N E W S I E T T E R
Af<f/f C l i

A P R I L - ,

GOLF

COURSE

SUPERINTENDENTS

T h e writer has used the weather as the subject matter of so many Newsletters he was
determined this month not to mention it. Yet,
how can one avoid it. Here it is March 19, the
day before the vernal equinox, officially the first
day of Spring, and this Newsletter is being
written during the middle of the second blizzard
in practically 48 hours, accumulating some 18-24
inches of snow in that time. Ever since the
present editor has been writing the Newsletter
the weather has been making and breaking
records in one department, or another, nearly
every year. And this year, with only three
months gone, seems to be no exception. Is it
good or bad to have such an abundance of snow
over the turf on March 20? T h e writer would
say more good than bad providing S.M. doesn't
run rampant.
"With
what a heavy and
retarding
weight does expectation
load the wing of
time." W. Mason.
T h e March 5, meeting at Waltham was
another interesting one. T h e subject of the
educational program was on the use of AeroCyanamid ably presented by Frank Allen and
L. J . Evans of the Cyanamid Company. This
product is being used as a fairway top dressing
during the dormant period, as a weed controller
when establishing new turf, and as a soil sterilizer for top dressing soil. It contains 2 1 % nitrogen and 70% lime.
Cautions. For golf course fertilization, apply
any time during cool weather dormancy when
soil is not covered with ice and snow — 300-400
lbs. per acre on fairways. Spreading equipment
must be working properly. Use splash boards to
break up streams. A drag mat following spreader
is often used. In preparing new ground for seeding, stolons, etc. use cyanamid 50 lbs. per 1000
sq. ft., 25 lbs. harrowed in I14 inches and 25 lbs.
raked into the surface. Leave for 3 to 4 weeks.
Keep moist. For soil sterilization use 13 lbs. to
one cubic yard of soil or compost. Mix when
temperature is above 50 degrees and store for 7
to 8 weeks. Moisture content must be high
enough to maintain vigorous plant growth. For
more details see the Aero-Cyanamid folder,.
At the business meeting two applications for
associate membership were read. Robert St.
Thomas, Cohasse C. C., Southbridge, and
Thomas Niblet, Scituate C. C.

1 9 5 6
ASSOCIATION

OF

NEW

ENGLAND

T I D B I T S - Tedesco, Malone, and McBride
won the attendance prizes. Please note Tedesco
and McBride have repeated two months in succession. What psychic powers are at work here?
. . . John Sperandio has taken over Tony's former
job at Framingham C. C. . . . Paul O'Leary is
boasting of a baby boy in the family . . . T h e
California travelers gave a good account of
themselves at the Long Beach, National Turf
Conference, including border incidences . . . T h e
Amherst conference was surprisingly well
attended in spite of adverse weather, thanks to
more hardy souls than ye editor who got as far
as Spencer and returned home immediately
rather than risking a mid-night questionable
journey. A very interesting meeting was reported
and high praise was given Prof. Roberts for his
excellent management of the entire affair.
NEXT AND LAST INDOOR MEETING
Date:

April 2.

Place:

Waltham Field Station.

Time:

12:30 Luncheon.

Speakers: From Mitchell Bros. Nursery.
Subject:

Golf Course Construction and Kernwood Velvet Bent Sod.

Now that we are approaching the last indoor
meeting of the winter and all of us will soon be
actively engaged in maintenance problems it
may not be out of order to ask ourselves some
questions about our association. What did I
get out of it during the past winter? What could
have been done to have made it more interesting
to me? Whether the answer is in the affirmative
or the negative another question might be asked,
What did I contribute to make it a better organization? T h e success of any organization depends
greatly upon the enthusiasm, loyalty, and
unselfishness of its members. What you get
depends upon what you wholeheartedly give.
Our association has an excellent reputation but
the editor sometimes wonders if we aren't too
much inclined to coast along on this reputation.
For our association to grow big in character we
as members must do things for the organization
big in character.
"What others say of me matters
little,
what I myself say and do matters
much."
Elbert Hubbard.
H. DARLING,

Editor