and 16. Such exhibits and the forum discussions are well worth while. We hope t h a t YOU and your GREEN CHAIRMAN will be present at the April meeting to hear Dr. Fred J. Sievers, Director of the Massachusetts Experiment Station. If you wish more experiment work locally, come and find out how it can be done. 2 NEWSLETTER 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 Greens' Chairmen. Subscription price ten cents a copy, or a dollar a year. GUY C. W E S T Editor 312 Mt. P l e a s a n t St., F a l l R i v e r , M a s s . M A R S T O N B U R N E T T . Business Mgr. 330 "Waltham St., W e s t N e w t o n , Mass. March, 1930. Vol. 2, No. 3. MARCH MEETING One of the best m e e t i n g s ever held by the club was the March meeting, held at H o r t i c u l t u r a l Hall, Boston. Many g r e e n chairmen were present, as were also the W i n t e r School Class f o r Greenkeepers f r o m A m h e r s t with P r o f e s s o r s Dickinson, Markuson, and Cubbon of the W i n t e r School Faculty. P r o f . Markuson, when called on by P r e s i d e n t T r e a t f o r a f e w words, said t h a t t h e r e w e r e new wrinkles coming u p all the time in drainage. T h e r e is perhaps a question as to w h e t h e r certain p a r t s of the course should be drained or not. D r a i n a g e is usually last of things to be t a k e n u p on an old established course, and one of the first on a new course. Dr. Cubbon said t h a t t r y i n g to teach the class of Greenkeepers Soils and Fertilizers with no chemistry b a c k g r o u n d was much different t h a n t e a c h i n g t h e r e g u l a r f o u r - y e a r work. Greenkeeping classes a r e interested in subject. In mixing fertilizers, if you mix your own, you know w h a t goes in. Mixing now is less necessary t h a n f o r m e r l y . The old idea t h a t phosphorous is never lost out of g r o u n d m a y n o t be t r u e on g r e e n where so much w a t e r i n g is done. The main speaker of the m e e t i n g was P r o f . Lawrence S. Dickinson, who spoke on " A New Phase in L a r g e Brown-patch Control". This address was the same t h a t he gave at Louisville a t National Convention, and which was voted the high light of the Convention. The biggest point about this t a l k is t h a t it gives a practical method by which large brownpatch m a y be f o r e c a s t , and m e a n s of control. The m a i n points of P r o f . Dickinson's talk f o l l o w : " I have received d u r i n g the last five y e a r s m a n y tips f r o m Greenkeepers (concerning brown-patch, and t h e y all p o i n t e d to one thing, as did also the work I have been doing a t A m h e r s t . This work has been verified by laborat o r y work a t the college and experiment a t i o n a t the Boyce-Thompson Institute, and results have been approved b y the Institute. Brown-patch is a f u n g u s , prevalent everywhere on plants, (potatoes good e x a m p l e ) , and it a t t a c k s bents more easily t h a n o t h e r grasses. T h e r e are t h r e e stages in the disease which are i m p o r t a n t to u s : Scelrotic; this is the r e s t i n g stage, and is p r e v a l e n t in most soils. E n t i r e l y h a r m less a t this stage, b u t very resistant to destruction. Remains d o r m a n t until conditions f a v o r a b l e to their developm e n t appear. Corky in t e x t u r e . Critical; mycelia b r e a k f o r t h in this stage f r o m scelrotia. This is the stage where control is possible by b r e a k i n g u p these f e e d i n g roots, or by applying fungicides. Parasitic; this is the i n j u r i o u s stage in which the f u n g u s actually e n t e r s the grass leaves. In A m h e r s t out of 248 days, brownpatch was expected twelve times, a n d came each time as expected. I t comes following a severe change in air temperature; 64-68 degrees necessary f o r scelrotic stage to change to critical, a rise to 73 degrees will then b r i n g on the parasitic stage. In critical stage, waiting f o r e n v i r o n m e n t a l conditions to be f a vorable f o r parasitism, it can be broken up by poling, h a r d washing, or like method. I t can also be controlled a t this time by application of fungicide. Brownpatch works a t a n y time during the t w e n t y - f o u r h o u r s ; it simply depends on environmental conditions. A f t e r it reaches the parasitic stage it w o r k s v e r y f a s t ; 83 degrees is optimum r a n g e f o r p a r a sitic stage. If t e m p e r a t u r e comes f r o m below optimum range, to get b r e a k f r o m scelrotic to critical, it m u s t r e m a i n b e t w e e n r a n g e f o r twelve hours, and m u s t rise g r a d u a l l y to 73 degrees optimum. If i t comes f r o m above, going down quickly, t h i r t y m i n u t e s is ample time to cause b r e a k i n g out in critical stage. If once broken up, brown-patch will not come again until 68 degrees is reached a g a i n ; if t e m p e r a t u r e r e m a i n s above 68 degrees t h e r e will be no brown-patch. A sudden drop to 64-68 degrees, followed by immediate rise will cause a t t a c k . Parasitism a p p e a r s to s t a r t at 73 degrees. If rise is f a s t to 90 degrees t h e r e will be very little parasitism. Moisture a p p a r e n t l y has nothing to do with s t a r t i n g critical stage, it does play i m p o r t a n t p a r t in parasitic s t a g e ; 3 NEWSLETTER parasitic g r o w t h is rapid in moist, slow in dry. Heavy w a t e r i n g with cold w a t e r in a f t e r n o o n or early evening m a y b r i n g t e m p e r a t u r e conditions ideal to brownpatch development. Mornings or late evenings are best times to w a t e r as f a r as brown-patch is concerned. A p p a r e n t l y a g r e e n highly fertilized with n i t r o g e n is more susceptible to parasitism. Acidity or alkalinity within reasonable r a n g e s do not affect a m o u n t of parasitism. Humidity has n o t h i n g to do with brownpatch except as it affects t e m p e r a t u r e . A t h e r m o g r a p h is not necessary a t every green. Have one at office, and correlate the t e m p e r a t u r e s at each g r e e n with this i n s t r u m e n t by a series of t h e m o m e t e r r e a d i n g s at each g r e e n . The first brown-patch was r e p o r t e d in about 1773, b u t it is only in the last t e n years t h a t we have been selecting grasses and f o r c i n g t h e m so much. Hence it is only in the last f e w y e a r s t h a t we have been troubled so m u c h with b r o w n - p a t c h . " The practical significance to the g r e e n k e e p e r of this talk and the work P r o f . Dickinson has done is t h a t it is now possible to f o r e c a s t a c c u r a t e l y thé a p p e a r a n c e of large brown-patch, and to use control m e a s u r e s at these times. This will make possible a g r e a t saving in cost of f u n g i c i d e s a n d labor applying them. It is also shown by this investigation t h a t it is possible to control large brown-patch by poling when f u n g u s is in critical stage. Poling early in morning destroys the activity of mycelia t h a t have developed d u r i n g the preceding t w e n t y - f o u r hours. Fungicides will also control if applied soon a f t e r short mycelia have grown, p r e v e n t i n g f u r ^ ^ t h e r development. This work gives us / w h a t a p p e a r s to be the first r e a l suggestions of practical i m p o r t a n c e since brown-patch became so prominent. BROWN PATCH Johnny on the Spot I attended the last meeting of the Greenkeepers Club held at Horticultural Hall, Boston, Mass., March 3; we had f o r our speaker one of g r e a t knowledge in h o r t i c u l t u r e and laboratory research work of various kinds. He spoke exclusively on brown patch, how to b r i n g it about and how to watch f o r it to come. He also told us t h a t brown patch most always is b r o u g h t about t h r o u g h quick changes of t e m p e r a t u r e , and showed c h a r t s of t e m p e r a t u r e d readings and all t h a t . He also said t h a t brown patch had been in existence f o r 75 or a 1,000 years, on potatoes and other vegetables, but did not explain when or where it was first noticed in greens or on golf courses, or w h a t brought it about in the first place. All these in which we Greenkeepers are most interested (laboratory work is one t h i n g and practical t r a i n i n g a n o t h e r ) in every day work. I might say in my experience in y e a r s of Greenkeeping t h a t I had never seen brown patch or even heard of it u n t i l about five years ago. At t h a t time i t affected my course very badly and we lost g r e a t portions of our greens. Great round spots appeared all of a sudden, the grass t u r n e d yellow and finally died out all together. Some spots were as large as two f e e t in circumference. The only t h i n g we could do w a s to cut out these spots and to replace with healthy green sod. All this trouble I would blame to certain kinds of chemical f e r tilizers, which we p u t on as prescribed by experts, a t a r a t e of 12 pounds per green every two weeks. This, to my mind w a s the cause of all the disturbance in my g r e e n s ; a f t e r all the u n n e c e s s a r y experience we have not used this f e r t i l izer on our greens again, and have h a d no trouble with our greens since. P e r sonally I think t h a t brown patch can be brought about a t any time if certain chemicals a r e used. I do not believe t h a t we ought to sit up nights and w a t c h f o r t h i s disease to come, or go around f r o m green to g r e e n and t a k e the t e m p e r a t u r e readings. The only t h i n g to do is to keep the ground in normal condition and not t r y to g e t the soil too acid. We know of some courses r i g h t h e r e in Boston t h a t have never been affected by brown patch. We also know t h a t these same courses have the finest of velvet and creeping bent greens. A f t e r this information lets t h i n k f o r ourselves. Alex Ohlson. 0 . M. Scott & Sons Co. of Marysville, Ohio have printed a very fine r e p o r t of the Greenkeepers' Convention at Louisville. This bulletin gives a r e p o r t of all the discussions, and gives a f a i r l y complete r e p o r t on all s u b j e c t s which dealt with the technical side of t u r f development. A copy of this rep o r t m a y be obtained by w r i t i n g t h e company. 4 NEWSLETTER A FIELD METHOD OF PREPARING COMPOST In the Fall, (September if possible), the piece of land which is to be prepared f o r compost is covered with manure. The amount of m a n u r e is generally governed by the money l e f t in the budget, b u t if possible p u t on as much as you can conveniently plow in. Plow the field deeply, t u r n i n g the sod completely upside down. Disk harrow thoroughly and p r e p a r e a seedy bed by planking or spike h a r r o w i n g . In October p l a n t the field with rye. The r y e will make three or f o u r inches growth bef o r e the ground freezes. This cover crop will keep the soil f r o m washing and will t a k e u p and hold considerable soluble p l a n t food. In the S p r i n g when the r y e is eight to t e n inches tall, plow it under. If you can afford to do so put another coat of m a n u r e on the field and disk t h i s in. D u r i n g the Summer, as soon as a crop of weeds a p p e a r , h a r r o w them under. Keep the soil clean, do not w a i t until the weeds seed. In the Pall plant r y e again, and plow it under in the Spring, and proceed as before. This S p r i n g plowing brings u p the bottom soil once a year, and by the P a l l of the t h i r d year the loam will be f a i r l y weed f r e e . The f o u r t h Fall plow the field late, j u s t before the ground freezes, and leave in f u r r o w s . This late Pall plowing will kill g r u b s which have been brought to the s u r f a c e and do not get in the soil again before f r e e z i n g takes place. Do not add any m a n u r e a f t e r the first Spring, as it will add a quantity of weed seed. Screening In J u l y and A u g u s t when work on the course slows down somewhat, this compost is screened. A Toro soil screen on t r u c k s is used. S t a r t i n g at one end of the field this screen is moved along screening the soil f o r a width of about twelve feet, leaving the screened loam in a long pile on one side and the tailings on the other. Reaching the end of the field, the screen is t u r n e d and worked back again, the tailings going onto the first tailings pile and the loam in a long pile on the other side. One hundred y a r d s of this compost is put into the soil shed f o r greens use. D u r i n g the following W i n t e r , one hundred bags of poultry m a n u r e , (100 lbs. e a c h ) , is spread evenly over it and the pile t u r n e d . This will heat, and should be turned bef o r e the m a n u r e fire f a n g s . T u r n i n g the pile three times is generally sufficient. This h e a t seems to kill most of the rem a i n i n g weed seed, and the poultry m a n u r e also adds considerable plant food. This compost is taken to the greens in the Spring, and with it is mixed the proper amount of sand. By m a k i n g compost in the field each year, and keeping it fallow f o r three years f a i r l y clean compost can be obtained. Keeping it under cover makes it possible to have it dry u p to the time you wish to use it. The poultry m a n u r e seems to kill weed seed; some ammonia m a y be lost, but by h a n d l i n g c a r e f u l l y it is not necessary to b u r n the m a n u r e . A r o t a r y screen on t r u c k s seems to handle compost nearly as f a s t as if it were scooped u p into piles. The a r e a method of p r e p a r i n g compost gives a f a s t e r action of bacteria in the soil, and is much more economical per ton of compost as nearly all the work can be done by machinery. F r a n k H. Wilson, J r . Charles River C. C. HOW ABOUT IT? W h a t is the relation b e t w e e n the size of the grass seed and the t e x t u r e of the grass? W h y are mended? acid fertilizers recom- Along w h a t lines are you planning to e x p e r i m e n t this season? W h a t is the " f r e q u e n c y " of a lawn mower and how does it affect t h e smoothness of the cut? Does the overstimulation of a g r e e n by excessive use of quickly available n i t r o g e n cause a weak g r o w t h which is more susceptible to insects and diseases t h a n a g r e e n fertilized with a sloweracting balanced f e r t i l i z e r ? A r e you p l a n n i n g to do a little planting a r o u n d the course this Spring with a t h o u g h t of some landscape development? Have you worked out y o u r fertilizer p r o g r a m f o r this y e a r ? A r e you working along the lines of a definite f e r t i lizing plan f o r f a i r w a y s fertilizing? Have you any ideas which will m a k e this N E W S L E T T E R b e t t e r ? Do you r e m e m b e r to n o t i f y the Employment Committee when you h e a r of a club n e e d i n g a g r e e n k e e p e r ? Are you a cooperating m e m b e r ? NEWSLETTER 5 HiaaaiHiHMiaiaBBiMm g ~ H 0 When Discussing Tractors 1 —REMEMBER t h a t the Worthington Mower Company was the first concern to design and manufacture a tractor specifically for lawn and Golf Course mowing. The Worthington Tractor is by f a r the lightest tractor of equal horsepower in the world. It weighs but 1000 pounds, which eliminates all possible injury to the turf, t h a t is so common where heavier tractors are used. Most important of all—remember—we have had nine years experience with this one type of tractor for Golf Course work. Its record in service on the foremost courses of America, Canada, Europe and elsewhere, has confirmed every claim t h a t has been made regarding its durability, economy, and performance. THE WORTHINGTON TRACTOR Modal "A" Ford Parts. Self-Starter. Priced at $650. Model "T" Ford Parts. Priced at $496. New England Representative ONE STATE STREET BOSTON E. R. Sawtelle, Mgr. M Ü: Tel. Hubbard 2424 WORTHINGTON MOWER COMPANY Stroudsburg, Pennslyvania W h e n buying from our advertisers, mention N E W S L E T T E R ! | i| H i§ i NEWSLETTER 6 HOVEY & CO, P E N n s y m SIA Specialists In GOLF COURSE GRASSES LAWN MOWERS Fairway Quint or Trio for fairways and rough. Super Roller and New Aristocrat for greens. A N D EQUIPMENT A F E W SPECIALS E m e r a l d Cord R u b b e r Hose Sulphate of A m m o n i a (Koppers) V. C. F a i r w a y Fertilizer F a n c y Recleaned Grasses W o r t h i n g t o n Mowers MacAndrews Green Seeder When in the city visit our showrooms in the shadow of the Custom House. 150 MILK ST., BOSTON, MASS. Tel. HANcock 1454 - 1455 JOHN J. NYHAN Distributor 122 Cypress St., Brookline, Mass. Pennsylvania Lawn Mower Works Established 1877 Philadelphia SPRING SEEDING Should be done as early as possible to give the grass a start over weeds and possible dry weather. Working some fertilizer into the soil before seeding will help the young grass get a quick start. ORDER YOUR SEED AND FERTILIZER NOW AND LET OUR PROMPT DELIVERY HELP YOU TO AN EARLY START. "Everything for the Golf Course" WOODWORTH BRADLEY 136 SOUTH WATER STREET PROVIDENCE, R, I. PHONE GASPEE 9789 P. O. BOX 1534 W h e n buying f r o m our advertisers, mention N E W S L E T T E R ! NEWSLETTER 7 SPACE TISERS. IS OPEN TO ADVER- FOR RATES WRITE TO BUSINESS MANAGER Newsletter 330 WALTHAM STREET Corenco Superlawn The P l a n t Pood f o r PARKS and GOLF COURSES Lawns—Gardens—Small Trees Shrubbery WEST NEWTON, MASS. You c a n n o t have b e a u t i f u l Flowers, T r e e s or Lawns without feeding them D ow 'S Pure Ground Bone (Fertilizer Bone Meal) John C. Dow Company Write f o r our Booklet 'A Lawn To Be Proud Of" Address Corenco Superlawn 121 Beverly St., Boston, Mass. 40 North Market Street Boston, Mass. JACOBSEN A COMPLETE LINE OF Power Lawn Mowers GOLF COURSE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES Power Putting Green Mowers Power Mowers for Tees and Approaches with Attachment for Spiking Greens Handled by Dealers Located Throughout New England Distributors for: — Royer Compost Machines Koppers Sulphate Albion Distributor Hardie Power Sprayers Thompson Sprinklers Seeds, Fertilizers, Etc. Arthur B. Porter, Inc. JACOBSEN 55 DEARBORN STREET MANUFACTURING CO. SALEM, MASS. 507 West 56th Street Tel. 2317 New York City Write for our 1930 illustrated catalogue. W h e n buying from our advertisers, mention N E W S L E T T E R ! 8 NEWSLETTER WINTER SCHOOL EXHIBITION WINTER GREENS The F o u r t h A n n u a l Golf Course Maintainence Exhibition was held a t the Massachusetts Agricultural College, Amherst, on March 15 and 16. T h e r e w e r e d e m o n s t r a t i o n s with talks by students on S a t u r d a y f r o m 11 A. M. until 5 P. M., the s u b j e c t s covered b e i n g — Botany, P u m p s and Hose, P r o p o r t i o n e r , Cleaning Grass Seed, Mowers, Fertilizers, B u y i n g Grass Seed, G r e e n k e e p e r ' s Office, Small E q u i p m e n t . At 5.30 at a m e e t i n g in the Auditorium, t h e r e were addresses of welcome by P r e s i d e n t Roscoe W. T h a t c h e r and A i r . Roland H. Verbeck, Director of the W i n t e r School. Col. J o h n Morley of the National Association of Greenkeepers spoke concerning the f o r m i n g of the National Association. Mr. F r e d B u r k h a r d t said a f e w words on the value of a c q u a i n t a n c e with fellow greenkeepers. He said t h a t he would a t t e n d the W i n t e r School, old as he is, if he lived n e a r e r . He advised all who could, to a t t e n d . President Whitehead of the Connecticut Association also spoke. Motion pictures were shown of " L a y i n g L u m b r i c u s Low," and " H o l d i n g the J a p a n e s e Beetle." Not long ago we had an inquiry in r e g a r d as to how m a n y New E n g l a n d courses were using their greens d u r i n g the W i n t e r , how m a n y were using t e m p o r a r y greens, etc. As this subject is of interest, we are giving you the benefit of a little investigation along t h i s line, Of twenty-five greenkeepers interviewed, two clubs shut up d u r i n g the W i n t e r , one used r e g u l a r greens y e a r round, fifteen used t e m p o r a r y greens entirely in W i n t e r , and seven used t e m p o r a r y greens a t such times as when r e g u l a r greens were very soft. The location of the course, character of soil, drainage, kind of g r a s s on greens, etc., doubtless have considerable to do with this question. I t probably is best f o r clubs with new greens to close t h e m d u r i n g the W i n t e r , and not use them a t this time until the t u r f is strong and well matted. Care should be taken a t times of first f r o s t s in Fall, as often play or work on f r o s t e d greens will do much more damage t h a n play on t h e m d u r i n g the Winter. Probably the best example of y e a r round play in the Boston district is Wollaston, and Mr. Crowley h a s given us t h e story of how he keeps his greens open y e a r round in the September N E W S L E T T E R . Some Cape courses keep their greens open all y e a r also. Here a t Fall River we establish Wint e r greens in the late Fall, c u t t i n g holes in them and p u t t i n g in a set of old cups. We use these greens only when the r e g u l a r greens are very soft, and in the Spring f o r a f e w days while we are working on the r e g u l a r greens p r e p a r atory to opening them f o r the season. We have our holes in the r e g u l a r greens toward the f r o n t of the greens, and change them at least once d u r i n g the Winter. We find in this climate t h a t we have an opportunity to do this as we get r a i n f r e q u e n t l y when others not very f a r away get snow, and this r a i n takes the f r o s t out of the ground f o r a day or so. By using care to change over the flags to the W i n t e r greens when the r e g u l a r g r e e n s are very soft, we find t h a t we can give any h a r d y players the pleasure of p u t t i n g on f a i r l y good greens a l a r g e p a r t of the W i n t e r , with practically no detriment to the greens. G. C. West In the evening t h e r e was a question box discussion, with Mr. J a m e s Sullivan of the W a t c h City a t the bell. (Some of the questions and answers will be discussed in succeeding issues of the N E W S L E T T E R . ) On Sunday m o r n i n g t h e r e were talks by i n s t r u c t o r s on various s u b j e c t s : Pumps and Proportioner, Grasses, Fertilizers, E q u i p m e n t , Office of Greenkeeper. In the a f t e r n o o n , following a visit to the t u r f plots, t h e r e was a j o i n t meeting of the Greenkeepers Club of New E n g l a n d and the Connecticut Greenkeepers Association. A j o i n t S u m m e r m e e t i n g was discussed, and it was voted t h a t each president appoint a committee to c o n f e r later. A question box discussion followed. Comment a m o n g visitors seemed to show t h a t this show was b e t t e r t h a n usual, at least display p a r t was b e t t e r a r r a n g e d , and i n t e r e s t on t h e p a r t of the visitors was more pronounced. In the f o r u m meetings, t h e r e was a cert a i n t e n d e n c y a m o n g m a n y not to answer questions. However, such shows and discussions are i n t e r e s t i n g and h e l p f u l to all who a t t e n d . 9 NEWSLETTER DON'T PAD THE PAYROLL WITH THE TARIFF ON BENT SEED TEMPERAMENT ^^ "If he looks a l e r t — t h a t ' s g r e a t l y in his f a v o r . If he looks determined—fine. If he seems to know his business, post it in the credit column too. B u t unless he sizes up as a cooperator—don't give him the job. F o r without t h a t a t t r i b u t e his other assets will t u r n to liabilities when he begins to assert himself within your organization. The k e e n e r he is the more w a y s he will discover to promote his own selfish a d v a n t a g e a t others' expense. The more wilful he is the more f o r c e f u l l y he will push his private interests. The b e t t e r he knows the business the less a m e n a b l e he will be to those controlling influences by which alone does he stand any chance of being shaped to a mould t h a t will fit w i t h o u t f r i c t i o n into the delicate h u m a n machine you are t r y i n g to manage. The lone-hand genius does b e t t e r on his own. The more brilliant he is the g r e a t e r the d a m a g e to any organization so blind to h u m a n values as to t a k e him on. Your business line of b a t t l e is j u s t as s t r o n g as its weakest sector. Whenever you have scintillating selfishness a t work behind the s c e n e s — a t t h e top, a t the bottom or at any point b e t w e e n — you are wide open f o r one of those savage drives t h a t Old Man Adversity, in a n y f o r m , knows so well how to organize against the unsuspecting. Loyal cooperation by mediocre units will win you more profit y e a r in and out t h a n any a m o u n t of gallery play by disorganized stars. Pick t h e m first f o r their cooperative spirit. Given that, their every other v i r t u e will have double value. W i t h o u t it t h e y will only serve as wrenches in the gears." "Credit Where Credit Is Due." We are indebted to Mrs. E. E. Patison of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Seed Service f o r p a r t of the following i n f o r m a t i o n reg a r d i n g r e c e n t developments in the b e n t grass seed tariff situation. Last S u m m e r the House fixed the d u t y on b e n t grass seed a t t e n cents a pound, an eight cent raise f r o m existing rates. This was r e p o r t e d to the Senate, and the Senate Committee agreed, b u t when bill reached floor of Senate, Senator Metcalf of Rhode Island offered an a m e n d m e n t , which was adopted, p u t t i n g duty u p to f o r t y cents a pound. T h e r e was no real opposition to the a m e n d m e n t . T h e r e is y e t hope to r e p e a l this a m e n d m e n t , and even to g e t figure back at two cents per pound. All golf clubs should impress upon their Senat o r s the f a c t t h a t this duty is unreasonable, and would be a b u r d e n upon every club in the n o r t h e r n half of the United States. It is estimated t h a t a n n u a l imports of b e n t seed are a b o u t six h u n d r e d thousand pounds, while two ' h u n d r e d thousand pounds are produced in this country. The Greenkeepers Club of New E n g l a n d has already t h r o u g h a committ e e f o r this purpose, protested to all New E n g l a n d Senators. All g o l f e r s should note with i n t e r e s t in the following weeks w h a t their S e n a t o r s do conc e r n i n g this tariff duty. A r e they helping to increase the costs of golf f o r him, or are t h e y t r y i n g to keep golf course costs down? Kemp Shredder h a s f o u r screens, different sizes, dependent on use to which compost is to be put. No trouble with rocks. Compost pile built this year contained seventy cords of loam, t h i r t y loads sand, sixty-five cords m a n u r e , refuse, etc., cut down by hand, and screened a f t e r two years or more composting. ( N e e d h a m ) . 10 NEWSLETTER SOME PARTY An invitation was extended to Greenkeepers, Professionals, and Green Chairmen of the New E n g l a n d District to a t t e n d the first a n n u a l implement exhibition and b a n q u e t of the Ideal Tract o r Company of Brookline on March 3. This invitation was not m e a n t as a sales proposition, b u t merely an advertising scheme and to make a b e t t e r acquaintance between the Ideal T r a c t o r Comp a n y and the Greenkeeper, and the other way around. Our hosts had gone to a lot of t r o u b l e in establishing a show room in their quarters. E v e r y machine was a r r a n g e d neatly on the floor-space so it could be easily inspected, small tools and other implements were placed about the show room to m a k e a p e r f e c t setting. One table f u l l of p a r t s of various p u t t i n g g r e e n machines, nicely decorated with cigars and y o u r f a v o r ite kinds of cigarettes. A f t e r the exhibition we were escorted to Hotel S t a t l e r B a n q u e t Room where we f o u n d five tables set, finely decorated, t e n places a t each table, a b o u t 25 waiters in a t t e n d a n c e . The dinner was a most excellent one, f r u i t cocktail, t o m a t o e biske, tenderloin steak, with mushrooms, ice cream, cake, coff e e , candy, n u t s and favors. A prog r a m m e of high-class e n t e r t a i n e r s was in order, five girls and f o u r fellows t h a t were very fine singers a n d dancers, one-slight-of-hand e n t e r t a i n e r , second to Houdini. All in all a very e n j o y a b l e evening was had by every one present. Our hosts had g u a r a n t e e d 50 dinners a t a price of $3.50 per plate. " B u t only f o u r lone Greenkeepers showed u p . " The company had spent about $300 to f e e d f o u r . J u s t think of f o u r Greenkeepers consuming 50 dinners in one evening and having 10 people to entert a i n them. " I t was some p a r t y . " Alex Ohlson. We would like any of you who a r e using any new m a t e r i a l this season to n o t e c a r e f u l l y the results obtained, and send t h e m to N E W S L E T T E R with a little dope about the test. Let us know the results with these new chemicals such as CASIM f o r crab grass control, P U R F E C T f o r chickweed, and how a n y new f e r t i l i z e r s act f o r you, such as COLLOIDAL P H O S P H A T E . The r e sults of y o u r e x p e r i m e n t a t i o n p r i n t e d in the N E W S L E T T E R m a y help y o u r fellow g r e e n k e e p e r . R e m e m b e r t h a t this N E W S L E T T E R exists as a clearing house of i n f o r m a t i o n . The Board of Directors m e t with P r e s i d e n t T r e a t on J a n u a r y 27, m e e t i n g a t the new equipment building in order t h a t they might see the new H a r d i n g e grinder. This machine grinds the f r o n t edge of g r o u n d blades, inside s u r f a c e of g r o u n d blades, and reel blades. I t has an a d v a n t a g e in ease and speed in change f r o m g r i n d i n g blade to reel. I t is designed a r o u n d cup g r i n d i n g wheel instead of disc g r i n d i n g wheel. There are several m e m b e r s who have not r e t u r n e d the cards with names a n d addresses of their g r e e n committee chairman. Will t h e y please cooperate? Several courses t r e a t e d t h e i r greens this y e a r f o r snow-mould, using either calogreen or corrosive sublimate. Bill Lindsay is now located at t h e Manchester C o u n t r y Club, Manchester, N. H. TABLE SHOWING APPROXIMATE OF SEEDS IN ONE POUND Authority U. S. D. A. Department Circular 406 Date: January, 1927—Computation by E. O'Neil B e n t Grass B e r m u d a Grass Canada Blue K e n t u c k y Blue White Clover Crested Dog's Tail Meadow Fescue Red Fescue Sheep's Fescue 8,001,000 1,775,000 2,495,000 2,150,000 680,500 862,000 226,800 545,000 682,500 H a r d Fescue Orchard Grass Red Top Italian Rye English Rye Short Seeded Rye Sweet V e r n a l Timothy Rough Stalked Meadow 570,000 521,700 4,990,000 226,800 226,800 317,600 725,800 1,135,000 2,540,500 11 NEWSLETTER The Foundation of a Golf Course is as important as that of a Skyscraper. COLLOIDAL P H O S P H A T E is not lost if applied b e f o r e needed because it does not leach. The longer it has to blend with the soil the b e t t e r its action is. "QUALITY" LAWNS, GOLF and SPORT TURF Materials Grass Seeds Fertilizers Manures It can be applied a t a n y time d u r i n g the year, d u r i n g the g o l f i n g season, or during the winter. It is best when applied j u s t b e f o r e the w i n t e r season or early in the spring, because it is generally more convenient. A y e a r ' s supply should be applied at one time, because labor is saved. COLLOIDAL PHOSPHATE SALES COMPANY of New England 126 Newbury St., Boston, Mass. Chemicals Fungicides Mowers 60 CONGRESS STREET BOSTON, MASS. Telephone Liberty 6021 JACOBSEN POWER MOWERS for Diamond E Brand Seed GREENS, Purity and Germination Guaranteed TEES, APPROACHES Distributors of Catalog mailed on request. BRECK'S GOLF EQUIPT. SHOW ROOM 20 Lewis Wharf RETAIL STORE 85 State St. Boston, Mass. VICTORY FERTILIZERS Thos. W. Emerson Co. 213-215 STATE STREET BOSTON, MASS. Telephone, HUBbard 0985 W h e n buying f r o m our advertisers, mention N E W S L E T T E R ! FOR EVERY GRASS CUTTING PROBLEM THERE'S A N EFFICIENT TORO MOWER T H E Toro S t a n d a r d Golf T r a c t o r pushes five 30inch Toro super mowers, c u t t i n g a twelve-foot swath, and will completely cut the average 6500 yard eighteen-hole golf course in sixteen hours. T H E Toro Universal T r a c t o r has a u s e f u l n e s s in t h a t it can be used f o r work, such as construction, grading, hauling, mowing or any work t h a t a type is called upon to do. wide r a n g e of g e n e r a l utility s t u m p pulling, t r a c t o r of this T H E new Toro J u n i o r T r a c t o r equipped with a dump box, is a highly desirable t r a c t o r adapted to a wide r a n g e of work. The electrically welded steel body holds one f u l l yard and makes it a convenient machine f o r all classes of hauling a n d general construction work on large areas of t u r f . T H E Toro Power Putting Green M o w e r is I S - inch cut and is e q u i p p ed with an eight-blade high speed reel and will cut creeping b e n t lawns or putting greens. T H E Toro all steel electrically welded dump wagon has a capacity of one f u l l y a r d and will dump clean without i n j u r y to the t u r f . TORO grass c u t t i n g machinery has m a d e a world wide r e p u t a t i o n as being the finest and most m o d e r n equipment of its type. Precision workmanship and the most approved h e a t t r e a t i n g and hardening processes are s t a n d a r d in the m a n u f a c t u r e of all Toro products. The Toro M a n u f a c t u r i n g Company plant, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is r e g a r d e d as being a model in the industry. If interested in a n y type of grass cutting machinery, w r i t e immediately f o r b e a u t i f u l 32-page illustrated catalog, showing t h e complete Toro line. NEW ENGLAND TORO COMPANY 247 NEWTONVILLE AVENUE Phone New. North 1219 NEWTON, MASS.