Greenkeepers Club of New England

NEWSLETTER
I

APRIL, 1946

I

"Knowledge is not knowledge until someone else knows that one knows."—Lucilius
The March meeting was held at the Hotel Bradford with a number of guests of the
greenkeepers present. Dr. O. J. Noer, a member of the Sewerage Commission Turf Service Bureau, was the guest speaker. Dr. Noer gave an interesting and informative talk accompanied by
colored photographs showing results of some of the experiments. Some excerpts from Dr. Noer's
talk were, that there is some deterioration in golf course turf particularly in fairways and tees.
Some fairways had been impaired due to heavy watering, close cutting and lack of fertilizer.
In most cases the greens had been kept in good condition but two or three mornings a week
were not conducive to good putting greens especially on stolons. A plentiful supply of nitrogen reduces Dollar Spot, an an excessive amount aggravates Brown Patch. Calomel, or CalomelCorrosive Sublimate mixture, prevents Dollar Spot for periods up to three or four weeks. Fungcides should be applied frequently to control Brown Patch during hot humid spells, prevention
is better than restoration.
Initial results obtained with 2,4D have been good in eradicating dandelion, buckhorn and
plantain. Treatments on clover,
chickweed and knotweed have produced fair results. Experiments with 2,4D on crabgrass1 have not been satisfactory. Among the grasses, blue grass, fescue
and poa annua are more resistant to damage from 2,4D than the bent grasses.
The rough is usually the principal source of weeds and it should be included in the weed
control program. Following the treatment to kill weeds the area should be fertilized and limed
if necessary. The voids left by the weeds should be replaced with a dense turf to prevent another
crop of weeds from the weed seeds present in the soil. Reseeding is not necessary if permanent
grasses suited to the soil and climate are present in sufficient quantity. Generous applications
of fertilizer will cause the grass to spread and form a dense turf. Reseeding is necessary on fairways that are infested with poa annua and clover but the poa annua and clover should first be
destroyed with arsenicals in order to obtain a satisfactory stand of grass. A treatment with 2,4D
may be necessary to kill the broadleaved weeds.
A short business meeting was held following Dr. Noer's talk and William Mitchell and
George Symonds were elected as members of the Club. The Ladies Nite scheduled for sometime
in April was discussed and you will hear more about it later when Sam Mitchell and Homer Darling have completed their plans.
The Board of Directors discussed the advantages of bringing the Newsletter back to its
pre-war size and the selection of an editor and business manager. Your reporter declined the
honor of being editor because he does not feel competent to assume the added responsibility in
addition to his treasurer's duties. Look for new blood and new ideas in the new Newsletter, it
will be refreshing and invigorating after attempting to digest the corny unsophisticated hash
dished out by the writer during the past two years. Adios.
The April meeting will be held at the Hotel Statler, Monday, April 1 at 7:00 P.M. and all
the dealers have been invited and have accepted their invitations to be present at this meeting.
They're waging war on the lowly weed,
With the modern weapon 2,4-D
Don't be surprised, but you soon may see
The dog have its day with K,9-P
Jack Counsell