NEWSLETTER
FEBRUARY, 1952
Ye editor is looking out over the golf course
which is buried under the heaviest snowfall of
the winter. Nature's white magic is beautiful
without question the way it transforms the landscape. But there is a certain solemnity about
it—the way it boughs down the evergreens, heaps
its load over the hedges and brings silence over
the surroundings. Temporarily it has stopped our
special project. How long will this white mantle
impede local progress? While pondering this
somber question in a pessimistic mood a bright
and cheerful verse arrived from Beverly—the
one and only contributor to these coulmns, Jack
Counsell. Here's the verse.
March
Winter's retreating beneath the warm March
sun,
The grass starts to yawn as the melting snows
run,
The sleepy golf course once blanketed with snow,
Slowly stretches full length -and threatens to
grow.
J.A.C.K.
"It doesn't pay to cry over spilt milk", or
"If you don't like New England weather wait
a minute." Yes, when you stop to think of it,
spring is just around the corner. A few days,
a few weeks. Time again for that annual spring
cleaning in the upper chamber known as the
cranium. Clearing away winter cobwebs, unnecessary rubbish and putting that thinker in
good running condition for the golf season ahead.
Our monthly meeting held February 11 at
the Waltham Field Station was most congenial
and informative. Well attended too. Guy Tedeseo, Chet Sawtelle and Lucien Duval held the
lucky numbers on the attendance draw. Norman
Butterfield, Waltham Field Station Floriculturist gave an interesting talk on KRXLIUM, Monsanto Chemical Company's new synthetic chemical. A grayish powder used to improve the tilth
of the soil. It is still in the experimental stage
and will not be available commercially until 1953.
This amazing chemical when added to the soil
(1 lb. to 100 sq. ft.) particularly heavy soil, helps
percolation, improves drainage, aids aeration,
and improves aggregation of soil particles. It
may increase water holding and retaining capacity of the soil as high as 15%. It has long
lasting action—preventing soil crusting, bettering soil structure and causing less erosion. 1 lb.
of Krilium may be equivalent to 100-300 lbs. of
organic peat in its action. It costs at present
$2.00 per pound.
A question box session was another feature
of this meeting, conducted by Jack Counsell.
Here are the high spots in brief—DOES low PH
retard growth of Poa Annua on greens? Some

feel that it does. Others say no effect based on
observation. SHOULD golfers be allowed to
use the course in late winter and early spring?
What damage? 23 voted there appeared' to be
damage. 8 could see no damage. 12 reported
regular greens in use. WHAT is the ideal height
of cut? Greens V to %! Tees i/ in. Fairways
% to %s. HOW much nitrogen per 1000 feet
of green per season? 7 pounds. Dormant feeding of greens recommended by some if applied
m early winter. Endothal recommended by Manuel Francis for control of clover in fairways 1 lb.
per acre—2 applications. WHAT is the ideal PH
for bent greens? Not less than 6. WPIAT is the
proper time to start control of dollar spot? May
15 to 30 then every 7-10 days through August.
HOW early in the spring should greens be fed?
Not until grass is thoroughly rooted and growing.
The following, reported their observation at
the National Turf Conference at Columbus. O.
Clapper, R. Sawtelle, A. Anderson, and P. Cassicly. A report came to the editor that Mike
O'Grady arrived at the conference without hat,
coat or teeth. How come Mike? SPEAKING of
TURF CONFERENCES—don't forget the anual POW*WOW at Amherst, Thursday and Friday, March 13 and 14. An excellent program
has been arranged for both days highlighted by
the conference banquet Thursday evening. What
say? Let's go.
Raymond Brigham. Rhode Island Country
Club was voted a regular member of the Greenkeepers Club of New England at the February
Meeting.
NEXT meeting
March 3.
Where.
Waltham Field Station.
Who.
Dr. DeFrance
°n't
Miss this one.
Lunch
At 12:30
By the way fellars, if you can locate an extra ten spot, Jack Counsell, 9 Cliff Street, Beverly,
Mass. has his pen already to sign that membership card—and here is what Jack says about you.
The Keeper of the Greens.
The golf course is his hobby where he tries to
excel,
For without a good course a club has little to
sell,
His work has no glamour he doesn't strut in fine
clothes,
But his skill and club value is recognized by
those,
Who know some of his problems and they understand,
Why the greenkeeper is called golf's forgotten
man.
J.A.C.K.
So long until March 3.
H. Darling, editor.
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