'TIS NOT ENOUGH TO RUN WELL,
UNLESS YOU SET OUT IN DUE TIME.

--- French Proverb.

A U G U S T

1937

4.QX

This N E W S L E T T E R
is published
m o n t h l y by t h e G r e e n k e e p e r s Club of
N e w E n g l a n d , a n d s e n t f r e e to its memb e r s and t h e i r G r e e n ' s C h a i r m e n . Subscription price t e n cents a copy, or a
dollar a y e a r .
GUY C. W E S T

Editor

213 C a l v i n St., P a l l R i v e r ,

Mass.

J A M 450
E S "William
McCORM
A CSKt o n.e .h aBusiness
St.,
m , M a s s . Mgr.
A u g u s t , 1037

w e r e t h u s p r o d u c e d , t h e t u r f f r o m each
p a r e n t p l a n t being p e r f e c t l y u n i f o r m in
color and t e x t u r e . The finest of these
w e r e selected f o r f u r t h e r investigations.
The m e t h o d was soon a d o p t e d by gi-esnkeepers, and in t h e f a l l of 1922 a b o u t
150 p u t t i n g g r e e n s w e r e p l a n t e d vegetatively.
T h e r e a r e two distinct o p e r a t i o n s conn e c t e d with v e g e t a t i v e p l a n t i n g of t u r f :
(1) p l a n t i n g t h e n u r s e r y or increase
plot, and (2) p l a n t i n g t h e p u t t i n g g r e e n .

Vol. 9, No. 8
CREEPING

VEGETATIVE
CREEPING

PROPAGATION
BENT

VELVET

OF

AND

BENT

(In g o i n g t h r u o u r files r e c e n t l y we
c a m e u p o n the following t r e a t i s e by t h e
late Dr. C. V. P i p e r . I t is i n t e r e s t i n g to
n o t e t h a t p r a c t i c e s now in v e g e t a t i v e
p l a n t i n g a r e little d i f f e r e n t f r o m those
advised by Dr. P i p e r some fifteen y e a r s
ago.—Editor.)
A n y g r a s s can be p r o p a g a t e d in a t
least two w a y s — o n e by seed, a n d t h e
o t h e r by a p o r t i o n of t h e p a r e n t p l a n t .
In b u n c h g r a s s e s a t u f t can be subdivided into m a n y portions, each of
which will g r o w readily.
In c r e e p i n g
g r a s s e s a n e w p l a n t can be p r o d u c e d
easily f r o m a single j o i n t of a rootstock or r u n n e r . This can indeed be
done with n e a r l y a n y grass, b u t it is
p a r t i c u l a r l y easy w i t h creeping grasses.
I n d e e d , it has long been employed b y
f a r m e r s in p l a n t i n g fields to such g r a s s e s
as B e r m u d a and P a r a . This m e t h o d of
p l a n t i n g is called v e g e t a t i v e p r o p a g a tion.
Some y e a r s ago, in s t u d y i n g t h e behavior of c r e e p i n g b e n t (all in all, t h e
best of p u t t i n g g r e e n g r a s s e s ) , it Was
discovered t h a t a single plant, in moist,
cultivated soil f r e e f r o m o t h e r plants,
would m a k e a m a s s of t u r f 6 f e e t in
d i a m e t e r in a single year.
The t u r f
r e a l l y consisted of i n n u m e r a b l e r u n n e r s ,
or stolons, r a d i a t i n g f r o m t h e s t a r t a t
t h e c e n t e r a n d r o o t i n g a t each joint.. I t
w a s a t once evident t h a t this g r a s s
could easily be p r o p a g a t e d v e g e t a t i v e l y .
T h e r u n n e r s w e r e l i f t e d , chopped into
j o i n t s a b o u t 2 or 3 inches in length,
s c a t t e r e d over w e l l - p r e p a r e d soil, rolled
in, and t h e n covered lightly with soil.
T h e quickness of g r o w t h of t h e j o i n t s
t h u s p l a n t e d is t r u l y astonishing. A t
first only small plots of t u r f 8 by 8 f e e t

Planting

ike

Nursery

BENT
Rows.

It is n e c e s s a r y to p r o d u c e a q u a n t i t y
of t h e stolons b e f o r e a n y extensive
p l a n t i n g f o r t u r f can be done. These
stolons m u l t i p l y r a p i d l y w h e n p l a n t e d in
a n u r s e r y . T h e land should be p r e p a r e d
as if f o r seeding a cultivated crop and
should be as f r e e f r o m o t h e r g r a s s e s as
possible. T r e n c h e s a b o u t one inch deep
and six f e e t a p a r t a r e m a d e and t h e
stolons p l a n t e d in t h e s e t r e n c h e s in a
c o n t i n u o u s row. The stolons a r e t h e n
covered with a b o u t one-half inch of soil,
a n d t a m p e d down. This can be done b y
walking on t h e r o w or with a t a m p e r
or a n a r r o w roller. If t h e planting* is
done in t h e f a l l t h e creeping b e n t will
g r o w in one y e a r into a t a n g l e d m a s s of
r u n n e r s t h r e e f e e t on each side of t h e
original r o w or six f e e t in width. Of
course it is n e c e s s a r y to keep t h e w e e d s
out of t h e g r a s s and t o k e e p t h e soil
b e t w e e n t h e rows loose.
One s q u a r e
f o o t of t h e c r e e p i n g b e n t stolons which
have been g r o w n in a n u r s e r y r o w is
sufficient to p l a n t f r o m t e n to t w e n t y
s q u a r e f e e t of p u t t i n g g r e e n , d e p e n d i n g
on t h e thickness of t h e m a s s of stolons.
T h e r e f o r e it will t a k e a b o u t 100 linear
f e e t of r o w to p l a n t one average-sized
putting green.
Planting a Putting

Green.

T h e p u t t i n g g r e e n should be p r e p a r e d
exactly as f o r seeding.
In addition,
t h e r e should be a pile of t o p - d r e s s i n g
c o n v e n i e n t to t h e g r e e n f o r covering
t h e stolons a f t e r t h e y a r e p l a n t e d . It
will t a k e a b o u t t e n cubic y a r d s of topdressing to cover a 6 0 0 0 - f o o t g r e e n .
This should be one-third t o p soil, onethird sand, a n d one-third r o t t e d m a n u r e ,
mixed and s c r e e n e d f o r best results.
T h e stolons a r e cut into pieces a b o u t
1-jJgS to 2 inches long. An o r d i n a r y f a r m
f o d d e r c u t t e r m a y be used to c u t t h e
sod into chunks, which should t h e n be
picked a p a r t by h a n d . These pieces of

s t o l o n s a r e s p r e a d e v e n l y over t h e g r e e n
a n d a light s p r i n k l i n g of t o p - d r e s s i n g
a d d e d . T h e n e x t s t e p is to roll l i g h t l y
and add more top-dressing until the
p i e c e s of g r a s s a r e j u s t c o v e r e d . T h e
l a y e r of t o p - d r e s s i n g should b e a b o u t
t h r e e - e i g h t h s t o one-half i n c h in thickness. If t h e c o v e r i n g is too h e a v y t h e
g r a s s is slow in s t a r t i n g g r o w t h ; if too
light, t h e r e is d a n g e r of t h e g r a s s d r y i n g out a n d dying.
A s soon a s a p o r t i o n of t h e g r e e n
is p l a n t e d it should be w a t e r e d w i t h a
fine s p r a y a n d k e p t c o n t i n u a l l y m o i s t
f o r t w o or t h r e e w e e k s , a f t e r which
w a t e r i n g e v e r y second d a y will be sufficient.
T h e r e is t h i s c a u t i o n t o be g i v e n in
v e g e t a t i v e p l a n t i n g , — n e v e r let this living material become

dry.

T h e c u t r u n n e r s s h o u l d be s p r e a d soon
a f t e r t h e y a r e picked a p a r t a n d t h e i o p dressing
added
immediately.
While
creeping bent stolons with some dirt
a t t a c h e d c a n be shipped l o n g d i s t a n c e s
a n d will k e e p alive i n d e f i n i t e l y if o p e n
t o t h e air a n d k e p t m o i s t , n o t over half
a n h o u r should elapse f r o m t h e t i m e
t h e c h o p p e d r u n n e r s a r e s p r e a d on t h e
green b e f o r e they are covered with top
dressing.
VELVET

—,

BENT

T h e fine v e l v e t b e n t m a y b e p r o p a g a t e d in t h e s a m e m a n n e r a s c r e e p i n g
b e n t e x c e p t t h a t it is n e c e s s a r y t o use
t u f t s of t h e g r a s s in t h e n u r s e r y a n d t h e
r u n n e r s should n o t be c h o p p e d u p f o r
p l a n t i n g . V e l v e t b e n t will n o t s t a n d
the
rough
treatment
recommended
above. T h e r e is little t r o u b l e , h o w e v e r ,
in s e p a r a t i n g t h e s t o l o n s of v e l v e t b e n t ,
w h i c h a r e p l a n t e d e n t i r e w h e n t u r f of
t h a t g r a d e is d e s i r e d .

AUGUST

MEETING

T h e club m e t on A u g u s t 2nd w i t h E d
Buecher at the Manchester
Country
Club, M a n c h e s t e r , N. H. I n t h e m o r n i n g t h e r e w e r e d e m o n s t r a t i o n s of t w o
rough cutting machines, the National
Mower, distributed by the Power Lawn
M o w e r Service, a n d t h e T o r o P a r k w a y ,
distributed by the New England Toro
Co. T h e N a t i o n a l h a d a 4 0 " sickle b a r ,
r o d e on t w o 16 x 4 t i r e s , a n d w a s powered with a 1 H.P. Briggs and Stratton
m o t o r . T h e T o r o h a d a 3 6 " sickle b a r ,
18 x 4 t i r e s , a n d a 3 H . P . m o t o r .

At the regular business meeting Ted
A n d e r s o n of t h e E l l e n w o o d C. C., a n d
R i c h a r d Mansfield of t h e N o r t h f i e l d
G. C. w e r e elected t o m e m b e r s h i p .
T h e w i n n e r s of t h e 18 hole golf
tournament were:
Ted S w a n s o n , 1st n e t , 80-12-68.
E d . B u e c h e r , 2 n d n e t , 104-34-70.
Les W i l d g u s t , 3rd n e t , 101-30-71.
S t e v e H a n n o n , 4 t h n e t , 96-25-71.
Lloyd S t o t t , 5th n e t , 98-24-74.

TALKS ON

TREES

By E. P o r t e r Felt
Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories
S t a m f o r d , Conn.
R o a d s i d e signs i n d i c a t e
directions,
p l a c e s to go, t h i n g s to b u y . T h e s t o r y
is s h o r t a n d t o t h e p o i n t . Can you r e a d
tree signs?
S t r i p p e d w o o d l a n d s in s o u t h e a s t e r n
New England usually m e a n bad gipsy
moth conditions;
in s o m e cases on
h u n d r e d s of a c r e s .
B r o w n e d elms in t h e H u d s o n V a l l e y
a n d N e w E n g l a n d localities a r e m o s t l y
i n j u r e d b y elm leaf b e e t l e s . T h e g r u b s
e a t only t h e s o f t e r p o r t i o n s of t h e
leaves. T h e l e a v e s of elms a l o n g t h e
N e w E n g l a n d R o u t e 7, especially n e a r
K e n t , Conn., show b r o n z i n g , t h e w o r k
of a l a c e - b u g a n d in cities of n o r t h e r n
N e w J e r s e y , t h e r e m a y be a g r a y i s h g r e e n cast, t h e w o r k of a l e a f h o p p e r .
G r a p e vines, r o s e s , h o r s e c h e s t n u t s ,
sweet cherry trees and sassafrass are a
f e w of t h e w o o d y p l a n t s b a d l y d a m a g e d
by millions of J a p a n e s e b e e t l e s .
The
p e s t s a r e locally e x t r e m e l y a b u n d a n t
w i t h i n s i x t y miles of N e w Y o r k City a n d
in a l a r g e r a r e a c e n t e r i n g on P h i l a d e l phia.
T h e f a l l w e b w o r m w i t h its l a r g e filmy
w e b s e n c l o s i n g t h e t i p s of b r a n c h e s is
s o m e w h a t c o m m o n on a v a r i e t y of t r e e s .
T h e w o r k of t h e willow leaf b e e t l e
p r o d u c e s a g r a y i s h or b r o w n i s h f o l i a g e ,
a c o n d i t i o n which m a y p r e v a i l t h r o u g h
m u c h of t h e s e a s o n . T h e willow is u n f o r t u n a t e in b e i n g ' a t t a c k e d also b y t h e
willow s c a b f u n g u s , a disease which h a s
killed t h o u s a n d s of t h e s e b e a u t i f u l t r e e s
in N e w E n g l a n d .
T h e L o m b a r d y p o p l a r w i t h its s l e n d e r
c o l u m n a r f o r m is a s t r i k i n g l a n d s c a p e
f e a t u r e . D e a d b r a n c h e s a n d occasionally
d e a d t r e e s i n d i c a t e t h e p r e s e n c e of t h i s
s e r i o u s p o p l a r disease.

All of these t r o u b l e s except t h e l e a f h o p p e r , t h e lace-bug- and t h e f a l l webw o r m have come to us f r o m a b r o a d . The
signs of t h e i r p r e s e n c e displayed so
b l a t a n t l y along r o a d s i d e s and in fields
indicate their destructive potentialities
and m a y well a r o u s e questions as to
t h e i r u l t i m a t e e f f e c t on t r e e w e l f a r e .
H e r e is a novel field f o r car window
meditations.

C e r t a i n i n t r o d u c e d insects, really additional hazards, a r e most e v i d e n t in
early J u l y in t h e n o r t h e a s t e r n United
States.
This is t h e case with t h e J a p a n e s e
beetle, t h e Asiatic g a r d e n b e e t l e and t h e
O r i e n t a l beetle, all i n t r o d u c e d a b o u t
1916 and less t h a n half an inch long.
The g r u b s a r e p e s t s of lawns a n d golf
g r e e n s . T h e J a p a n e s e b e e t l e is a dayflyer with brilliant g r e e n a n d c o p p e r y
h u e s a n d m a r g i n a l w h i t e dots on t h e
hind end of t h e body. T h e brick-red,
n o c t u r n a l , Asiatic g a r d e n beetle r e sembles a small May or J u n e beetle. T h e
Asiatic beetle, yellowish-brown
with
black m a r k i n g s , flies in the day.
J a p a n e s e b e e t l e s have b e c o m e widely
established in t h e n o r t h e a s t e r n U n i t e d
States. T h e y a r e voracious f e e d e r s u p o n
sweet c h e r r y , apple, horse c h e s t n u t , linden, elm, rose and g r a p e vines, to ment i o n a f e w of t h e i r f a v o r i t e hosts. T h e y
fly f r o m t h e l a t t e r p a r t of J u n e t h r o u g h
S e p t e m b e r , b e i n g most a b u n d a n t in J u l y
a n d early A u g u s t . T h e y a r e v e r i t a b l e
scourges in some localities, d e f o l i a t i n g
f r u i t t r e e s a n d o r n a m e n t a l s while t h e
g r u b s h a v e d e s t r o y e d m a n y lawns a n d
seriously i n j u r e d golf g r e e n s .
Asiatic g a r d e n b e e t l e s usually a t t r a c t
notice by i n j u r y to such p l a n t s as asters,
c h r y s a n t h e m u m , salvia, c a r r o t s , radish,
peach, p l u m and apple t r e e s .
The
beetles r e m a i n in the g r o u n d d u r i n g t h e
day, t h e i r d e p r e d a t i o n s being c o m m i t t e d
a f t e r nightfall.
T h e yellowish, b l a c k - m a r k e d , m o d e r a t e l y s t o u t Asiatic beetles fly in t h e day
time. T h e y m a y be f o u n d in t h e blossoms of white roses a n d hollyhocks, especially t h e f o r m e r . T h e y do little f e e d ing and if it w e r e n o t f o r t h e w o r k of
t h e g r u b s in t h e lawn, t h e insect would
n o t be considered a pest.
E a r l y and t h o r o u g h s p r a y i n g with a
poison will p r o t e c t o r n a m e n t a l s a n d
f r u i t t r e e s f r o m t h e r a v a g e s of t h e
J a p a n e s e beetle and t h e J a p a n e s e g a r d e n
beetle. P o i s o n i n g t h e sod is t h e most

s a t i s f a c t o r y control
these t h r e e species.

for

the

grubs

of

The effects of hail s t o r m s on agricult u r a l crops, especially corn and tobacco,
a r e well k n o w n . T h e y f r e q u e n t l y cause
severe losses.
The f o l l o w i n g is a record, u n u s u a l in
c h a r a c t e r , of t h e effects of hail on s h a d e
trees. T h e s t o r m o c c u r r e d May 23rd
on t h e p r o p e r t y of Mr. F. A. B a r t l e t t ,
South K e n t , Conn. T h e effected a r e a
covered several s q u a r e miles in a generally wooded a r e a , t h e f o r e s t s f r o m a
distance a p p e a r i n g as t h o u g h they had
been s t r i p p e d of leaves by t h e f o r e s t
t e n t c a t e r p i l l a r or gipsy m o t h . The hail
stones w e r e r e p o r t e d to be disk-shaped
with a d i a m e t e r of 2V± to 2 % inches.
The severity of t h e i n j u r y was indicated by t h e p r a c t i c a l loss of all f o l i a g e
on hickory, oak and o t h e r t r e e s with
l a r g e leaves and t h e n e a r l y complete loss
of f o l i a g e on t r e e s with smaller leaves,
such as birch. M a n y of t h e smaller
b r a n c h e s or s t e m s of t h e white oaks,
r e d oaks, r e d maples, flowering dogwood and birch w e r e badly b r u i s e d b y
t h e hail stones, t h e b a r k b e i n g cut f r o m
a r e a s t h e a p p r o x i m a t e size of a nickel
and in some cases t h e wood was b a r e d
over half t h e c i r c u m f e r e n c e of t h e twig.
There were many branches three feet
long w i t h fifteen to t w e n t y such wounds.
In some cases t h e wood itself w a s cut.
Small w h i t e pines some five f e e t high
w e r e d a m a g e d in this w a y along t h e
m a i n stem and a n u m b e r of t h e s m a l l e r
b r a n c h e s w e r e c u t off by t h e hail.
T h e small e v e r g r e e n s w e r e p r o b a b l y
r u i n e d f o r o r n a m e n t a l p u r p o s e s and m a y ^
e v e n t u a l l y die. It is p r o b a b l e t h a t m a n y
of t h e m o r e b a d l y d a m a g e d t w i g s will
suffer a similar f a t e , a l t h o u g h n e w
leaves w e r e b e g i n n i n g t o a p p e a r t e n
days a f t e r t h e storm. T h e bruised a r e a s
a f f o r d excellent o p p o r t u n i t y f o r invasion
by f u n g u s diseases, while t h e loss of
leaves a n d t h e lowered efficiency of t h e
twigs have alike p r o d u c e d conditions
f a v o r a b l e to invasion by f u n g u s diseases,
especially wood^ rots. T h e lowered vitality r e s u l t i n g f r o m the d a m a g e m a y be
followed in t h e oaks by invasion of twolined c h e s t n u t b o r e r and in t h e birches
by a t t a c k of t h e b r o n z e birch b o r e r .
Shade t r e e s d a m a g e d as seriously as
those described above should be t r i m m e d
t o e l i m i n a t e t h e severely d a m a g e d wood.
T h e y would be g r e a t l y helped b y f e e d ing to h a s t e n t h e leaf g r o w t h a n d t h u s

m a t e r i a l l y assist t h e r e c o v e r y
trees.

^ ^

^ ^

of

the

T h e h i s t o r y of a p l a n t i n g m a y be r e a d
in p a r t f r o m t h e trees. T h e i n f o r m a t i o n
t h u s gained m a y be of g r e a t service in
avoiding similar t r o u b l e s elsewhere.
Some f o u r y e a r s ago a n u m b e r of
obviously ailing w h i t e birch t r e e s w e r e
e x a m i n e d in a small Columbia C o u n t y ,
N. Y. c e m e t e r y . T h e t r e e s had bee 7 '
p l a n t e d a p p r o x i m a t e l y t h i r t y y e a r s and
although there were but thirty-three
s t a n d i n g it w a s e v i d e n t t h a t originally
t h e r e had been f o u r rows of sixteen
t r e e s , a t o t a l of s i x t y - f o u r . A t t h a t t i m e
sixteen of t h e t h i r t y - t h r e e r e m a i n i n g
t r e e s w e r e dead or had t h e g r e a t e r portion of t h e t o p s killed a n d t h e r e m a i n ing s e v e n t e e n w e r e so badly i n f e s t e d by
t h e b r o n z e birch b o r e r t h a t it w a s expected t h e y would be in n e a r l y t h e same
condition a n o t h e r y e a r . In J u n e 1937
t h e r e r e m a i n e d b u t f o u r of t h e original
s i x t y - f o u r birches, two dead or n e a r l y
so, a n d t h e o t h e r s in almost t h e same
condition.
T h e above r e c o r d t h r o w s light u p o n
t h e d e a t h in r e c e n t y e a r s of t h o u s a n d s
of o r n a m e n t a l birches in t h e n o r t h e a s t e r n United S t a t e s .
The c e m e t e r y
was in a light, g r a v e l l y soil w h e r e
d r o u g h t effects would be a t t h e maxim u m and p l a n t f o o d a p p r o x i m a t i n g a
m i n i m u m . Birches g r o w in such soil b u t
a t t a i n t h e i r m o s t s a t i s f a c t o r y developm e n t in moist, rich a r e a s . T h e a v e r a g e
lawn with its closely clipped s u r f a c e and
t h e c o n s t a n t r e m o v a l of g r a s s a p p r o a c h e s
t h e condition of this c e m e t e r y except
t h a t in m o s t lawns t h e g r a s s m a y be
s o m e w h a t m o r e vigorous. I t is possible
f o r a lawn a r e a to p r o d u c e a l u x u r i a n t
sod with c o m p a r a t i v e l y little benefit f o r
t h e u n d e r l y i n g r o o t s of trees. Both t h e
birch t r e e s in t h e c e m e t e r y and m a n y of
those which have died u p o n l a w n s were
greatly weakened by malnutrition and
d r o u g h t e x t r e m e s in m i d - s u m m e r and
t h e combined effect of these p r o d u c e
conditions f a v o r a b l e to invasion by t h e
b r o n z e birch b o r e r . This insect commonly kills first t h e t o p s a n d l a t e r t h e lower
p o r t i o n of t h e trees.
E x p e r i m e n t s a t t h e B a r t l e t t T r e e Res e a r c h L a b o r a t o r i e s have shown t h a t
e a r l y i n f e s t a t i o n s by this d e s t r u c t i v e
b o r e r can be checked a n d f r e q u e n t l y
overcome b y f e e d i n g to r e s t o r e a vigorous g r o w t h . F e e d i n g is a valuable p r e ventive. I t pays.

St. E l m o ' s fire, or t h e b r u s h discharge
of electricity is not commonly associated
w i t h t r e e s , y e t it kills t h e m .
A s t r i k i n g e x a m p l e was seen in 1934
on a 38-inch elm a t D a r t m o u t h College.
A p r o f e s s o r observed a t t h e i n s t a n t of a
violent l i g h t n i n g s t r o k e on a t r e e 250
f e e t d i s t a n t a flaming or b r u s h discharge
f r o m e v e r y t w i g and leaf of this elm.
Two or t h r e e d a y s l a t e r t h e leaves on
b r a n c h e s h e r e and t h e r e w i t h e r e d and in
t e n days t h e t r e e was dead. This w a s
caused by an earth-to-cloud discharge,
a c u r r e n t which f r e q u e n t l y p r o d u c e s no
e x t e r n a l i n j u r y in wood or b r a n c h . In
this case it was p r o b a b l y a r e s u r g e f r o m
t h e bolt which s t r u c k t h e t r e e 250 f e e t
away.
There were numerous brown
parallel lines a b o u t t h e w i d t h of a pencil m a r k in t h e c a m b i u m r u n n i n g with
t h e • g r a i n f r o m t h e r o o t s and o u t on
individual limbs to twigs w i t h a diam e t e r of less t h a n half an inch.
In J u n e 1935 similar i n j u r y , t h o u g h
n o t so severe, w a s observed on t h e
t w i g s a n d smaller b r a n c h e s of a sixteen
inch s u g a r m a p l e a t Bolchertown, Mass.
T h e electrical c u r r e n t killed t h a t y e a r
a p p r o x i m a t e l y 80 CU of t h e f o l i a g e a n d
o b s e r v a t i o n s a y e a r l a t e r showed s c a t t e r ing b u n c h e s of dead leaves h e r e a n d
t h e r e , an additional dying back, p r e s u m a b l y f r o m t h e i n j u r y of t h e preceding year. A f e w of t h e lower limbs w i t h
a d i a m e t e r of two inches w e r e dead.
A s u g a r m a p l e with a t r u n k d i a m e t e r
of 20 inches a t B r a t t l e b o r o , V e r m o n t ,
s u f f e r e d in 1937 f r o m a similar e a r t h to-cloud discharge. T h e r e w a s a violent
t h u n d e r shower May 30th and on J u n e
7th m a n y tips c o m m e n c e d to wilt, a n d
two days l a t e r t h e r e w e r e s p o t t e d a r e a s
of dead leaves h e r e a n d t h e r e t h r o u g h o u t m u c h of t h e top. T h r e e days t h e r e a f t e r t h e t r e e was a l m o s t e n t i r e l y b r o w n .
T h e killed t w i g s w e r e d r i e r t h a n n o r m a l
tissues a n d t h e r e w a s a distinct b r o w n
l a y e r in t h e c a m b i u m . The b r u s h disc h a r g e w a s n o t observed on e i t h e r of
t h e s e two maples. T h e m o s t p r o b a b l e
e x p l a n a t i o n is t h a t b o t h of these t r e e s
w e r e killed b y earth-to-cloud electrical
discharges.
St. E l m o ' s fire as well as t h e t h u n d e r
bolt m a y be r e n d e r e d h a r m l e s s to t r e e s
w i t h well installed l i g h t n i n g rods.

The J u l y m e e t i n g of t h e R h o d e Island
G r e e n k e e p e r s Association w a s held on
J u l y 1 2 t h a t t h e W i n n a p o a g G. C. in
Westerly.

JOHN

SHANAHAN
TROPHY

WON

GUST

MEMORIAL
BY
AND

WILDMcSPADEN

The a n n u a l g r e e n k e e p e r - p r o t o u r n a ment f o r the John Shanahan Memorial
T r o p h y w a s held on J u l y 19th a t the
W o o d l a n d Golf Club, A u b u r n d a l e , Mass.
P l a y this y e a r was in Scotch f o u r s o m e s ,
with selected drives, and this n e w t y p e
of play f o r this t o u r n a m e n t
proved
p o p u l a r with m o s t of the field. Scoring
was p a r t i c u l a r l y good, with a t least half
of t h e n e t scores u n d e r seventy.
T h e T r o p h y , which goes to first n e t ,
was won by Les W i l d g u s t a n d J u g MeS p a d e n of W i n c h e s t e r with 81-22-59.
Second n e t w e n t to P a u l W a n b e r g and
A r t J o h n s o n of W e s t o n with 82-22-60.
T h e best score t u r n e d in w a s a gross 71
by Ralph T h o m a s a n d J e r r y G i a n f e r a n t e .
T h r e e t e a m s tied with gross 72, W a l t e r
and T o m Howe of Wellesley,
Emil
Mashie and Alex B r i g g s of Oak Hill,
and Tom M a h a n and Phil F r e d e r i c k s o n
of United Shoe.
The summary.
H a r o l d McSpaden, Leslie Wildgust, Winchester—81-22-59.
A r t J o h n s o n , P a u l W a n b e r g , Weston—•
82-22-60.

H e n r y Mclvor, A r t A n d e r s o n , B r a e B u r n
—79-18-61.
Bill Cosgrove. Simeo Braio, W a c h u s e t t
-79-17-62.
J o h n B e r n a r d i , F r a n k Wilson, Charles
River—81-18-63.
J o h n H o r g a n , E d Ohlson, S e g r e g a n s e t t
-75-12-63.
J o e Stein, W. J . McBride, S a n d y B u r r
-79-16-63.
J a c k F o r d , J o h n Counsel, S a l e m —
76-13-63.
A r t Gusa, J o h n Latvis, T a t n u c k —
80-17-63.
George Apple, L. G. S t o t t , M e a d o w
Brook—82-18-64.
J o h n H o m a n , H a r o l d Mosher, Riverside
-82-18-64.
John Freitas, Manuel Braga, Bristol—
87-22-65.
P a u l Yurick, J o e Oldfield, S t o n e y B r a e
—76-11-65.
H a r o l d Cahoon, E d H a n s o n , C o n c o r d —
80-15-65.
Maurice H y l a n d , H. C. Darling, J u n i p e r
Hill—76-11-65.
Bob Crowley, Nick B r u n o , N o r f o l k —
75-10-65.

L e s t e r D u n n , Steve H a n n o n , W i n t h r o p
—84-19-65.
M a r t y Higgins, Guy West, Fall R i v e r —
80-14-66.
Clarence Gibney, Sam Mitchell, Por>kapoag—87-21-66.
J e r r y G i a n f e r a n t e , Ralph Thomas,
Monoosnock—71-5-66.
George Gordon, M a r t i n Green, W a n n a moisett—81-15-66.
T o m Howe, W a l t e r Howe, W e l l e s l e y —
72-5-67. _
Roland W i n g a t e , H o w a r d F a r r a n t , T h e
C o u n t r y Club—82-15-67.
Leslie Cottrell, Ted Swanson, B e a r Hill
—77-9-68.
E d B u r k e , R. W. P e c k h a m , N e w p o r t —
73-5-68.
Jack Leary, J. J. Fitzpatrick, Scituate
—81-12-69.
George F o r d , P. Cassidy, N e e d h a m —
81-12-69.
Steve Golbert, M. Sperandio, M a r l b o r o
—77-8-69.
Gene A n d e r s o n , Mike McDonough,
Oyster Harbors—82-12-70.
Mike Haley, Bud H a y d e n , W o o d l a n d —
84-14-70.
J o h n Gilholm, Mike O ' G r a d y , New Bedford—79-9-70.
Alex Briggs, Emil Mashie, Oak H i l l —
72-0-72.
Tom Mahan, Phil F r e d e r i c k s o n , United
Shoe—72-0-72.
F r e d Lowe, Louis M a r e t t i , O a k l e y —
89-15-74.
H a r r y N e t t l e b l a d t . Tom M a t t u s , P a k a c h o a g Hill—82-12-74.
H. B. Randall, A. M. B a r n e y , W a m p anoag—88-14-74.
Gab Gavatsos, J i m McCormack, U n i c o r n
—83-8-75.
Charles M c A n d r e w , J o h n Sheehan, Albemarie—79-0-79.
Alex Bird, Cliff H u n t , M a r s h f i e l d —
79-0-79.
Jim Fogertey, Jim Ferme, Myopia—
80-0-80.

J o h n M c G r e g o r , C. Salter, Ould Newbury—84-0-84.
Charles Malloy, Ralph W e n t w o r t h , Wildwood—85-0-85.
Charles Chambers, R. D. Mansfield,
Colonial—85-0-85.
J a c k H a r v e y , Bill Margeson, S a g a m o r e
-86-0-86.

Ed Lally, Gene M a u r o ,
86-0-86.

Framingham—

George A s p a c h e r , Bill Clark, D. W. Field
—87-0-87.
T o n y Slipkowsky, Tom B u r k e , Amesbury—92-0-92.

__
^

' V

M A K E H/ i P P Y

GOLFERS

For beautifully smooth greens use varieties
best suited to your soil and climate. Our
individual blending service, backed by our
m a n y y e a r s o f e x p e r i e n c e , is y o u r g u a r a n t e e of better service and l o w e r cost. W r i t e
for details.

H'jpfr^*®.

y&tamdg/uijcsj&ad

WOODRUFF

N
a

SONS

MILFORD

CONN.

The Si9n of
Good

Seeds

A New Friend
f o r every

Greenskeeper and Greens Chairman

A p u r e , soil building o r g a n i c m a t t e r , rich in n i t r o g e n , e n t i r e l y f r e e of
weed seeds and f o r e i g n m a t t e r . An ideal m e d i u m f o r composting. Light,
f l u f f y , clean and odorless. P a c k e d in 200 p o u n d c o n t a i n e r s (12 cu. f t .
compressed to 7 ) — r e a d y f o r use r e q u i r i n g no s h r e d d i n g , g r i n d i n g or
breaking.
A N A L Y S I S — M o i s t u r e — 4 4 . 8 7 , On D r y Basis—Asfcr 8 . 6 8 % , Organic
m a t t e r 9 1 . 6 7 % , Acidity p H — 6 . 0 (7 is n e u t r a l ) . C a l c i u m — 1 . 6 8 ^ , Maxim u m w a t e r holding c a p a c i t y — 5 3 0 . 6 4 % .

BEECK

9

§

85 STATE STREET — BOSTON, MASS.
T e s t e d S e e d s a n d V . C. F a i r w a y

—THE

LARGEST

SEED

HOUSE

IN

You can depend upon our

Fertilizer

NEW

ENGLAND

advertisers,,

Accepting

a Definite

Offer

A p e d e s t r i a n on a r o a d t h a t paralleled
p a r t of a golf course w a s hit on t h e
head by a ball.
R e c o v e r i n g quickly, he r u s h e d in a
r a g e to t h e t e e w h e n c e t h e ball h a d
been driven and y e l l e d :
" W h o hit t h a t ball? You'll pay p l e n t y
f o r this. You see this l u m p t h a t ' s
comin' on m y head. Well, I'll sue you
f o r $1,000."
E n s u e d some discussion, d u r i n g which
t h e pain of t h e blow d i s a p p e a r e d , a n d
t h e victim, s o m e w h a t mollified, asserted :
"Well, you d i d n ' t aim to do it, and to
save a lot of lawin', I'll let you off easy
for $10."
" B u t , m y dear s i r , " p r o t e s t e d t h e
p l a y e r who had m a d e such a wild drive,
" I saw you on t h e road. B u t d i d n ' t you
h e a r me call ' F o r e ' ? "
T h e victim p a u s e d a m o m e n t a n d replied :
"No, I d i d n ' t h e a r you say ' f o u r ' b u t
I'll t a k e i t . "
•—Bank Notes.

A m o n g t h e g r e a t epics in t h e English
l a n g u a g e a r e Lincoln's G e t t y s b u r g Address, Shelley's " S k y l a r k , " B u r n s ' " T o
a M o u n t a i n D a i s y , " and S e n a t o r Ingalls'
"Grass."
J o h n J a m e s Ingalls, class 1855,
Williams College, deceased 1900,
s t a t e s m a n , scholar, was,
among
many other honored appointments,
a c t i n g vice-president of t h e United
S t a t e s ; p r e s i d e n t of U. S. Senate,
and a w r i t e r of note. His " T r i b u t e
to G r a s s " f o l l o w s :
" L y i n g in t h e sunshine a m o n g t h e
b u t t e r c u p s and d a n d e l i o n s in May,
scarcely h i g h e r in intelligence t h a n t h e
m i n u t e t e n a n t s of t h a t mimic wilderness, o u r e a r l i e s t recollections a r e of
grass, a n d w h e n t h e fitful f e v e r is ended
and t h e foolish w r a n g l e of m a r k e t and
f o r u m is closed, g r a s s heals over t h e sear
which our descent h a s made, and t h e
c a r p e t of t h e i n f a n t becomes t h e b l a n k e t
of t h e dead.
" G r a s s is t h e f o r g i v e n e s s of n a t u r e —
h e r c o n s t a n t b e n e d i c t i o n . Fields t r a m p led w i t h b a t t l e , s c a r r e d with t h e r u t s of
c a n n o n , g r o w g r e e n a g a i n with grass,
and
carnage
is f o r g o t t e n .
Streets
a b a n d o n e d b y traffic become grassg r o w n like r u r a l lanes and a r e oblitera t e d . F o r e s t s decay, h a r v e s t s perish,
flowers vanish, b u t grass is i m m o r t a l .

B e l e a g u e r e d b y t h e sullen hosts of
w i n t e r , it w i t h d r a w s into t h e i m p r e g nable f o r t r e s s of its s u b t e r a n e a n vitality
and e m e r g e s u p o n the first solicitation
of Spring.
Sown by t h e winds, by
w a n d e r i n g birds, p r o p a g a t e d by t h e
subtle h o r t i c u l t u r e of t h e elements,
which a r e its m i n i s t e r s and servants, it
s o f t e n s t h e r u d e outline of the world.
Its t e n a c i o u s fibres hold t h e e a r t h in its
place, a n d p r e v e n t its soluble comp o n e n t s f r o m w a s h i n g into t h e sea. It
invades t h e solitude of deserts, climbs
t h e inacessible slopes a n d f o r b i d d i n g
pinnacles of m o u n t a i n s , modifies climates, and determines the
history,
c h a r a c t e r a n d d e s t i n y of nations. Unobstrusive and p a t i e n t , it has i m m o r t a l
vigor a n d aggression. Banished f r o m t h e
t h o r o u g h f a r e • or t h e field, it bides its
time to r e t u r n , and w h e n vigilance is
r e l a x e d , or t h e d y n a s t y h a s perished, it
silently r e s u m e s its t h r o n e f r o m which
it has been expelled b u t which it n e v e r
abdicates. It b e a r s no b l a z o n r y of bloom
to c h a r m t h e senses with f r a g r a n c e or
splendor, b u t its homely h u e is m o r e
e n c h a n t i n g t h a n t h e lily or t h e rose. It
yields no f r u i t in e a r t h or air, and y e t
should its h a r v e s t f a i l f o r a single y e a r
f a m i n e would d e p o p u l a t e t h e w o r l d . "
— S e e d T r a d e News.

TURF

INJURY BY A
BEETLE

MANURE

W. D. W h i t c o m b , E n t o m o l o g i s t
Mass. S t a t e College Field S t a t i o n
Considerable i n j u r y t o t u r f on several
golf courses w a s f o u n d J u l y 12-15 f r o m
a small beetle which h e r e t o f o r e was n o t
considered a serious pest. This b e e t l e
is one of t h e m a n u r e b e e t l e s and has no
common name.
Scientifically, it is
called Ataenius cognatus, a n d belongs to
t h e f a m i l y S c a r a b a e i d a e which i n c l u d e s
t h e J u n e beetles, t h e J a p a n e s e beetle,
and t h e Asiatic beetle. I t is a n a t i v e
insect a n d h a s been f o u n d in most of
the north central and
northeastern
states, usually n e a r cow d u n g in pastures.
I n j u r y to t u r f is caused by t h e g r u b s
which live in t h e soil a n d e a t t h e roots
of t h e grass. In t h e m o s t seriously inf e s t e d spots t h e t u r f can be easily rolled
back in l a r g e sections. Also, t h e holes
which t h e b e e t l e s m a k e in e m e r g i n g f r o m
t h e soil m i g h t be h a r m f u l on g r e e n s b u t

-USE THE NEW I D E \ L BULLDOG
Greenkeepers, charged with the responsibility of keeping courses in the
best possible condition, have for years standardized on IDEAL equipment. Designed for durability and economical operation Bulldog gang
mowers produce results that win the acclaim of the Greens Committee.
They cut large areas faster and with fewer men.
Available in 3, S, 7 and 9 gangs, interchange
able. Seven or five-blade units optional.
"Bulldog" units have drop-forged ring gears,
cut steel pinion gears, one-piece steel roller,
chrome-nickel steel double-edged bottom
knife, and heavy chrome-nickel steel reels.
Units may be lifted off the ground for speedy
transportation over the roughest areas.
A copy of the new 1937 catalog of mowing
equipment for golf courses should be in your
files for ready reference. Write for your copy
t_

_„

POWER GREENS MOWER
Duplicates s k i l l f u l handwork, r e d u c e s costs and prod u c e s
finer
greens.
Write
for a free demonstration.

IDEAL MOWER SALES AND SERVICE
111 CYPRESS STREET—BROOKLINE, MASS.
Phone Beacon 2898 - 2899

so f a r i n j u r y has n o t been f o u n d on
greens.
-The-feeetle is 5 m m . long ( a b o u t 3-16
of an inch) and a b o u t one-half as wide.
W h e n m a t u r e t h e y a r e d a r k b r o w n or
black in color, b u t m a n y of t h e m a r e
v e r y light b r o w n or t a n in color when
t h e y first e m e r g e f r o m t h e soil. The
g r u b s a r e a b o u t 1-4 inch long, white
with a light b r o w n head, and usually
curled in a position typical of white
grubs. T h e a b d o m e n has a d a r k purplish
a p p e a r a n c e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of g r u b s of
this f a m i l y which f e e d on soil.
Little is k n o w n a b o u t t h e life history
b u t t h e beetles a p p a r e n t l y spend t h e
w i n t e r in or u n d e r d r y m a n u r e and t h e y
m a y be active on w a r m days t h r o u g h o u t
t h e w i n t e r . I t is p r e s u m e d t h a t t h e eggs
a r e laid in t h e s p r i n g and g r u b s f e e d in
t h e soil d u r i n g May and J u n e . T h e r e is
p r o b a b l y one g e n e r a t i o n in a y e a r , a n d
t h e beetles which a r e a p p e a r i n g now
(mid to late J u l y ) will live t h r o u g h n e x t
winter.
The s t a n d a r d control f o r g r u b s of this
kind is t h e application of lead a r s e n a t e
to t h e soil, a n d a l t h o u g h no definite exp e r i m e n t s a r e available observations on
t h e i n f e s t e d golf courses i n d i c a t e t h a t
such t r e a t m e n t is effective a g a i n s t this
insect. So f a r , no serious d a m a g e has
b e e n observed on g r e e n s or a p p r o a c h e s
which have been t r e a t e d with lead
a r s e n a t e in r e c e n t y e a r s .
Since these g r u b s a r e small, it is believed t h a t 3 p o u n d s of lead a r s e n a t e to
1,000 s q u a r e f e e t of t u r f is a sufficient
dosage. This m a y be applied either as
a s p r a y in 12 gallons of w a t e r , or as a
t o p dressing with loam or sand. In either
case, it should be t h o r o u g h l y washed in
as soon as possible. A p p a r e n t l y , most
of t h e d a m a g e is done in May and J u n e
and a s p r i n g t r e a t m e n t is m o s t timely.
Lead a r s e n a t e m a y be applied, however,
w h e n e v e r it is k n o w n the g r u b s a r e f e e d ing.
W h y this b e e t l e should s u d d e n l y become i n j u r i o u s to t u r f in this locality
c a n n o t be definitely d e t e r m i n e d .
App a r e n t l y , it is p r e s e n t in limited n u m b e r s w h e r e v e r cow m a n u r e is p r e s e n t
f o r a n y l e n g t h of time. It so h a p p e n s
t h a t t h e m o s t seriously i n f e s t e d golf
courses a r e located c o m p a r a t i v e l y n e a r
to extensive t r u c k f a r m s , w h e r e much
m a n u r e is piled a n d used each y e a r . The
p a s t w i n t e r was t h e mildest in several
y e a r s a n d p e r h a p s t h e survival of this
beetle was c o r r e s p o n d i n g l y
greater.
A b u n d a n t r a i n aided a l u x u r i a n t g r o w t h

of grass, which w a s f a v o r a b l e to t h e dev e l o p m e n t and activity of these beetles.
Many of these n a t i v e insects
are
sporadic in t h e i r a b u n d a n c e a n d destructive feeding.
They may
cause
serious i n j u r y to t u r f n e x t y e a r , a n d
t h e y m a y n o t be economically i n j u r i o u s
f o r several years. T h e i n j u r y by this
m a n u r e beetle is u n f o r t u n a t e f o r t h e inf e s t e d a r e a s , T b u t so f a r it does n o t seem
advisable to t r e a t large a r e a s of uninf e s t e d f a i r w a y s m e r e l y f o r f u t u r e protection.
Service Section C o m m i t t e e .

TURF

DISEASES

(Large Brown Patch)
(Small Brown

Patch)
(Spot

Blight)

A t t h e p r e s e n t cycle we g r e e n k e e p e r s
a r e going t h r o u g h , t h e r e seems to be
more a n d more disease a t t a c k i n g our
t u r f . In o r d e r " t o p r o g r e s s with t h e
times, I t h i n k we m u s t f a m i l i a r i z e ourselves with t h e cause of diseases, t h e
t i m e t h e y a p p e a r , symptoms, c u l t u r a l
conditions, and l a s t b u t n o t least, controls.
In o r d e r to have t h e least t r o u b l e with
t u r f diseases, you should consider y o u r
g r e e n s with r e g a r d to t h e m e c h a n i c a l
analysis, d r a i n a g e , and c o n t o u r of t h e
greens. T u r f diseases a r e m o r e common
on poorly c o n s t r u c t e d g r e e n s t h a t have
a poor d r a i n a g e a n d g r e e n s h a v i n g an
a b u n d a n c e of organic m a t t e r such as
leaf mold, p e a t moss, etc. These f a c t o r s ,
combined with v a r i o u s t e m p e r a t u r e s ,
h u m i d i t y and r a i n f a l l ( n a t u r a l and a r t i ficial) cause d i f f e r e n t t u r f diseases such
as small b r o w n p a t c h
(dollar
spot),
large b r o w n p a t c h (Rhizoctonia s o l a n i ) ,
spot blight ( P y t h i u m ) etc.
Of these diseases, l a r g e b r o w n p a t c h
is u n d o u b t e d l y t h e m o s t common. Rhizoctonia is simply a f u n g u s which belongs
t o a l a r g e g r o u p of lower plants. These
f u n g i a r e n o t identical with t h e g e n e r a l
m a k e u p of t h e p l a n t , however, b u t a r e
m a d e u p of chains of cells k n o w n as
h y p h a e . These h y p h a e c a n n o t m a n u f a c t u r e their own f o o d so have to obt a i n n u t r i m e n t either f r o m living p l a n t s
or a n i m a l s ( p a r a s i t e s ) , or f r o m organic
matter (saprphytes).
F u n g i g e n e r a l l y p r o d u c e spores f o r
p r o p a g a t i o n p u r p o s e s . These spores m a y
be considered i n d i r e c t l y as a s e e d i n g

V E L V E T BENT GRASS
THE

FINEST

OF ALL TURF

FOR GOLF GREENS

&

GRASSES

LAWNS

1936 CROP OF SEED NOW AVAILABLE
Purity 89.5%, Inert Matter 9.4 %
Other Grasses 0 . 9 % ,

Germination 88.0%

Inquire of Y o u r S e e d Dealer,

or W r i t e U s

Directly—-

EMERALD FARM
NEWTON

-

-

-

( G r o w e r s of V e l v e t B e n t

a g e n t . The spores a r e microscopic in
size and millions in n u m b e r .
The
sclerotium is a n o t h e r body t h a t h a s a
close connection
with
some
fungi.
Sclerotia a r e g e n e r a l l y t h e d o r m a n t or
r e s t i n g stage of Rhizoctonia. A Sclerot i u m is a v e r y h a r d m a s s composed of a
m a s s of t i g h t l y woven h y p h a l t h r e a d s ,
t h e s e t h r e a d s b e i n g used to hold-over
t h e f u n g u s d u r i n g a d v e r s e w e a t h e r conditions.
I t is quite i n t e r e s t i n g to know t h a t
m o s t of our soils have a c e r t a i n a m o u n t
of sclerotia n e a r or on t h e s u r f a c e .
E v e n t h o u g h t h e t u r f is n o t a t t a c k e d
is no sign t h a t sclerotial bodies a r e n o t
p r e s e n t , and w h e n t h e r i g h t conditions
a r r i v e , t h e y will begin to grow.
W h e n t h e t e m p e r a t u r e rises to a b o u t
85 d e g r e e s F. a n d t h e n drops to a b o u t
65, rising a g a i n to 73 or 75 and rem a i n i n g t h e r e , ideal conditions a r e prese n t f o r Rhizoctonia solani to become
parasitic. This is t h e t i m e to apply a
f u n g i c i d e , b e f o r e a n y h a r m is done. If
a t this critical s t a g e no f u n g i c i d e is applied, the h y p h a e c o n t i n u e to s p r e a d to
the leaves, e n t e r i n g t h e m a t t h e n u m e r ous p o r e s or openings called s t o m a t a .
Once inside, n o t h i n g can be done to

NEW JERSEY
Grass

Seed)

prevent the parasite f r o m destroying the
l e a f , a l t h o u g h if some f u n g i c i d e is applied, it will help to p r e v e n t t h e f u n g u s
f r o m s p r e a d i n g to o t h e r p a r t s of t h e
g r e e n . T h e f u n g i c i d e f o r this l a r g e
b r o w n p a t c h is one ounce of corrosive
sublimate, 2 ounces of calomel mixed
with 50 gallons of w a t e r p e r 1000 s q u a r e
f e e t . Care should be t a k e n in s p r a y i n g
as u n e v e n s p r a y i n g m a y r e s u l t in b u r n ing of t h e grass.
P o l i n g or b r u s h i n g also aids in checking b r o w n p a t c h w h e n done in t h e e a r l y
m o r n i n g or a n y p a r t of t h e day or n i g h t
when t h e disease is noticed.
Dollar spot is similar to l a r g e b r o w n
p a t c h but, however, is m u c h smaller in
size and t h e f u n g u s s p r e a d s m u c h m o r e
rapidly. This disease will a p p e a r in v e r y
h o t and d a m p w e a t h e r w h e n suddenly
cooled down. It m a y be noted t h a t this
disease shows u p m o r e c-n velvet b e n t
t h a n c r e e p i n g b e n t and least of all on
colonial b e n t . Poling p r o b a b l y does n o t
help to a n y g r e a t e x t e n t in controlling
this disease as t h e disease works too
f a s t . T h e same f u n g i c i d e m i x t u r e can
be used f o r this disease as f o r large
b r o w n natch.
P y t h i u m — s o m e t i m e s called spot blight

—is n o t as common as t h e b r o w n
patches. This disease g e n e r a l l y c o m e j
in very acid soil h a v i n g poor d r a i n a g e .
It w o r k s b e s t a t a t e m p e r a t u r e of a b o u t
95 degrees F. T h e spots a p p e a r r e d d i s h
in color and can best be noticed in early
m o r n i n g , s o m e t i m e s being t a k e n f o r
small b r o w n patch, a l t h o u g h a t t i m e s
this disease has p a t c h e s as large as
large brown patch.
F u n g i c i d e s and m e r c u r y will n o t p r e v e n t this disease a n d c a n n o t be used as
a control. T h e o p e n i n g u p of t h e soil
such as f o r k i n g or spiking f o r a e r a t i o n ,
with t h e use of h y d r a t e d lime b e i n g
w o r k e d into t h e r o o t system, seems to
be t h e best control. Too m u c h w a t e r
should be avoided.
In conclusion, I find t h a t g r e e n s having t h e p r o p e r m e c h a n i c a l analysis,
d r a i n a g e , and c o n t o u r a r e n o t a f f e c t e d
with disease n e a r l y so m u c h as those
h a v i n g poor m e c h a n i c a l analysis, drainage and c o n t o u r . O v e r - w a t e r i n g and an
excess of r a i n f a l l p r o b a b l y plays a considerable role in o u r t u r f diseases.
S u b m i t t e d by
Alfred Berghorn,
Normanside Country
Elsmore, N. Y.
(A W i n t e r School P a p e r ) .

A

SINKING

Club,

FUND

One of t h e l a r g e s t t r o u b l e s and worr i e s f o r g r e e n k e e p e r s a n d c h a i r m e n of
g r e e n s c o m m i t t e e s is n o t h a v i n g e n o u g h
equipment
to
maintain
their
golf
courses. In most cases the g r e e n k e e p e r
has to do w i t h o u t e q u i p m e n t t h a t , no
doubt, would enable him to save a g r e a t
deal of t i m e and m o n e y , and also to imp r o v e t h e c u l t u r a l condition of t h e
course.
T h e r e is a w a y f o r g r e e n k e e p e r s to
g e t t h e e q u i p m e n t t h a t is n e e d e d in a
w a y t h a t you do n o t f e e l t h e c u t into
y o u r b u d g e t all a t one time. T h a t is
by h a v i n g a " S i n k i n g F u n d " .
This sinking f u n d consists of a cert a i n a m o u n t t h a t is p u t aside e v e r y y e a r
a n d is to be used only w h e n you need
some m a j o r e q u i p m e n t .
Some clubs t a k e t h e initial cost of t h e
e q u i p m e n t , divide it by t h e e x p e c t e d life
of t h e e q u i p m e n t , and g e t w h a t we t e r m
t h e depreciation of t h e e q u i p m e n t f o r
one y e a r . This d e p r e c i a t i o n is paid into
t h e sinking f u n d , a n d b y t h e t i m e y o u r
p r e s e n t e q u i p m e n t w e a r s o u t you al-

r e a d y have t h e price of y o u r new equipm e n t t o r e p l a c e t h e w o r n - o u t piece. I f ,
by good m a n a g e m e n t , you a r e able v«
e x t e n d t h e life of t h e e q u i p m e n t , you
m i g h t n o t need t o b u y a n y t h i n g f o r t h a t
p a r t i c u l a r y e a r — w h i c h will m a k e y o u r
sinking f u n d all t h e l a r g e r .
F o r example, a piece of e q u i p m e n t
cost $700.00, and t h e e x p e c t e d l i f e of
t h e e q u i p m e n t is 7 years.
Divide t h e
$700.00 by the 7 y e a r s and you have
$100.00 t h a t you p u t aside t h e first of
the year.
A n o t h e r v e r y good idea t h a t some of
t h e clubs a r e u s i n g to good a d v a n t a g e
is as f o l l o w s : If by good m a n a g e m e n t
t h e g r e e n k e e p e r has been able to save a
little on his b u d g e t , this is added to t h e
sinking f u n d . In a v e r y s h o r t time t h e
g r e e n k e e p e r will be able to save a little
so t h a t a t t h e end of t h e y e a r he will
benefit by having it added to his sinking f u n d . H o w e v e r , t h e r e is one t h i n g
t h a t m u s t be definitely u n d e r s t o o d . T h a t
is, if you save f r o m y o u r g r e e n s b u d g e t ,
t h e saving is n o t t a k e n f r o m you to be
spent in t h e club house or d e d u c t e d f r o m
next year's budget.
If this saving is t u r n e d over to t h e
g r e e n k e e p e r to be p u t in t h e sinking
f u n d it will give him an i n c e n t a t i v e to
improve his m a n a g e m e n t a n d costs, no
t h a t he m a y be able to g e t a m u c h
needed piece of e q u i p m e n t .
In all cases, e v e r y o n e has benefited by
t h e sinking f u n d . T h e club, by h a v i n g
a m o r e efficient g r e e n k e e p e r , and m o r e
e q u i p m e n t , which in t u r n will invariably lead to i m p r o v e d c u l t u r a l conditions.
Less w o r r y , time, and e n e r g y used in
the d i f f e r e n t jobs. This in t u r n is another saving to t h e club.
As f o r t h e g r e e n k e e p e r , he can improve t h e course with m a c h i n e r y t h a t
enables him to k e e p t h e cost of maint e n a n c e down as f a r as possible. A m a n
h a v i n g all t h e n e c e s s a r y e q u i p m e n t f o r
a p a r t i c u l a r j o b will do a b e t t e r job, be
happ5' a n d c o n t e n t e d . All of us know
the value of h a v i n g our m e n c o n t e n t e d
with e v e r y t h i n g a b o u t t h e job.
If you do n o t have a sinking f u n d a t
y o u r club, it is v e r y advisable to ask
y o u r g r e e n s c o m m i t t e e to a d o p t this
m e t h o d , e x p l a i n i n g t o t h e m t h a t this
f u n d is to be used only as a m e a n s of
g e t t i n g some n e w e q u i p m e n t — a n d onlyequipment. They, n o d o u b t will see t h e
good p o i n t s of t h e p l a n and a d o p t it.
W i t h o u t this plan, you m i g h t
find
yourself in a position w h e r e you w a n t to
r e p l a c e w o r n or a n t i q u a t e d m a c h i n e r y

PREVENT

The Perfect Combination

BROWN P A T C H
Leading

Turf

Victory

Authorities

declare

t h a t M e r c u r y is t h e e f f e c t i v e

ingrediOur

Its greatest

Corrosive

continued

e n t f o r c o n t r o l of B r o w n P a t c h .
Mixture,

2-3

S u b l i m a t e , is

Calomel,

1-3

Putting Green
testimonial

has

been

use for years by

England

endorsed.

Fertilizer
its

New

greenkeepers.
and

PFIZER

MERCURIAL

Contains

31 %

MIXTURE

Hovey's Grass Seed

Mercury
in

Write

for

Maiden

Lane — N e w York,

and

Reliable

Chas, Pfizer & Co., Inc.
81

Mixtures

circular

N.

Separate

Varieties

Productive

Hovey & Company
130 Broad

Y.

St.—Boston,

Han.

WINTER

Mass.

14S4 - 1455

HARDY—ACCLIMATED
RHODE

ISLAND

CREEPING
VELVET

B
Complete

E

N

T

GRASS
SEED
and Fairway Mixtures
of h i g h e s t q u a l i t y f o r 1 lowest price t h a t
s e e d of e q u a l quality c a n be o f f e r e d .

WATERING EQUIPMENT NS CARTIUP RT IEO NH AfSo r
from "Tee to Green
by

THE ORIGINATORS OF
MODERN GOLF COURSE
IRRIGATION

WRITTEN A
PREyour course.
Right
h e r e in s o u t h e r n N e w E n g l a n d is t h e
n a t u r a l h o m e of t h e e n t i r e f a m i l y of
the Bent grasses, the principal member
of w h i c h , n a m e l y R. I. B e n t , d e r i v e d
its n a m e f r o m this, the smallest state
in t h e union.
You c a n g r o w N A T U R E ' S O W N I N S U R A N C E i n t o -^your t u r f
by
using
F R E S H , V I A B I J E s e e d w h i c h g r o w s in
YOUR

BUCKNER MANUFACTURING CQ
FRESNO,CALiF
E L I Z A B E T H . M.J.
Distributed by
NEW ENGLAND TORO COMPANY

latitude

in

YOUR

country.

SAVE for your club: Buy your
direct f r o m the grower.

A.
KINGSTON

O n l y r e l i a b l e d e a l e r s a d v e r t i s e in t h e

N.

seed

PECKHAM
*HODE

NEWSLETTER.

SLAND

and you would have to go m u c h m o r e
deeply into your b u d g e t . In some cases
you m i g h t have to lower y o u r s t a n d a r d
of m a i n t e n a n c e to m a k e u p f o r t h e cost
of t h e e q u i p m e n t .
If you have this sinking f u n d a t y o u r
club, and you would like to m a k e a rep o r t to t h e g r e e n s c o m m i t t e e on a particular piece of e q u i p m e n t t h a t you would
like to b u y out of t h e sinking f u n d , h e r e
a r e some of t h e questions t h a t m u s t be
a n s w e r e d first:
1. Can you b u y a similar piece of
m a c h i n e r y a t a lower price?
2. Is it a necessity?
3. Is it time-saving?
4. Will it improve t h e c u l t u r a l conditions of t h e course?
5. Will it improve the p l a y i n g conditions?
6. A r e t h e m e n capable of using it
efficiently?
7. Will t h e r e lie n e c e s s a r y a l t e r a t i o n s
or additions m a d e because of t h e
equipment?
Submitted by
E m e r y Thomas,
Red Hook Golf Club,
R e d Hook, N e w York.
(A W i n t e r School p a p e r ) .
THE

PRODUCTION CAPACITY
A GOLF COURSE

OF

One r a r e l y realizes t h e a m o u n t of lost
t i m e in labor h o u r s on a golf course.
Most of this lost t i m e is u n p r o d u c t i v e
t i m e due to the poor m a n a g e m e n t of
the greenkeeper. There are a great
m a n y i t e m s t h a t can be t h e cause of
u n p r o d u c t i v e t i m e — a s poor r o u t i n g of
t h e w o r k m e n . By this I m e a n t h a t t h e y
m a y be w a l k i n g a g r e a t e r distance t h a n
is n e c e s s a r y to g e t to a c e r t a i n point.
T h e r e is also m u c h t i m e lost in labor
c h a n g i n g f r o m one j o b to a n o t h e r . B u t
on t o p of all this lost time, t h e r e is one
m o r e item t h a t I would like to discuss,
a n d t h a t is t h e effect of t h e n u m b e r of
r o u n d s of golf on t h e labor hours.
We h a d a v e r y i n t e r e s t i n g s t u d y of
the p r o d u c t i o n capacity of a golf course
in our W i n t e r School f o r G r e e n k e e p e r s
a t Mass. S t a t e College. E a c h s t u d e n t
w a s r e q u i r e d to t a k e t h e figures of his
own p a r t i c u l a r course a n d m a k e a g r a p h
on t h e p r o d u c t i o n c a p a c i t y of his course.
I d o n ' t believe t h e r e was a s t u d e n t in
t h e class who w a s n ' t s u r p r i s e d a t t h e
we all
w a y this g r a p h w o r k e d o u t ;
f o u n d t h a t t h e r e w e r e one or m o r e

o p e r a t i o n s we had been doing t h a t w e r e
c r e a t i n g a highly added cost, wWbh
could most likely have b e e n c o r r e c t e d .
This a d d e d cost of a p a r t i c u l a r job w a s
ctue to t h e o p e r a t i o n of t h e job whe-i a
h e a v y play was on t h e course, b u t which
could have been done when play w a s n ' t
so h e a v y — a s early in t h e m o r n i n g , late
in t h e a f t e r n o o n , or on a c e r t a i n day
of the week. Or in some cases a t n i g h t ,
such as t h e m o w i n g of f a i r w a y s b e f o r e
a tournament.
We a r r i v e a t t h e s e lost labor h o u r s b y
t a k i n g t h e m i n i m u m t i m e r e q u i r e d to do
a c e r t a i n o p e r a t i o n w i t h o u t play i n t e r r u p t i o n or influence. T h e n t a k e t h e
m a x i m u m t i m e t h a t it t a k e s to do t h e
same o p e r a t i o n due to p l a y e r i n t e r r u p tion. T h e m i n i m u m s u b t r a c t e d f r o m t h e
m a x i m u m gives t h e lost t i m e due to
play, b u t this lost t i m e varies with t h e
n u m b e r of r o u n d s of golf t h a t pass
t h r o u g h t h e course when a p a r t i c u l a r
job is being done.
You a r e usually
o p e r a t i n g u n d e r a m a r g i n of s a f e t y . By
this I m e a n t h a t you can have an increase in play a n d it will n o t a f f e c t
added cost until it r e a c h e s a c e r t a i n
n u m b e r of r o u n d s . F o r e x a m p l e — i f you
only have one p l a y e r a day, it still is
costing you j u s t as m u c h as t h o u g h you
were h a v i n g y o u r r e g u l a r play because
you have to k e e p t h e course in j u s t as
good shape. W h e n t h e play goes over
t h e m a r g i n of s a f e t y , it r e s u l t s in a d d e d
cost. T h e w a y to c o r r e c t these a d d e d
costs f r o m being so high is to a r r a n g e
t h e o p e r a t i o n s d i f f e r e n t l y . F o r example,
if t h e play f o r some c e r t a i n day w e r e
g o i n g to be heavy and you were mowing g r e e n s and w a n t e d to r e d u c e t h e
a d d e d cost you would e i t h e r have to
s t a r t m o w i n g e a r l i e r in t h e m o r n i n g , so
as to g e t a h e a d of t h e l a r g e s t a m o u n t
of play t h a t would l a t e r be on t h e
course,, or add m o r e m e n to m o w i n g t h e
greens, so as to r e d u c e t h e a m o u n t of
i n t e r f e r e n c e on h o l d u p due to players.
I believe t h a t t h e a v e r a g e g r e e n k e e p er does n o t realize this a m o u n t of labor
h o u r s t h a t a r e lost or stolen a w a y f r o m
him due to his own poor m a n a g e m e n t .
It n o t only r e s u l t s in a loss of labor
h o u r s to t h e g r e e n k e e p e r , b u t a loss in
dollars a n d cents to t h e club.
Submitted

by

E a r l F. Y e s b e r g e r ,
H o m e l i n k s C o u n t r y Club,
N o r t h Olmsted, Ohio.
(A W i n t e r School f o r G r e e n k e e p e r s
paper).

A

N e w ground wheel gives
fect traction.

B—Exclusive
time
adjustment.

saving

perhand

Worthington Cutting Units Easily Mow the Longest, Toughest Grass
H e a v y rains this year have m a d e grass grow f a s t e r , higher and stronger. Ordin a r y — o r w o r n o u t c u t t i n g u n i t s will n o t do t h e j o b . O r d e r W o r t h i n g t o n c u t t i n g u n i t s
t o d a y — y o u ' l l p l e a s e y o u r club m e m b e r s a n d y o u r G r e e n C h a i r m a n w h e n t h e y p l a y on
t h e b e a u t i f u l g r e e n s a n d f a i r w a y s t h a t a r e k e p t in p e r f e c t c o n d i t i o n w i t h W o r t h i n g t o n .
Mail c o u p o n b e l o w tod a y f o r i n f o r m a t i o n on
the cutting unit
that
saves time, trouble and
money.

-I

50 Pounds
Down Pressure

50 E x t r a P o u n d s D o w n Pressure (that other units do not h a v e )
holds units down
p r e v e n t s b o b b i n g — g i v e s an e v e n cut at hign
s p e e d s . T h i s f e a t u r e is e x c l u s i v e w i t h W o r t h i n g t o n .
WORTHINGTON MOWER COMPANY
Stroudsburg, Pa.—Dept. N
Please sent, without obligation, complete
i n f o r m a t i o n on your e q u i p m e n t .
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\mjMny

Address
City

Ufortmngtort
M tower

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M a i n Office
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Calenders and Musings
T h a n k s to Charlie P a r k e r of t h e W i a n n o Club whose, " M e l a n c h o l y bit
of v e r s e " as K e n Goit t e r m e d his poem, " W o e is m e — t h e Toro C a l e n d a r
is no m o r e " , K e n has come t h r u f o r us with an e n t i r e l y n e w series s t a r t i n g
with 1938.
Our supply will be limited, t h e r e f o r e we s u g g e s t you r e t u r n t h e request c a r d which will be mailed to you l a t e r this fall.
W e have j u s t received a n o t h e r v e r y fitting verse p r o m p t e d by t h e
Toro C a l e n d a r . This one deals with the Goats while Charles' seemed to
p r e f e r t h e Dinosaurs.
I t is c o n t r i b u t e d by Dr. William H . R a u c h f u s s , C u r a t o r of t h e Dey
Mansion a t P r e a k n e s s , N. J .

" T H E FIRST G A N G - M O W E R "
T h i r t e e n goats, all in a row,
See t h e c r i t t e r s how t h e y m o w !
W h a t a g r e a t wide swath t h e y m a k e !
( " O l d Stone H a m m e r " n e e d s a r a k e ) .
N e i g h b o r s come to see t h e show—•
(No one has to " c o u g h u p d o u g h " ) .
" H e ' s a wise g u y , " all d e c l a r e —
( " O l d Stone H a m m e r " with long h a i r ) .
He bequeathed posterity
Food f o r t h o u g h t , a n e w " i d e e . "
M o d e r n m a n need be no b l o w e r :
His is n o t t h e first g a n g - m o w e r .
W m . H. R a u c h f u s s .
I t is a p l e a s u r e to publicly a c k n o w l e d g e our a p p r e c i a t i o n to these
two m e n who have helped us " s m i l e " which a f t e r all is a large p a r t of
life.

N e w

England
WEST

T o r o

NEWTON,

W h e n writing, mention

MASS.

NEWSLETTER.

Co,