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Portland,

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1963

NORTHWEST

TURFGRASS MEMBERSHIP

DUES

Golf Courses—
A n n u a l dues
Less than 18 holes
$20
18 holes or more
40
Nursery, landscaping and ground spraying firms
20
Architects and engineering firms
20
Equipment and material supply firms
20
Participating membership
10
Associate membership
5
A l l others
20
Cemeteries—
Less than 400 interments per annum
400 to 600 interments per annum
600 to 800 interments per annum
More than 800 interments per annum
Park

Departments—
Less than 150 acres total area
150 acres or more

20
25
30
40
20
40

1.

Annual Dues payable on or before M a y 15th each year.
are based on annual due date nonprorated.

Dues

2.

Membership includes registration fee for one person at Annual
Turf Conference.
Other persons from member organization
registration fee $5.00.

3.

N O I N I T I A T I O N FEES A R E

4.

Nonmembers may attend the annual Conference by paying
$10.00 registraion fee.
For further information on dues, contact Northwest Turf Treasurer.

CHARGED.

1

It has been an honor and privilege to serve as your President of
the Northwest Turfgrass Association during 1962-63. I've been deeply
interested in this organization for the past 14 years. I served as treasurer
for several years and in these years I have seen this organization grow.
We have a great deal more interest from our good neighbors, the
Canadians. Whoever attended the conference in Portland, Oregon, in
September could see by the standing Oregon groups that they have a
growing interest in our organization also.
It has been said each year that this has been our biggest and best
conference but I can sincerely say that the one held in Portland this
year was the biggest ever.
I also express my deep appreciation to the board of directors and
my committees who performed their duties so faithfully this past year
and made it our biggest.
I want to extend my best wishes to Milt Bauman, your new President, who I know will be very sincere and active as he has always been
for your organization.
Henry W. Land, Sr.
Superintendent, Tacoma Golf & Country Club

Northwest Turfgrass Association
OFFICERS

1963
Henry W. Land, Sr. President
Milt Bauman
Vice President
Dick Haskell
Treasurer
Roy L. Goss
Executive Secretary
B O A R D OF

1964
Milt Bauman
Ken Putnam
Dick Haskell
Roy L. Goss

DIRECTORS

Milt Bauman

Overlake Golf & Country Club
P.O. Box 97, Medina, Washington
Manny Gueho
Vancouver Golf Club
New Westminster, British Columbia
John Harrison
Hayden Lake Golf and Country Club
Hayden Lake, Idaho
Dick Haskell
Seattle Park Department
4101 Beacon Ave., Seattle 88, Washington
Henry W. Land, Sr.
Tacoma Country and Golf Club
320 So. 129, Tacoma, Washington
Harvey Junor
Portland Golf Club
Portland, Oregon
Carl Kuhn
H. D. Fowler Company
901 Lane Street, Seattle, Washington
Glen Proctor
Rainier Golf & Country Club
2222 So. 111th, Seattle, Washington
Ken Putnam
Seattle Golf and Country Club
Seattle, Washington
John Zoller
Eugene Golf and Country Club
Eugene, Oregon
A. Vernon Macan, Honorary Victoria Golf and Country Club
Victoria, British Columbia

1

T A B L E OF C O N T E N T S

Page
What is Good Turfgrass Seed—E. E. Hardin

3

Which Grasses Are Best For Turf—Norman Goetze

5

What Happens to Pesticides Applied to Turf—V. A. Freed

8

Calibration of Spray Equipment—Herb Hill

8

Principles of Draining Turfgrass Soils—Marvin Shearer

14

Public Relations and the Turfgrass Specialist—J. L. Grey

17

Climate and Turfgrass Diseases—C. J. Gould

29

Panel Discussion, Advances in Management—Ed Fluter,

Chairman

John Zoiler, Harvey Junor, and Milt Bauman

44

Northwest Turfgrass Fertility Research Report—Roy L. Goss

50

Northwest Turfgrass Association Membership

55

Northwest Turfgrass Conference Attendance 1963

59

2

T H E I N F O R M A T I O N IS T H E R E , R E A D IT

by E. E. Hardin
Seed Technologist, Oregon State University
Guarantees are popular these days. A person doesn't think of buying such things as cars, batteries, tires, watches, household appliances,
without first checking on the guarantee. You also have guarantees of a
kind as turf people buying seed. In fact, you can buy seed with two
types of guarantees. First of all, you can buy certified seed which
guarantees the genetic purity of the seed. This assures you of the exact
variety which you feel you would like to plant. The second type of
guarantee available to you is the analysis tag. Both state and federal
laws insist that this information be provided for your protection.
Each state has a law of its own which regulates the sale of seed
within its boundary, and these requirements may vary from state to
state, but in general they all demand the same thing. In addition to the
laws enacted by each state, there is a Federal Seed Act which demands
that certain information be placed on all containers of seed which are
shipped from one state to another. The Federal Seed Act states that the
seed being shipped must conform to the laws of the state into which it
is being shipped. Both the state and federal laws are enforced by law
enforcement officials. The job of these people is to see that all seed is
truthfully labeled. They, in essence, are your guarantee.
This guarantee, like any other, is good only if you read the information available to you. You may have faced the same frustration as I
have — feeling elated to think that I had a guarantee on a blown-out
tire, only to find that the appraiser figured I had used 90% of the rubber
and consequently was entitled to only a 10% reduction on a new one.
With seeds it is a little different. If you read the label, it could
prevent a catastrophe. Let's examine a typical purity analysis tag and
see exactly what it does tell us. Most states require the following information:
Labeler's name
Labeler's address
Kind of seed
Lot number
% Pure seed
% Germination
% Inert
% Hard seed
% Weed seed
Date of germination
% Crop seed
Noxious weeds per lb.
It is the responsibility of the person whose name appears on the
label to insure the validity of the information and the contents of the
container. Most states do not limit what seed can be sold; only that the
quality be stated on the analysis tag. One exception is the noxious
weeds, which are usually limited.
The lot number identifies a specific lot of seed, and it is the symbol
which traces it back through marketing channels to its origin.
The analysis of the seed is a quality determination. Once seed has
been harvested and cleaned, a sample is drawn from the lot. This sample
should be representative of the entire lot and not a sample from any one
bag. The analysis performed on this sample is only as good as the sample
itself. Anyone can submit a sample. If the seed is certified, in most states
it must be sampled by a certification representative. There is also an
official sample which is usually drawn by a State Department of Agriculture representative. By far, the majority of samples are drawn by an
3

individual connected with a company involved in the cleaning, wholesale, or retail aspect of seed movement. The official sample is the most
reliable from the standpoint of being unbiased and having been sampled
by a prescribed method.
Once the sample is drawn, it is submitted to one of three types of
seed laboratories: federal, state, or commercial. Regional laboratories are
operated by the Federal Seed Act Division of USDA. These laboratories
are concerned with enforcing only the Federal Seed Act and do not accept commercial samples. The Official or State Seed Laboratory is associated with a University or State Department of Agriculture. These laboratories test both law enforcement and commercial samples. The third type
of laboratory is the commercial, which may be either of two types: those
who are employed by a seed company, or those who operate laboratories
as a private enterprise. Regardless of which one tests the seed, it is done
under a set standard so that all seed is tested by the same method. These
are the people who furnish the information that is used on an analysis tag.
In the purity analysis of a sample, all contaminants are removed from
the pure seed. These are then separated into three categories: inert
matter, weeds, and other crops. The pure seed and the three types of contaminants are weighed separately and reported in percentages.
The percent of pure seed, of course, is the kind of seed named on the
tag. The percent of inert matter consists of material which is not seed,
such as chaff, dirt, stones, stems, and broken seeds one-half or less than
the original size. The weed seeds are those undesirable seeds, including
noxious weeds, which are listed separately on the tag. Other crop seeds
are agricultural seeds, other than the kind under consideration, which by
themselves would be desirable.
One more determination is made when doing a purity analysis. A
large portion of seed is checked for noxious weeds. These are seeds which
are considered serious pests when accompanying a particular kind of seed.
The noxious weeds are divided into two types: primary and secondary
noxious. Primary noxious weed seeds are very serious and are usually
perennial in nature, being very difficult to control. Most seed laws prohibit sale of lots containing seed of this category. Secondary noxious weed
seeds are less serious than primary weeds, but when occurring in sufficient numbers, do become serious. State laws usually set limits on the
amount of secondary noxious weeds allowable in a lot. In most cases, the
name and number of the weed seeds must show on the label.
Last, but not least, we come to the germination tests. Seeds from the
pure seed are planted, and only those seeds which visibly appear to be
good are used. Germination methods vary according to the kind of seed,
but set standards are again uniform throughout the United States for
each kind of seed. Four hundred seeds are always planted in 4 x 100 seed
replicates. The germination percentage is based on the average number of
good seedlings counted in each of the 100 seed replicates. A total percent
figure is then calculated. Only seedlings which possess all of the essential
parts needed to develop into a normal plant are counted as good. One
exception is hard seed. Some seeds are impermeable by water at the time
of testing and so will not grow. These are called hard seed and are reported separately, but are considered potentially good seed.
Let us consider what all this means to you as a consumer. In the early
1950's, Merion bluegrass was a new variety, difficult to get, and high
priced. There was an individual selling this scarce grass door-to-door
for $1.00 per pound. At a local retail store, this grass was selling for approximately $5.00 per pound. This was real competition for the retailer,
and he questioned the law enforcement officials as to the legality of this
practice. I was involved in law enforcement work at this time, and when
4

we investigated this situation, we found that it was a farmer who was
growing the Merion bluegrass. He had raised his crop, cleaned his seed,
and sold the clean seed for probably $2.00 to $3.00 per pound. When the
material which had been cleaned from his seed was returned to him, he
fingered through this high-priced material and noticed that there appeared to be seeds still in it. He realized that there was some other material there, but felt that those seeds present would be valuable, so he arbitarily cut the retail price 4/5 and figured that the material would be well
worth the price. We immediately took a sample, ran a purity test, and
found the pure seed content to be about 13%, with a germination of about
9%. Fortunately, he was a good grower and kept his field clean, so there
were no noxious weeds or other serious contaminants in the sample.
Let's figure out just how much per pound an individual was paying
for the "good seed" in this material he was buying.
The term "pure live seed" is used often to express the quality of
seeds, even though it is not shown on the label. It is expressed as a percentage and means the amount of the contents of a container that is pure
seed and will germinate. The percentage is determined by multiplying the
percent of pure seed by the percent of germination and dividing by 100.
PLS = % pure seed x % germination or 13 X 9 = 1.17%
100
100
We can then divide the price per pound by the pure live seed percent
and obtain the cost per pound of pure live seed.
Cost per pound of PLS = cost per pound
% pure live seed
The cost in the illustration was $1.00 per pound. The pure live seed
was 1.17%. Substituting, we have cost per pound of PLS = $1.00
1.17%
When this is calculated, we find that his customers were actually
paying $85.47 for each pound of pure live seed. It is easy to see that if
one hundred pounds of seed were needed to seed a lawn, the cost would
be $8,547. For this kind of money, a person could have paved his yard and
gone fishing for a year!
This is just one example why one should read his guarantee — or
analysis in this case — and learn to interpret what it means.
W H I C H G R A S S E S A R E B E S T FOR T U R F ?

by Dr. Norman Goetze
Extension Farm Crops Specialist, Oregon State University
Decisions on grass varieties and mixtures are often made on the basis
of price or in haste. Grass seed is one of the lowest costs in the total turf
installation operation and the decisions should be based on quality and
expected performance. The response of the grass variety or mixture is
dependent upon the use made of the turf, the intensity and quality of the
management given it, the type of soil, and the climate. Changes in any
one of these factors may drastically affect a given grass's response. Each
of the above factors must be carefully weighed in making the choice.
Very little is known at the present time about the individual grass
5

variety performance in each of the discrete areas of the Pacific Northwest. During the last four years, extensive field demonstration plantings
in various locations in Oregon have been conducted. The results of these
plantings by individual species and varieties are reported below.
Creeping bentgrasses
Seaside: This variety is an extremely homogenous mixture of many
different types. On older putting greens, it has shown a tendency to develop patches of drastically differently behaving plants. It spreads vigorously by stolons. If a given type is superior to others in a particular location, this type will eventually predominate in the planting. Seaside bentgrass has a wide range of adaptation, as far as soil pH and temperature is
concerned. When mowed shorter than hi inch under putting green conditions, and not properly fertilized, it has a tendency to allow the invasion
of excessive amounts of Poa annua. It still is the best putting green grass
for the entire state of Oregon.
Penncross is a Polycross creeping bentgrass produced in seed fields
from a random crossing of three parents. This variety has been vigorously
promoted in certain parts of the eastern United States and most of the
seed is produced in Oregon and Washington. Preliminary experiences
under Oregon conditions show that it is an extremely aggressive grass
and forms excessive thatch in a very short time. If the thatch is properly
handled by mechanical renovation, its performance has been satisfactory.
Under western conditions, it has no advantages over Seaside bentgrass.
Vegetatively propagated varieties:
Preliminary experiences with
Cohansey, Congressional and Old Orchard varieties of creeping bentgrass
have shown that Old Orchard produces the tightest turf in the shortest
time under arid conditions. These three selections are being evaluated in
additional tests under humid conditions. Other varieties have not been
tested under Pacific Northwest conditions.
Colonial bentgrass
Highland bentgrass has best drought tolerance and is the most aggressive of the Colonial bentgrasses. It is darker blue in color and develops a high percentage of aerial branching, which causes some browning
of turf when using fluctuating mowing heights.
Astoria: This variety develops a lighter green color, but requires
more carefully managed irrigation schedules than Highland.
Fescues
Chewings fescue has dense sod-forming characteristics, especially
under the more dry sites. It has an ability to go into partial dormancy
during periods of drought. When reacting to drought conditions, the grass
turns slightly bluish in color and is very difficult to mow. When kept
under normal irrigated conditions, mowing is no problem.
Creeping red fescue is slightly darker green in color than chewings
fescue and is quite compatible with both bentgrasses and bluegrasses. It
is not as drought tolerant as chewings fescue, but has much more drought
tolerance than the bentgrasses. No varietal differences have been consistently observed under Oregon conditions. Varieties most commonly
available now include Illahee, Rainier, and Pennlawn.
Tall fescue is normally not considered to be a turfgrass because of its
wide, coarse leaves. Tests have shown, however, that it has excellent
capabilities for heavy wear areas and adaptation to a wide range of environmental factors. Tall fescue tolerates soil pH's as high as 8.3 and is
also quite acid tolerant. It is the most drought tolerant of any of the
species used for turf and also provides a firm sod under quite poorly
drained conditions. Since it does not have an active rhizome system, its
6

seeding rate needs to be quite high and if any mechanical damage is suffered, overseeding must be used. It needs to be mowed quite high (2
inches or more). The variety Alta is the only one that has been extensively tested in Oregon and it has been found to be quite satisfactory.
Bluegrasses
Kentucky bluegrass is the most commonly used turf grass species
throughout the United States, but in the Pacific Northwest is adapted only
to areas of the state having nearly neutral or alkaline soils. In other
words, it is not adapted to the acid soil conditions of the Willamette Valley and coastal regions. Kentucky bluegrass has a very special rhizome
system and is able to adapt to a wide condition of soil moisture and soil
fertility. For best turf development, it needs good fertilization and thorough but infrequent watering schedules. There are many varieties of
Kentucky bluegrass being used for turf. Some of them have been extensively tested under Oregon conditions. The following observations have
been made:
Delta is a rapidly germinating and developing variety. Its leaf
width is quite narrow and it is not as dense as common Kentucky
bluegrass after the second or third season.
Park, under Oregon conditions, has not been distinguishable from
common Kentucky bluegrass.
Newport is best adapted to higher temperature regions like the
Snake Kiver or Rogue River Valleys. It forms a dense, heavy sod
very quickly, but after two or three years tends to weaken somewhat.
C-l has not been distinguishable from Newport bluegrass under
Oregon turf conditions, although one greenhouse trial has indicated
that it is slightly faster in emergence than Newport. Its general turf
characteristics are similar to Newport.
Merion has a wide, dark blue leaf and forms an extremely dense sod
when heavily fertilized and properly watered. Its turf characteristics are
superior to the other bluegrass varieties only when good intensive management is given. It is extremely slow in emergence, but once well
established is a consistent performer.
Other Varieties
Many older varieties, as well as some experimental and privately developed varieties, are now becoming available on the market, but not
enough detailed information under Pacific Northwest conditions is available to make comment on their use at this time.
Poa irivialis (roughslalk bluegrass)
This grass is a common constituent of shady lawn mixtures because
if its excellent shade tolerance. Its turf is rather weak and many of the
stems and leaves develop a prostrate habit under consistent mowing patterns. It is an excellent shade grass, but has no real use in full sun situations.
Ryegrass
Ryegrasses are a common constituent of many of the more economical
retail lawn seed mixes. They are used primarily because of their low cost
and rapid germination. Generally ryegrasses are not satisfactory for turf
use in the Pacific Northwest. Recent experiences have shown that some of
the perennial ryegrass varieties are good companions in athletic turf mixtures, where the turf is needed for fall use following spring establishment.
Perennial ryegrass is just about as tough as Alta fescue and is much more
rapid in germination. However, the life of the stand is usually short lived.
7

W H A T H A P P E N S TO PESTICIDES A P P L I E D TO T U R F

by Dr. V. H. Freed
Depariment of Agricultural Chemistry
Oregon State University

Verbal presentation to the Conference. No paper was submitted.
C A L I B R A T I O N OF S P R A Y

EQUIPMENT

by Herb P. Hill
FMC John Bean Division District Representative
San Jose, California
Thank you, Dr. Goetze. Good morning, gentlemen. Before I begin my
presentation, please allow me to say how pleased I am to be with you this
morning and to be a part of your meeting. Speaking not only for myself,
but also for the Company I represent, I want to say we consider ourselves fortunate to be associated with your industry, whose rate of
growth and expansion continues to be so outstanding. The development,
care and maintenance of turf areas today is big business. In California
alone, a survey conducted in 1962, indicated the development, care and
maintenance of turf areas to be a 20 million dollar industry. We are most
happy to be counted as a manufacturer and supplier of some of the specialized equipment which is used in your industry.
And now to my presentation which will this morning cover the calibration of sprayer equipment for turf operations. Please do not become
too alarmed, I doubt that I shall be able to use the full 45 minutes allotted
to me for this subject. First. In this discussion I would like to present
some of the requirements of a good turf sprayer, and to review quickly
with you, some of the chemicals which might be used as well as some
recommendations for control of the more important weed and disease
problems. Secondly I would like to discuss some of the methods and
formulas commonly used in determining the correct application rates for
these chemicals. Thirdly I would like to discuss briefly, the nozzles, nozzle
spacings, booms and boom widths, as well as some of the boom features
which are in general use today in this work. Finally I would like to introduce a simplified method of quickly and easily determining accurate
application rates and to present you with a John Bean Spray Delivery
Computer and to review its useage. If time permits I would also like to
discuss some tips on Shade Tree Spraying and present some information
on this subject together with a brief discussion and explanation covering
spray hose friction losses. If time permits I shall be glad to answer any
questions which I am able.
Beautiful fairways and healthy greens do not come easy. In the care
and maintenance of really good turf areas, turf managers are faced with a
baffling array of problems. Aside from weed control, parasitic and disease
problems in turf are of major importance. Only a few of the problems
faced by maintenance supervisors are: Insects, parasites, nematodes, parasitic fungi, and a generous assortment of virus and bacterial diseases. Because these turf areas are initially expensive, good maintenance makes
good sense, and good maintenance means close supervision of an effective
control program. Noteworthy progress in the study of these problems by
turf experts in our State experiment stations and universities has made
8

the job easier for us. The combined efforts of these dedicated men have
given us effective programs which, if followed carefully, can result in the
effective control of these common problems.
A good sprayer, properly equipped and calibrated for accuracy, can
be one of your most effective weapons in the everlasting battle against
insect and disease problems in turf areas. Correctly calibrating the sprayer
and boom is as important as being sure to follow the recommendations
which have been developed by the conscientious men working on these
problems. If the sprayer is not calibrated properly, the rate of application
will be off as well as the control problem.
There are four major factors to consider in calibrating your fairway
sprayer, these are, (1) Nozzle spacing on the boom and boom width, (2)
Ground speed of the sprayer in MPH, (3) The recommended application
rate, and (4) The discharge rate per nozzle in GPM. The discharge rate
of the nozzle depends on the size of the nozzle orifice and the operating
pressure of the pump. Now let us consider all of these factors and how
we may utilize them to arrive at the recommended rate of application we
are trying to achieve. First, the nozzle spacing is, almost without exception, known, as is the boom width. To determine the spray swath or
effective width of your boom, simply measure the distance between
nozzles and multiply by the number of nozzles.
For example let us assume you have a boom with 13 nozzles which
are spaced 20 inches apart, thus: 13 x 20 = 260 inches divided by 12
= 21 ft. 8 in. The effective width or spray swath of the boom. Now secondly let us consider the ground speed of the sprayer. Here one should
select the most desirable speed for the operation and for the equipment.
This should be a speed which will permit you to move easily over the type
of terrain on which you will be working. The determination of this speed
is made with the tractor and sprayer in motion on average ground. When
the desired speed is found, drop a marker, a stick or a wrench will do, and
exactly one minute later drop another marker. Measure the distance between markers to determine the exact number of feet traveled in one
minute. Now armed with this information and a pencil and paper, you
can use this formula to compute the speed of travel or MPH factor. This
formula, to exactly determine the speed of travel or MPH factor, can be
shown thus:
Distance covered in feet
= MPH
No. of seconds traveled x 1.47
As an example: If 360 feet are traveled in one minute or 60 seconds,
the speed of travel or MPH factor is found to be thus: 360 = 4 MPH
60 X 1.47
In this problem 360 represents the distance traveled and according to
our formula is divided by 60 which represents the time during which the
distance was traveled, in seconds, and which is multiplied by the constant
1.47. Thus: 60 x 1.47 = 88.2 which now becomes our divisor and our
problem is simplified thus:
360
=4.00 MPH
88.2

The determination of the speed of travel factor is the most important
step in the calibration of your fairway sprayer. The method described
here is easy to accomplish and should be followed unless you are fortunate enough to have a speedometer on your equipment which will, of
course, eliminate this step. The third factor we will consider is the recommended application rate. This is almost always a known factor and should
9

be the Gallons per acre recommended by your turf advisor or experiment
station. Entomologists, weed control specialists, or other turf specialists
concerned with spray chemicals should be consulted for recommended
rates of application for various types of spray materials and programs.
They are best qualified to advise you on the concentration of chemicals.
The fourth factor we will want to consider will be the rate of discharge per nozzle in GPM or in other words, the nozzle capacity. This important factor can usually be obtained from the sprayer manufacturer or
the original manufacturer of the nozzle tip. There are several reputable
manufacturers of low volume nozzles which are used in this work. All of
them can provide nozzle information and capacity ratings. Most sprayer
manufacturers also are able to provide this information. In this John
Bean Agricultural Spray Accessories catalog there appears excellent information of this kind. I have a number of these which I'll leave here
on the table for any who wish them, later on. If you don't get one, ask
your turf equipment supplier, he will have a supply on hand.
However if such data is not available to you, of if it is suspected that
the nozzle orifice is worn enough to lose its original efficiency, here is
how you can determine its actual capacity. The formula used to determine
the GPM per nozzle for a blanket type spray such as is used in overall
weed control operations, and assuming the rate of travel in MPH is known
and that the application rate in GPA is known, would appear thus:
GPA x MPH x W = GPM per nozzle
5940
In this problem the GPA is multiplied by MPH and W or the nozzle
spacing in inches, and the product is then divided by the constant 5940.
Now if the nozzle spacing is 20 inches, and this is standard in most
programs and for most booms sold today, the above formula is simplified
and becomes the MPH multiplied by the GPA required and this product
is then divided by the constant 297. The problem would appear thus;
MPH x GPA
= GPM per nozzle
297
For example, if the ground speed is known to be 4 MPH and the nozzle
spacing on the boom is 20 inches, the GPA required to gain control, or
the GPA recommended by your turf advisor is 65, then, first the gallons
per nozzle needs to be determined. Now let us assume for this example,
we are using a standard boom of 13 nozzles which are spaced 20 inches
apart and providing an effective spray swath of 21 feet 8 inches. The
65 gallons per acre which is needed is divided by the 13 nozzles on the
boom giving us 5 GPA per nozzle which is required. Next multiply the
GPA per nozzle (5) by the MPH (4), this product (20) is then divided
by the constant 297 and the answer is .067 gallons per minute per nozzle
which would be the required GPM for each nozzle for the program we
wish to accomplish. The problem would appear thus;
65 GPA (required) == 5 GPA x 4 MPH = 20 = .067 GPM
13 nozzles
297
Thus we find that in order to accomplish our objective in this
example, in other words to apply 65 Gallons per acre using a boom of
21 ft. 8 in. on which the nozzles are spaced 20 inches apart and the rate
of travel or ground speed is 4 MPH, each nozzle must discharge .067 GPM.
To determine whether or not the nozzles on hand are discharging the
correct amount which in this example is shown to be .067 GPM, and
when a nozzle chart is not available or the marking or number on the
10

nozzle tip is obliterated, catch the discharge from one nozzle while
the sprayer is operating at 40 PSI, for one minute. Measure the trapped
fluid in a calibrated measuring device. Since the amount we need, .067
converted to ounces equals 8.5 fluid ounces we can quickly determine
whether the nozzle is under or over capacity.
If the nozzles being calibrated turn out to be the proper size, then
everything is fine. However, in case the calibration does not come out
as required, don't throw the nozzles away, here is another formula
which will permit you to learn what gallon per acre application they
will give. In this formula you will multiply the constant 5940 by the
actual GPM per nozzle and then divide the result by the miles per hour
times the nozzle spacing in inches. The answer will be the actual gallons
per acre the nozzles would apply. The problem would appear thus;
5940 x .067 = 5 Gallons per acre per nozzle
4 X 20
Now since we have 13 nozzles this answer is multiplied by the number
of nozzles or 13 x 5 which gives us the required 65 gallons per acre
we want.
At this point it might be well to briefly discuss nozzle numbering
systems and what they mean. When you see a nozzle tip which reads
650067, or 65015 or 73039, or 800067 or 8002, just what do these numbers
mean to you? Actually nozzle number systems are quite simple and easy
to understand once they have been explained. The first thing to remember
is that the first two numbers always indicate the spray angle or degree
of the nozzle. Thus any nozzle beginning with 65 such as the 650067 has
to be a 65 degree nozzle, any nozzle beginning with 80 such as 8002 likewise has to be an 80 degree nozzle. The reason for having these different degrees in the first place is to provide the required 25% overlap
in the pattern for good performance, when the nozzles are used at
various heights from the ground. For example when spraying height is
17 to 19 inches from the ground the wider angle 80 degree nozzles are
recommended. When spraying heights are 19 to 21 inches an intermediate
nozzle, the 73 degree series is recommended, and when spraying heights
are from 21 to 23 inches the 65 degree series is recommended. This last
series is far the more popular and most widely used today. The wider
the angle the finer the atomization and the greater risk of drift, the
narrower 65 degree nozzles provide a coarser droplet size and reduce
risk of drift. Now back to our numbers, what do the rest of the numbers
mean? Simply, they indicate the GPM of that particular nozzle at 40 PSI
which is the norm from which all other calculations are made. Now lets
take nozzle tip number 650067 which happens to be the same nozzle
which we have used in our previous examples. To know the GPM of this
nozzle at 40 PSI you would simply count three decimal points from the
left and place a decimal point.
In counting over three decimal points from the left and placing our
decimal point we find we have the decimal .067 which is the GPM of this
nozzle at 40 PSI. If you had a nozzle numbered 65015 you'd count over
three places from the left and place your decimal between the zero and
the 1, you would then have the decimal .15 which represents the GPM
at 40 PSI of this nozzle. If you had a nozzle carrying the number 73039
you'd place your decimal 3 places from the left between zero and three,
the nozzle would have a capacity of .39 GPM at 40 PSI. Now let us say
you have some nozzles marked 800067, counting three places from the
left you'd place your decimal between zero and zero. The remaining
decimal would be .067 GPM at 40 PSI the same as the 650067 but in the
11

80 degree series. If there are any questions remaining on these nozzle
numbering systems please ask them at the end of this discussion. I'll
be glad to explain them again.
Now up to this point we have not discussed pump pressures, or
pounds of pressure per square inch which is required. It must be remembered that in order to maintain gallonage requirements per nozzle,
this factor must be known. When a nozzle chart is not available, this
can pose a problem because it is necessary that exacting pressures be
maintained in order to obtain an accurate rate of discharge from the
nozzles.
The formula for obtaining the GPA per nozzle has been shown.
From this it was determined that .067 GPM per nozzle was required in
the example spray program we have been discussing. Now to determine
the proper pressure setting at the relief valve or regulator, the following
steps should be taken; (1) Install all nozzles in the boom (2) Start the
sprayer and run at factory governed speed if engine drive. If PTO drive
set tractor throttle at pre-determined position for proper ground speed
and PTO speed. This should be the equivalent of 560 RPM on the PTO
shaft. (3) Set the sprayer relief valve at an approximate setting of 40
to 60 PSI (4) Start spraying, open the boom valves to full capacity.
Now catch the discharge from two or more nozzles, in separate containers,
for exactly one minute, and (5) Measure the material discharged and
compare it with the quantity needed. As we have previously determined
this quantity is .067 gal. or 8.5 fluid ounces. If the quantity discharged
is too low, increase the pressure slightly and re-check, if the quantity
discharged is too great, lower the pressure slightly and recheck. Several
settings may be required the first time this pressure calibration is made,
but with a little experience, much less time may be required for later
calibrations if they become necessary.
Now before we close lets take another look at the several
formulas we have been discussing. First we used the formula which gave
us the speed of travel or MPH factor,
Distance covered in feet = MPH
time in seconds X 1-47
The example was 360 feet traveled in one minute. The time traveled
in seconds, 60 was multiplied by the constant 1.47 resulting in 88.2 which
was divided into 360 resulting in a speed of travel factor of 4 MPH.
Secondly we used the formula which gave us the GPM per nozzle
this formula would appear thus;
GPA (read) x MPH x W (nozzle spacing) = GPM per nozzle
5940 (constant)
If the nozzle spacing were 20 inches then the problem became simplified and would be represented thus:
MPH x GPA = GPM per nozzle
297
For example, if the rate of travel or ground speed was 4 MPH, a
boom with 13 nozzles spaced at 20 inches and we wished to apply 65
GPA and we need to know which nozzle size to use or how much
capacity in GPM each nozzle should have. First we would take the 65
GPA which is required and divide it by the total number of nozzles,
thus;
65 = 5 GPA per nozzle
13
12

which is needed. Next we multiplied the GPA per nozzle (5) by the rate
of travel or MPH (4) and this product (20) is then divided by the
constant 297 and the answer is .067 GPM per nozzle which is required.
The problem appearing thus;
65 GPA (required) = 5 GPA x 4 MPH = 20 = .067 GPM per nozzle
13 nozzles
297
Now still another formula which we have not yet discussed is very
simple and quite useful in the determination of manpower distribution
for your spraying programs. This formula has to do with the number of
acres sprayed in one hour, or in another way we might say, the number
of acres which ought to be sprayed in one hour according to the program which you have adopted. The formula for determining this factor
would be represented thus; With the symbol "Y" representing the boom
width in feet, multiplied by ground speed or MPH divided by the constant 8.25 the product would be the APH or acres sprayed in one hour.
The problem would appear thus;
"Y" X MPH = APH
8.25
For example let us say you are using a John Bean Duo-flex boom,
a 13 nozzle boom with 20 inch spacing giving an effective spray swath of
21 ft. 8 inches and you have adopted a spray program which requires
a ground speed of 4 MPH, you would have;
21.67 (ft) X 4 (MPH) = 86.68 = 10.5 APH
8.25
These and other formulas are useful but require a lot of arithmetic
My Company has devised a slide rule type, spray delivery computer
which can make these computations a lot easier for you. I'd like to pass
one of these out to each of you and we'll have a little school session
on their operation. If there are not enough to go around see Art
Marston of N. W. Mower and Marine in Seattle or Byron Reed of Baltz
& Son here in Portland. I'll see that they are provided with sufficient
extras.
The calibration of your sprayer equipment is an important factor
in your overall operation. Experiment stations and universities should
be consulted for recommendations before the spraying program is started,
if their recommendations are followed faithfully, your spraying program
will be successful and will lead to the expected control measures, if
not the best sprayer manufactured cannot do the job for which it was
intended. Another important point to consider is the choice of your
spraying equipment, whatever your choice be sure it has provided
equipment with ample capacity to carry out your spraying program.
Buy it from a reliable source, preferably your regular turf equipment
supplier, he has access to the factory warranty and service programs
which can be very helpful to you. Make sure your new sprayer has a
tank and piping which is well protected against the ravages of modern
spray chemicals, make sure it has a good filter of ample capacity, plugged
nozzles will upset your rate of application and throw your whole program off, make sure it has a pump that can handle the abrasive chemicals
you will be using and that it is equipped with a reliable pressure gauge
and regulator. Make sure also, that the boom has piping protected against
rust and corrosion. With good sprayer equipment on hand, and following
the recommendations of your turf consultants, your program will be
successful and your course will continue to have healthy turf and you
13

will be safeguarding your most valuable assets, beautiful fairways and
healthy greens.
Well gentlemen this concludes my presentation, thank you very
much for your attention, and now if there are any questions I shall be
happy to answer them for you.
P R I N C I P L E S OF D R A I N I N G T U R F G R A S S

SOILS

by Marvin N. Shearer
Drainage is the process of removing excess water from soil by
gravity. It may be accomplished through either surface run-off or
percolation.
In water management on turfgrass, it is desirable to control the
maximum amount of water that soil contains at specific periods. In most
situations it is not possible to do this by drainage alone. To understand
procedures which can be used requires knowledge of how water behaves
in soil and why.
The soil is much like a sponge. It has pores of different sizes and
shapes. Take two sponges of exactly the same dimensions, one having
mostly small pores and the other mostly large ones. Submerge them
in water, squeeze and release them so the pores become completely
filled. Place them on a screen so they will drain by gravity. When drainage is completed, squeeze the water from each sponge and catch the
"stored" water in containers. Notice the difference in the amount of
water each of the sponges held.
You have demonstrated two truths about soil-water behavior. (1)
All water stored in soil cannot be removed by drainage. (2) Soils with
different size pores store different quantities of water.
There will always be some water remaining in soil a£ter drain tile
quits running. Whether or not that which remains is excessive depends
upon how the soil is going to be used. That is, if it is just going to be
used just to grow grass, a higher moisture content can be tolerated than
if it is going to receive considerable foot traffic.
Since pore size is determined largely by soil texture, the maximum
amount of water that turfgrass soil stores after drainage has ceased can
be controlled through selection of the soil used according to textural
analysis.
The size and shape of pores are important in turfgrass soils because
they affect, in addition to the amount of water which is stored in the
soil, the rate which water can move through it.
To demonstrate, take two pipes—one of 1/8 inch diameter and one
of 1/2 inch diameter. Stand them on end and pour the same quantity
of water through both of them. The smaller pipe will require a longer
period to pass the water through it. In some soils, the pores are so small
that water will not drain through them at all.
Let's consider a little more thoroughly now the relationship between
soil and soil water.
People who work with soil water have classified soil water according to its behavior and use.
Presented at the 17th Annual Northwest Turfgrass Conference September
26, 1963 at Portland, Oregon.
14

Assume the sponge to be soil. When it was submerged in water and
all the pores were filled, it was saturated. The water which drained from
the sponge when it was placed upon a screen was excess or free water.
When drainage ceased it was at a moisture content known as field
capacity—the upper limit of available water. If we planted grass, the
grass would remove about half of what remained. This water would
be called useable or available water. With the useable water removed,
the plants wilt and eventually die. At this point, the soil moisture would
be reduced to the wilting point. There would still be considerable water
in the soil but it could not be removed by either gravity or plants. It
would be removed only as vapor.
Water will not move through soil unless there are forces acting.
The major forces causing water movement are capillary (adhesion and
cohesion) and gravitational.
Soil particles and water molecules have an attraction for one another.
This is called adhesion—the attraction of unlike molecules for each other.
The first row of molecules attached to a soil particle is held with a
force equivalent to about 147,000 pounds per square inch. As additional
water is added, the water molecules continue to attach to one another
due to the force of cohesion—the attraction of like molecules to each
other. The water forms in films qround the soil particles and as the
layers of molecules build up the films become thicker. As the films
become thicker, the tension with which the molecules are held together
at the air-water interface decreases until finally it is not strong enough
to support the weight of the water against the pull of gravity and the
water falls.
We see this occur with medical eye-droppers. As we squeeze the
rubber bulb and allow the drop to form at the end of the glass tip, the
drop eventually becomes so heavy that the surface tension of the liquid
can no longer support it and the drop falls.
Water held by capillary forces can keep the smaller pores in the
soil entirely full of water and can also maintain thick films in the
larger pores.
We see then that gravitational forces are important only in large
pores and capillary forces are important mainly in the smaller pores.
The capillary forces are of much greater intensity than the gravitational
forces and, therefore, prevent complete drainage of soil.
In addition to this, we should understand that capillary forces act
equally in all directions while gravitational forces act downward only.
So far, we have stressed that the size and shape of pores have a
major effect upon moisture in the soil. It is important, therefore, that
we consider some of the factors that control the size and shape of pores.
These factors include such things as soil texture which is the size
and shape of individual soil particles, soil structure which is the arrangement of soil particles in aggregates or clusters, and soil management
which includes the physical manipulation of the soil causing the soil
pores to change in both size and shape.
When a soil is wet, it is easier to "work" than when it is dry. This
means that it is also easier to compact. Compaction destroys the desirable
pore space characteristics of soils. Human traffic is one of the major
causes of soil compaction. The more water a soil stores, the more it will
be affected by foot traffic. It is for this reason that initial planning of
land use is important to prevent problems from occurring in the first
place.
Where land use patterns have already been established, however,
and where foot traffic is extremely concentrated during all periods of
the year, we must work with what we have from where we are.
15

If we understand the basic principles already discussed, we can
evaluate the more common drainage problems encountered in turfgrass
soils. Let's take a look at typical situations and consider the type of problems which exist.
First, let's assume that your school board has constructed a football
field on heavy clay soil. Your job is to maintain a growing turf that
the players can enjoy. If it were possible to keep people off the field, it
would have a chance at developing adequate internal drainage to grow
turf. Clay soil particles fit together in such a manner that the size of the
individual pores can be extremely small although the total quantity of
pore space may be large. Since the pores are small, water will be stored
in most of the pore space after excess water has been removed. The
little percolation which might occur normally will be quickly reduced
following a few games.
Under this situation, sub-drainage with tile or gravel is of little
use except as a means of conveying water away from the field underground. The only real water control which can be developed is the
diversion of water in the first place. This must be accomplished through
proper grading of the soil which will result in surface collection and
run-off and by covering the field during heavy rains just prior to games.
In some particular sites, it may be possible to intercept water from moving into the field area from higher elevations by interception tile
drainage. This, however, depends entirely upon the site location.
If there were a choice in the matter, the school board should be
discouraged from developing a football field in such a soil type to start
with.
Another alternative considered by some schools is to control pore size
by completely rebuilding the soil according to soil texture specifications.
Some of the larger, more expensive football fields in the northwest which
are heavily used have done this—but it is expensive.
Excessive soil water problems also exist around public and commercial buildings and in formal gardens where it is possible to control
human traffic. Even though these soils may frequently be heavy, it is
possible to use agricultural drain tile effectively because grass roots
continually forming and dying develop channels which will convey water
to the tile. If human traffic can be kept off this soil when the soil is
wet (so that pore space is not destroyed), satisfactory turf can be
grown. Frequently, water moves in from a higher elevation. It is relatively
easy to locate the strata on which the water is riding and install agricultural drain tile to intercept it. Proper drainage away from the buildings and the channeling of downspout water into storm sewers rather
than dumping it on lawns or in dry wells will help this situation
considerably.
Around buildings where there is considerable human traffic, such
as in school bus loading areas, maintaining turf is a losing battle and it
is easier to put the area under concrete, blacktop, or some other type
of surface.
When we look at large areas such as golf course fairways or central
parks, it is necessary to give the entire site a thorough evaluation, just
as we do agricultural land, before developing an overall drainage plan.
If drainage tile will work, it is usually more desirable although more
costly than surface drainage. Complete areas can be tile drained for a
cost of $100 to $200 per acre depending upon the obstacles in the path of
the tile lines.
When we consider turfgrass areas having extremely high human use
such as is the case with putting greens, then the need for adequate
drainage and the benefits from it can justify considerable expense. It is
16

essential that the green be well drained if it is to be kept in a playable
condition. More and more golf courses are building soil on a prescription
basis for putting greens. Sufficient research has been done so that by
the proper selection of soil textures adequate internal drainage can be
provided regardless of the amount of foot traffic involved. It must be
borne in mind, however, that when this action is taken, it will require
frequent irrigation and fertilization. The amount of water stored per
foot of soil is small and the clay content which stores the nutrients is
also very low.
In summary, the cheapest way to solve drainage problems is to
prevent them from occurring in the first place. Most of us, however, find
ourselves in situations where problems have already developed. Even
here, however, it is usually most economical to eliminate the source of
water before it causes the problem. Where we cannot control foot traffic
and where internal drainage is impossible because of the nature of the
soil, we must recognize this fact and consider alternate ways of treating
the soil with landscaping or surface material.
The procedures used and the decisions made in correcting drainage
problems must be considered on an individual basis because of the
expense and variation of site situations involved. A good drainage consultant can give you good estimates on costs, procedures, and on the
extent of drainage possible through the various procedures you may
choose to use.

PUBLIC

RELATIONS AND THE TURFGRASS

SPECIALIST

by J. L. Gray
Public Relations Manager, Fraser Valley Milk Producers' Assn.
Vancouver, B. C.
In the past decade, the term 'public relations' has become a household word. As an integral part of the area of idea communications, it
has been glamourized in some circles, maligned in others. Many of us
have gained our first impressions of it from Hollywood motion pictures
or highly-coloured newspaper and magazine stories. Inevitably, the heel
in the executive suite is the public relations director. A present-day
phenomenon of the business world is the oft-times poor P. R. of the
public relations profession.
But in spite of our frequent inabilities to tell our own story well,
some of us have the audacity to come out on a platform and tell others
'how to do it'.
During my preparation of this talk, I was privileged to read
several excellent articles on public relations in the "Golf Course Reporter". This capably-edited publication, as well as your fine news letter
"Northwest Turfgrass Topics", offer the reader valuable information.
Todays talk will first review basic established procedures, and later
discuss suggested approaches to public relations I feel are of pertinent
concern to your industry.
WHAT IS PUBLIC RELATIONS?
Definitions of "public relations" range from wordy proclamations
to abbreviated statements.
17

A widely-accepted definition is the following:
"Public relations is the management function which
evaluates public attitudes; identifies the policies and
procedures of an individual or organization with the
public interest; and executes a program of action to earn
public understanding and acceptance.
Here is another classical description:
"Public relations is the continuing process by which
management endeavours to obtain the goodwill and
understanding of its customers, its employees and the
public at large; inwardly through self-analysis and correction; outwardly through all means of expression."
The aforementioned definitions are pretty strong stuff. More popular
definitions, and certainly easier to remember are:
"Public relations is the simple art of getting along with
folks."
"Public relations is everything you do or say; or everything you don't do or say."
"Public relations is the art of making people want to
do business with you—opinion creation by peaceful
means."
"Public relations is doing unto others as you would have
them do unto you."—(the Golden Rule)
The essence of public relations is getting along with people; and
doing unto others as you would have them do unto you; these actions
pre-suppose mutual understanding, mutual confidence and mutual respect.
Let's take a look at our first definition where-in public relations is
described as a management
function.
Evaluating Public Attitudes is one responsibility. Briefly, this phrase
means putting ourselves in the other fellows shoes and asking—"What
does Joe Doakes think about us . . . our actions . . . our products . . .
our service."
Identifying the Policies and Procedures of the organization with the
public interest simply means being a good business citizen as reflected
by your company's attitudes to employee welfare, community service,
guaranteed quality products, advertising ethics, to name but a few items.
A Chairman of the Board of General Mills, Harry A. Bullis, has
written:
"Public Relations seeks to identify a corporation with
what in an individual would be good manners and good
morals . . . it is good manners to win friends. It is being
a good business citizen, from the of your organization
to the bottom."
In carrying out the management function, public relations completes
the final part of the definition, executes a program of action to earn
public understanding and acceptance.
IS PUBLIC RELATIONS REALLY NECESSARY?
An attitude to public relations prevalent among what are described
as 'Rip Van Winkle' or 'Head in the Sand' types is—
"We are too big (or to small) to worry about public relations of our business."
18

These people do not realize that they have public relations, whether
they want it or not, or whether they do anything about it or not. It
may be good—it may be bad, but it is always there.
Public relations is not a new idea or concept. Lets look at a typical
small businessman of 200 years ago, and trace the evolution of his public
relations to the present day as described in "Reporting Agriculture."
Our hero is Mr. Brown, the village blacksmith. He has excellent
personal contact with the public. They passed his place of business every
day and they could look in and see him at work. Longfellow immortalized
his public relations in the poem "The Village Blacksmith."
T h e burning sparks that fly' (seeing is believing)
'He goes on Sunday to the church' (his neighbors knew
he was a good man)
'An sits among his boys' (he lived openly among his
neighbors)
'For he owes not any man' (he paid his debts)
But as the years go by, look what happens. He takes on an apprentice. Now he is an employer. He has iabor relations problems. Then
the time comes when he makes a piece of equipment that is used by
all the farmers in his area. A fellow comes to him and says, "let me
be your agent in the next county for this equipment." Now he has the
beginnings of a sales department. Soon he is hiring more helpers to
make more equipment. He is now spending more time talking to his
foremen, laborers and salesmen.
One day a salesman says, "Boss, why don't we put an ad in the local
paper." He has become an advertiser. He calls in an advertising copy
writer. More and more of his time is spent with agents and buyers of
all kinds.
As he grows older he decides to protect himself and incorporate his
business. The banker enters the picture. Now he has a money problem.
As the business becomes complicated, he seeks out legal aid. Incorporation
has brought shareholders. The business must be accounted for each
year—and so onto the scene come the auditors.
Mr. Brown begins to worry about cost, how to make a good piece
of equipment at lower prices. He has jobbers and salesmen all over
the country. Distribution is a problem. Life has become pretty involved.
He hasn't personally forged a piece of iron or touched his smithy's
hammer in years.
What do his neighbors say about him now? Well, they likely say
the Brown Company is a soulless corporation. But Mr. Brown hasn't
changed. He still has the same problems and the same attitudes. In the
early days, he could tell his story man to man in the blacksmith shop.
Now his many publics have grown, and he must tell his story through
special channels—he must synthesize his story, which by the way, is
still the same story. Although the Brown Company is now big business,
Mr. Brown is still a good citizen and a good neighbor.
He cannot see and meet his public across the forge, and tell and
show them he is still making good farm equipment. When he is unjustly
criticized, he cannot go around to each individual and set the record
straight. He must depend on mass media. And these channels must get
the message over that Brown and the Blacksmith and Brown the Company
are one and the same.
In the public mind, there are four alternative opinions held about
an individual or an organization.
19

*
*
*
*

People think well of you.
They are lukewarm towards you.
They think badly of you.
They don't know enough about
you to have any opinion.
Good public relations is directed towards the attainment of the first
alternative. As Dr. Samuel Johnson once wrote, "a man, sir, should
keep his friendships in constant repair."
Business has been likened to an ice-berg . . . one eighth seen . . .
seven-eighths unseen. It is human to fear and misinterpret what he cannot see or understand. How can we go about showing the public the
whole picture of our business.
An International Harvester president has set forth a sound public
relations philosophy:
"We need to put less emphasis on telling people and more
on finding out what they want to know about us, and
then answer those questions. It is our general faith that
if people come to understand us and our problems, and
if they like us and approve of our policies and actions,
then they are automatically going to extend that knowledge and sympathy to the problems of our business
system as a whole."
Everyone knows that there is a constant battle between truth and
falsehood. It is amazing how rapidly a lie and mis-information will
spread, and how slowly the truth will plod. For some reason, truths
are the hardest things for the human mind to accept. In essence, the
fundamental function of public relations is to bring the truth into the
light.
Yale University research has found that people will believe what they
consider to be facts just as quickly from an untrustworthy source as
from a trustworthy source, and people retain a remembrance of facts
only about four weeks. These conclusions point up the need for continuity
in a public relations program.
Public relations seeks to identify an organization with what, in
an individual, would be good manners, good character and good morals.
As one authority says—"bring a good business citizen from the top of
your organization to the bottom."
A CAUTION—one of the curses of public relations is the assumption
on the part of some management executives and boards of directors that
it is merely a device to meet crises . . . a sort of fumigating process. It
must be realized that public relations can only interpret—it can't whitewash.
It has been rightly said that "no amount of publicity will improve
your public relations if deep down in your heart you are a stinker
It is cheaper to prevent crises in public opinion towards your business
or profession, than to try and cure them after they have developed.
YOUR PUBLICS
Turf men, in common with all other professional groups and businesses, have three general types of publics:
Local
State or Provincial
National
20

LOCAL PUBLICS include:
Customers
Consumer Groups
Shareholders or Members
Firms buying your products or services
Suppliers
Business People—bankers, merchants, wholesalers, small businessmen
Newspapers—publishers, editors, reporters, columnists
Radio & TV Stations—communication personnel
Civic Organizations
Service Clubs
Fraternal Societies
Church Groups
Community Groups
Young People's Organizations—Scouts, 4-H, Little League
Schools & Other Educational Institutions
Business and Professional Organizations
Some of the above-named groups may be favorable to your comp a n y — o t h e r s unfavorable; some are indifferent—others are neutral.
The job is to maintain the good relations we have and try to improve
some of our lukewarm or poor relations.
PROVINCIAL PUBLICS include:
Governments—State, Provincial, County, Municipal, City, Town
State and Provincial organizations
State and Provincial Business and Industry Groups
Universities and Colleges
State and Provincial Service Organizations
Professional Groups
In a case where business is being carried on throughout the state
or province, the publics may embrace many of the groups named in the
"Local" category. Here again opinions held will vary.
NATIONAL PUBLICS include:
Federal Government
Federal Government agencies
National Service Organizations
National Business, Industry and Professional Organizations
THE MECHANICS OF PUBLIC RELATIONS
We have discussed the necessity of coordinating the facts about a
company, its products and its several publics. In this reconciliation
decisions must be made on three topics:
What Makes News?
Which Public Relations Tools are to be Activated?
Which Communications Media are to be Utilized?
WHAT MAKES NEWS?
Annual Meetings
Staff Promotions
Annual Picnics
Sports Sponsorships
Official Addresses
Community Projects
Members Community Service
Tours
Election of Officers
Business Awards
Staff Community Service
Company Community Service
Special Meetings
Staff Accomplishments
New Construction
New Products & Services
New Equipment
Youth Club Promotions
Scholarships—Bursaries
21

PUBLIC RELATIONS TOOLS
Community Service
Publications
News Releases
Other Company Publications
Photo Releases
Public Service Booklets
Advertising
Films & Film Showings—Slides
Displays & Exhibits
Talks
Meetings
Tours
COMMUNICATIONS MEDIA
Religious Publications
Daily Newspapers
Employee House Organs
Weekly Newspapers
Radio Stations
Farm Magazines
Television Stations
Service Organizations
Trade Publications
Magazines
Professional Journals
Bill Boards
Fraternal Publications
Posters
Labor Publications
A WORKING PLAN FOR PUBLIC RELATIONS
Careful planning is needed to implement a working public relations
program. Budgetary limitations, may not allow the hiring of a full-time
director or part-time consultant. However, successful P. R. programs
have been carried out by non-professionals following basic rules.
The person responsible for the program should be objective. He or
she has to study how other people are going to think—to wear the other
fellows shoes—then come up with the facts on how that fellow feels
about you and/or your organization. These facts must not be coloured.
They must reflect truth, honesty, sincerity and integrity.
What are the facts? First, there are facts about the organization
or individual—their products—their services. Secondly, there are facts
about the several publics with which they are in contact.
When these facts are assembled, the communicator must determine
the best way to coordinate them into what is popularly called a "corporate
image". It could also be described as a "corporate personality" or an
"individual personality".
What is the "corporate image"? It is a composite of all the parts of
a company—name, products, building, vehicles, landscaping, advertising,
credit rating, service and product guarantees, employee and labour
relations.
A customers decision to buy your product or service is not decided
on quality or price alone, but also on his impression of the maker and
seller.
It is the way people feel about an organization or individual, or
simply, "what you think about them when you think about them."
There are as many opinions as there are people. A company or
individual cannot expect to be thought of in the same way or image
by all of them.
A few years ago, a U.S. public opinion pollster ran a survey to find
out how people felt about certain corporations. The list included the
big electrical firms, the major automobile makers, giant chemical and
oil companies . . . among the G.E.'s, the Standard Oil's and others were
"The American Improvement Company" and "The International Molybdenum Cartel". Almost unanimously, the people polled voted the A.I.C.
the firm they held in highest esteem. Their overwhelming choice as
the company most likely to be up to no good, and least likely to be
loved was the International Molybdenum Cartel. Of interest, of course
is the fact that neither of these companies exist.
22

This incident points up the great importance of the company name.
Choosing the right name is a major decision for businesses and organizations.
Obviously, the individual has a great advantage over the company
in improving his personal public relations. He is one step ahead in the
public relations process. Why? Because people like to relate their opinions
on a personal or human basis. They prefer to humanize a company by
attributing personality characteristics to it, says a Canadian banking
publication. A firm is summed up in the same way we assess an acquaintance . . . friendly . . . solid . . . human . . . public-spirited . . .
human . . . sincere . . . honest . . . or Heaven forbid . . . crummyI
A firm can try to make all the ideas expressed by it through print,
the radio, television or other media project as if coming from a real
personality, and not from a huge, inanimate mass known as "Company
X". If it can accomplish this objective, it has gone a long way toward
developing the idea in the public mind that it is a warm, down-to-earth,
good-for-the-country organization. Remember Mr. Brown, our village
blacksmith.
Several years ago I spent a couple of hours between planes in a
visit to the wonderful Chicago Museum of Art. My interest was aroused
by a display of typographic art in an exhibit of organization brochures.
One title was unique. It read—"The Only Real Difference Between Companies is People "
Today, you see this idea expressed in many forms. A Canadian
banking firm, for instance, has profitably adapted the phrase into their
advertising copy—"People Make the Difference." We are all familiar
with the phrases—"your friendly department store" . . . "our smiling
waitresses". Another clever slogan to sell a vocation is—"a carpenter
is known by his chips."
Product promotion on familiar themes is a popular merchandizing
practice—-"Tastes Like Home-made Bread" or "Just Like Mother Used
To Make" or "Home Cooking" or "Colonel Saunders Southern Fried
Chicken" and "Aunt Jemima's Pancakes".
KEY FEATURES OF THE P. R. PLAN
Key features in the framework of your public relations program
may cover the following subjects
* Your Business and Community Policies
* Your Attitude to Community Responsibilities
* Person to Person Relations
* Positive Approach to Issues
YOUR BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY POLICIES
How do you adjust to community situations? You will be judged by
your attitudes to local endeavours and problems—parkland expansion,
United Appeal drives, Red Cross, civic improvement by-laws, and contributions to charitable institutions. How is your relationship with salesmen, suppliers, customers, business associates and other companies? Here
again we bring in the "corporate image" or "personality". Are your
buildings, vehicles and facilities run-down or well-maintained? Are you
and your employees courteous or surly? American Airlines spend $1
million a year on courtesy training for ticket agents, phone agents and
stewardesses. This fact would suggest big business is very conscious of
courtesy as a business asset.
What about your business methods—are they efficient? Do you
guarantee your products and services?
23

YOUR ATTITUDE TO COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITIES
Participation in community affairs by the company as a whole, and
shareholders, directors, members, management and staff individually
is of significant importance to the successful operation of a good public
relations program. A recognition of social and civic responsibilities is
evident in activities such as scouting; service clubs; fraternal societies;
school boards; city, county or municipal, state or provincial and federal
governments; youth programs such as little league and scouts and church
organizations.
Community work brings personnel into direct contact with people
who are affected and involved by your actions. Remember, they may
be potential or actual customers, members or users of the product and
service you are selling.
The ability of you and your staff to explain and interpret the why's
and wherefore's of your policies can do much to determine how welcome
you are in an area. An informed staff can go a long way to providing
a climate of understanding.
It's true—people have more confidence in an organization when they
associate it with a person they know, respect and like, and have they,
themselves placed in a position of responsibility.
Employees can be the strongest public relations force available to a
company. They can also be our poorest P. R. A community's opinion of
the firm can be in reality a reflection of the opinions of that company
held by the staff.
PERSON TO PERSON RELATIONS
A good program should encourage person to person public relations.
It is not feasible or desirable for the head of the firm or his senior people
to handle all the P. R. Rather, it is the responsibility of every member
and employee to carry on a continuous effort to develop better understanding on the part of the public as to what the company stands for—
what kind of an organization it is, and what it does.
The foreman's relations with his staff, the general manager's popularity with his subordinates, the purchasing agents attitude to salesmen,
the telephone operator's answering of calls, the receptionist's courtesy to
visitors, the tone of correspondence to suppliers and others, members
pride in their club or facilities—all of these things go to create what
has been described as the corporate personality or corporate image.
The person-to-person approach brings attention to a work now appearing frequently in our current literature. Empathy, briefly defined
as "the mental entering into the feeling or spirit of a person or thing;
appreciative perception or understanding", almost sums up the meaning
of public relations. It has been called the "heart of selling",—the ability
to place yourself mentally in the shoes of the customer, or learning to
speak the customers language.
Would you talk to a member of your golf club about fertilizer mixes,
grass mixtures, Hybrid Bermudas, Creeping Bent when you know he is
actually unconcerned and unfamiliar with technical terminology? Maybe
you think you are dazzling him with your mastery of scientific jargon.
More likely you are boring him stiff. But he might be interested in why
the new turf will resist the wear and tear of golf carts and the tramping
of hordes of spectators. He identifies these things to his own experience.
His understanding will extend to the realization that such measures will
cut down maintenance costs and save him, as a member, money.
A POSITIVE APPROACH TO ISSUES
An important attribute of a sound public relations program is to be
24

positive—to take the offensive. A U.S. business executive describes the
objective thus—"be aggressive rather than defensive in answering criticism. Make clear, forthright statements."
Perhaps your industry is free of serious public relations problems.
However, I don't believe you are that lucky. The effects of chemicals—
pesticides, fungicides etc. have been accented in recent months. Every
user of these materials could be faced at any time with a public
relations crisis. We know there have been exaggerations of the undesirable
effects. But don't be smug and relax. Farmers, manufacturers and crop
dusting firms are not the only people under the gun in this controversy.
It could happen to a backyard gardener or the custodian of a public
installation. The proponents of the anti-chemicals schools are vocal.
GRASS ROOTS PUBLIC RELATIONS FOR THE TURF SPECIALIST
What of the public relations of the turf specialist? Basically, his aims
and objectives, his problems and satisfactions are similar to people in
other professions and vocations. He seeks to communicate with his
publics. Internally, these may be club members, chairmen of committees,
golf professionals, elected park administrators, employees or other people
in the same work. Externally, his concern is the general public and its
many component groups.
He zealously guards his appropriations and responsibilities. He may
be aware of a need for more money to carry out his program. He would
not be human if he did not resent actions that allow others to dip into
his funds to augment their own pet projects.
He joins the company of others in our society in striving for professional recognition . . . a commendable objective. A word of caution
—many "associations" or "bureaux" try to set themselves up as 'professional' bodies. A few deserve the title—others do not deserve it.
It must be earned by competent example. Up-grading qualifications and
improving standards of work skills appears to be the earnest desire of
the turf specialist as evidenced from a perusal of his official publications.
You are on the right road to professionalism. A few 'grass-roots'
ideas adaptable to the public relations of the turfman are respectfully
offered.
CODE OF ETHICS
A step in the direction of professionalism is the writing of a code
of ethics for your Association, if this step has not already been taken.
CONTINUING EDUCATION — Today's world is fast becoming a pretty
complicated place. John Q. Citizen is subjected to a constant barrage
of ideas and attractions, all competing for his time. He doesn't have
enough time to go around. He selects and rejects his reading, listening
and viewing from an enormous mass of material—apportioning his attention among a hundred and one items.
The experts say each one of us is exposed to 1600 advertising messages a day. Modern man has learned to skim read a magazine and
never see an ad—listen to a radio program and block out the commercial—
and absent-mindedly drop direct mail advertising into the waste basket.
In 1960, 'Printers Ink' magazine said the most important word in
the 1930's was "security"; in the 1940's—"conflict"; in the 1950's—
"science"; and in the 1960's it would be "communications"—both in travel
and in education.
The impetus in education has seen North Americans today betterschooled and better-informed than ever before. By 1970, seven million
students will be in American universities. North Americans will have 70
25

million TV sets in their homes in this decade. There are 70 million car
radios in the U.S. In 1961, over 50 million hard-cover books were sold,
along with a million copies of paperback books every day. Charles
Adams, writing in Printers Ink last year, observed that 40 million people
visited the 5000 art galleries in the United States. Three major news
magazines boosted their circulation 40 per cent in the past five years.
Since the advent of television theatre and opera attendance has jumped
115 per cent.
Adult education on the continent has risen to mammoth proportions
with $60 billion spent annually in this field, compared to $40 billion for
all formal education costs from primary grades through universities.
The skills learned by the high school graduate of 1963 will be obsolete
in 1970, accenting the need for more and more adult education. A
Canadian educator says—"it will be necessary to teach our children two
things—how to learn, and an unquenchable desire for development.
What does all this mean to you and me? First, it lets us know that
continuing education is a must for everyone engaged in trying to disseminate ideas to the public. Our audience will disappear if we waste
their time with dull, unimaginative writing.
As mentioned earlier, trying to purloin a moment of a man's time
is becoming increasingly difficult. He wants facts, not generalities. Mr.
Adams, again in Printers Ink, declared—"the average man must be
appealed to more directly and more intelligently than ever before. You
must say what you want to say quickly and straightforwardly—and treat
him like an intelligent man." In other words, don't talk down to him.
To help us get the message over, we should take advantage of short
courses in subjects relative to our work. The technical aspects of yours
and many other professions are becoming more formidable every day.
To maintain your position in society in competition with other groups
requires study and self-improvement. Public speaking is an activity you
should not avoid as you may be called upon to participate in it at any
time. It has become a prerequisite for a person engaged in management
and carrying out duties that entail meeting the public. Help yourself to
tell your story by mastering the techniques of report and news release
writing.
RECORD KEEPING
A sound business practice for the turfman is to set down the facts
and figures on management procedures—rates of grass seedings, application of fertilizers, pesticides, turf repairs, labor time on jobs. Accurate
records can be impressive documents if you are called upon to state and
even legally support your case. They are valuable aids when budgets
and programs are being discussed. Putting your best foot forward by
acting business-like is sound public relations.
In these days of prompting the public to hysteria about chemicals
being used in agriculture, it is wise to have the statistics readily available.
SELLING YOURSELF
I have been privileged to read excellent articles on doing the job
of selling yourself which have appeared in some of your publications.
After reading these fine articles, written in many cases by your
colleagues, I am convinced you people already know the story without
hearing it from a stranger. Allow me to review some of their points,
and make a couple of additional suggestions.
An out-going personality coupled with courtesy, respect and friendliness will help you to mingle with others and enjoy their company—
and they yours. Integrity is your greatest asset. Shop-worn cliches, you
say. Yes, but true none-the-less.
26

It is an accepted fact that a neat, clean personal appearance is another asset. You don't have to be a glamour boy, but if you walk around
looking like hard-times, people may reach the conclusion that you and
the organization you represent are on the rocks financially, and sloppilymanaged.
We have all met the fellow who engages you in conversation, and
then won't let you get a word in edge-wise. If you do manage to
regain the conversation ball, he fixes you with a vacant stare and is
miles away from you in his thoughts. He thinks so little of your comments which are undoubtedly pearls of wisdom to you, that he lets his
attention wander. Conversely, we feel wonderful when a person seems
to hang on our every word. Give your undivided attention to the other
fellow. It pays dividends to be considerate of the feelings of others.
The ability to call a man by name is an attribute we all can use.
A man's name to him is the sweetest and most important sound in any
language. Unfortunately, the majority of us let the names go in one ear
and out the other.
Generosity to others of your time, knowledge and experience is
money in the bank, but a warning—don't exceed your capacities. You
will not be doing yourself or the cause a bit of good if you cannot handle
the tasks adequately because of lack of time.
Civic projects, youth work, all forms of public service are rewarding to the individual, providing him with a sense of well-being and
satisfaction in his endeavours.
You can also ensure your reception as a person to be given responsibilities if you are business-like, show initiative and sincerity in all
your activities. Be an innovator, try new ideas. Vary your approach to
old ideas.
CULTIVATE YOUNG PEOPLE
Participation in youth activities is a valuable and satisfying experience. Your profession must be interested in the youth of the country.
They are your future customers, your future employees, your future
superintendents. In the race for talent you have to compete with other
industries. The competition is growing stronger every year. Here are a
few suggestions for attracting young people into your field.
* TOURS of your facilities to build up interest.
* TALKS to school classes and assemblies on 'Career Days', outlining
the opportunities in your industry. The school vocational counsellors
will offer guidance and cooperation in making the 'pitch' to the
students.
* SUMMER EMPLOYMENT of promising young folk can be a big
step in the direction of up-grading your future staff, and building
talent pool of skilled workers to draw on.
* MEMBERS' SONS AND DAUGHTERS offer a big potential for goodwill. Include them in your tour plans. First, they take home good
reports to their parents; secondly, the parents are usually grateful
and pleased that others take an interest in their childrens welfare
and education.
* SELL YOUR PROFESSION by describing the interesting facets of
your work. Accent the need for technical training, managerial ability,
the satisfactions of working with growing things, the opportunity
to get out of the office occasionally, working conditions, remuneration, fringe benefits. Eliminate the idea that may exist in their
mind that 'sweat-shop' conditions prevail in your vocation.
27

*

SCHOLARSHIPS Why not institute an Association scholarship program for deserving students, either at the high school or college
level? Along this line are essay contests on your industry, or the
provision of trophies for youth achievements.
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS--AN OPPORTUNITY
Tours of your plant for garden clubs, horticultural societies, wives
of members, special groups such as fraternal societies, church auxiliaries,
service clubs, Chambers of Commerce offer opportunities for good public
relations. A garden clinic as an annual or semi-annual affair might go
over. Here you and your assistants would answer questions. I expect you
are bombarded with requests now. It could be a sound decision to
organize these myriad requests into a single periodical program and
benefit from the resultant good will. Of course the time-consuming individual queries will still have to be handled or its back to the dog-house
with some people.
To reach the community groups, including the young people, a small
booklet describing your profession and your industry would be useful.
A brochure can be an expensive item, but the benefits could outweigh
the costs.
PRESS CONTACTS
How to deal with news media is important to every person or
organization. Here are a few rules to keep in mind.
* Ask yourself—is your story worth printing or broadcasting? Don't
call press conferences or issue press releases unless the news is
important.
* Be a reliable source of news. Don't be self-centered—your story may
not be as great as you think.
* Don't shut your door when news is not pleasant. 'No Comment'
or 'tell them nothing' statements are dangerous. The reporter has a
job to do. He is under pressure to get the facts and get them
straight—from the horse's mouth. Cooperation is appreciated. Refusal arouses suspicion. Be patient.
* Give the news quickly and in detail.
* Don't expect free advertising. It is looked on as a bare-faced attempt to get something for nothing. Editors ask "why don't they
pay for it." After all, advertising pays the salaries of editors, typographers, reporters, engravers, announcers—and bills to many industries.
* Names make news—use them.
* Invite news media people to your facility. They are constantly on
the look-out for 'local' stories. Your course or park may be ideal
for a TV feature or a story in the week-end magazine section of
the newspaper, or a radio on-the-scene interview. Get to know your
local editors, radio station and TV personnel.
* Press kits can be useful. Pertinent information on your course or
park, assembled into a single package, is a handy reference of
story background material for the news man.
FAMOUS VISITORS
Golf courses in particular have many famous visitors from the
entertainment world, business, government, sports and the arts. Why
not build a turf story around one of these personalities? Have you ever
considered two famous golf course users—Bob Hope and Bing Crosby—
as speakers at your conventions. The legal profession invites Raymond
Burr, alias Perry Mason the TV sleuth as a convention speaker. The
28

medical profession has good words for Ben Casey and Dr. Kildare programs. Famous people, too, enjoy parklands and recreational areas, and
may like to talk about it.
P. R. TOOLS — as aids for talks and tours, the use of colored slides
and movies is common practice in many industries. A superintendent can
build up an inexpensive set of slides for his own use. Your Association
might consider a short 16 MM colored movie for use in schools, club shows
and on television, describing the work of a superintendent and using
various parks and courses for scenic backgrounds. The motion picture is
a wonderful public relations tool. Speaking from a personal experience,
we have shown one 25 minute colored film to 800,000 people since 1960.
Showings have been seen on 23 television stations alone, and the demand
still continues.
There is a story how an international public relations man, Guido
Orlando, used his vast experience to help a blind beggar in Paris. The
beggar sat all day with his little cup, and wearing a sign "BLIND"—
but no one ever gave him any money. Orlando decided to help him. One
day he asked—"do you want people to give you money?"
"Of course, Monsieur."
"So I turned his sign around," said Guido, "and on the back I
wrote, 'Spring is Here. You Can See It—I Can't'. Everybody who passed
by put money in his cup. The idea if his being unable to see the
spring touched them where his blindness hadn't. That is public relations
Is public relations here to stay? Is it really needed? The answers
to these questions may be found in the remarks of a famous man,
expressed 125 years ago.
"Public sentiment is everything. With public sentiment,
nothing can fail. Without it, nothing can succeed. Consequently he who molds public sentiment goes deeper
than he who enacts statutes or pronounces decisions.
He makes statutes and decisions possible or impossible
to be executed."
. . . ABRAHAM LINCOLN
H O W CLIMATE AFFECTS OUR TURFGRASS

DISEASES

by Charles J. Gould*
Introduction
A plant disease is frequently defined as an abnormal condition.
Within the limits of this definition, disease can be caused by too much
or too little food, too much or too little water, by unfavorable soil
conditions, by excessive compaction of the soil and by many other
factors, including fungi and other pathogens. Of these disease-producing
conditions, we shall confine the discussion today to parasitic fungi and
their development under various climatic conditions.
* Plant Pathologist, Washington Agricultural Experiment Stations, Washington State University, Western Washington Experiment Station,
Puyallup, Washington.
_ _
Proceedings of the Northwest Turf Conference, September 25-27, 1963,
Portland, Oregon
29

Climate includes not only the familiar factors of temperature and
precipitation, but also factors such as visible and invisible radiation, dust,
gases, electrostatic charges, etc. The climate can be considered under
two categories: the macroclimate, or the general over-all climate, and
the microclimate, or that which surrounds each individual plant. Naturally, macroclimate influences microclimate to a considerable extent.
Leaving microclimate as a major topic for some future conference, we
shall pay most attention today to the general effect of temperature and
precipitation on parasitism of certain fungi on turf grasses.
What is Necesary for a Disease Epidemic?
Three factors are essential for a plant disease epidemic (or
epiphytotic): an abundance of susceptible hosts, favorable environment
and a virulent pathogen. Of course, the best situation for disease development is to have all environmental factors very favorable for the fungus
and unfavorable for the host. Turfgrasses, actually, are in an unnatural
environment from the day they are planted. The abundance of plants,
the heavy use of fertilizers and the abnormal wear and tear on plants
permit the development of many fungi that cause only minor trouble
on similar plants grown in their native habitat.
Unfortunately, in the mild and moist climate of the Pacific Northwest, we usually find an abundance both of susceptible host and of
major parasites such as Fusarium, Corticium, etc. Consequently, in this
area the major factor determining the development of disease is climate,
whether it is natural or artificial.
General Effect of Weather on the Host
Temperature:
The effect of climate is usually one of interaction between host and
parasite. This has been beautifully demonstrated with a species of
Fusarium that attacks both wheat and corn. The fungus grows best in
culture at 75 to 81° F. However, it does most damage to corn at low
temperatures (46 to 68° F.) but wheat is more susceptible at relatively
higher temperatures (61 to 81° F.). Why? Because corn 'likes' hot and
wheat 'prefers' cool weather; reverse conditions are unfavorable for
each host and consequently favor the fungus. The practical result is
the seedling blight due to this fungus attacks wheat mostly in the
southern part and corn in the northern part of the range of each host (2).
In general, conditions that favor development of succulent tissues
(such as cool, moist weather and excessive nitrogen) increase the
susceptibility of grass plants. This is particularly characteristic of
Damping-Off, a disease of young tender seedlings where the fungus grows
faster than the host matures under cold moist conditions.
Light:
Low levels of light usually produce more succulent host tissues,
which are readily invaded. However, very high light intensities may
injure cells, thereby facilitating invasion by certain fungi.
Gases:
Grass injured by gasoline fumes, smog, sulfur dioxide or other gases
probably is more readily invaded by weak parasites than that not injured, but little research has been done on this problem. A Russian
report (4) recently stated that lawns exposed to the influence of
industrial gases required more careful maintenance than ordinary city
lawns. Unfortunately, quackgrass was more resistant to such gases than
16 other lawn species tested by them.
30

General Effect of Weather on Fungi
A. Temperature may affect fungus development as follows:
(1) Sporulation. Too low or too high temperatures are usually unfavorable for spore production. With optimum temperature the production of spores is often amazing. We have found about 50,000 spores in a
one-fourth inch piece of a Fusarium-infested
grass leaf. Stakman (29)
reported that one "Shaggy-Maine" mushroom produced about 5 billion
spores and discharged these at a rate of one hundred million per hour.
The number of uredospores in a single acre of fairly heavily infested
wheat has been estimated at 50 trillion (29). A heavy rust epiphytotic
in South Dakota could produce two sextillion spores. If only one in
every 10,000 of these blew north into North Dakota, there would be
four spores for every wheat plant in the state (2). In eastern Washington
during years of wheat smut 'showers' as many as 5,000,000 spores have
fallen on each square foot of ground (30).
(2) Germination and Infection. Rhododendron rust spores may begin
to germinate within two hours. On apple trees the scab fungus germinates and infects leaves within four hours at 68° F. but requires twice
as long at 77° F. and three times as long at 43° F. (29). The common
late blight fungus attacking potatoes can germinate, penetrate into
leaves and produce spores, all within 2 1/3 days at 73° F. This process
requires twice as much time at 59° and infection cannot even occur at
77° F. (29).
(3) Longevity. Pathogens vary considerably in their length of life.
Small swimming spores (zoospores) of fungi such as Pythium may last
for only 48 hours, even when kept cool and moist. At the other extreme
are smut spores which have survived as long as 39 years in dry,
herbarium specimens. Some of our Rhododendron rust spores have
survived several months at cool temperatures but only a few days at
high ones. Unfortunately, we know very little about the influence of
temperature on the life span of spores and mycelium of most of our
turf pathogens.
B. Moisture:
(1) Sporulation. Most fungi produce spores abundantly only at a
high relative humidity. Some actually require a film of water before
sporulation can occur.
(2) Germination. Free water is necessary for germination and infection by fungi such as Pythium, whose spores actually swim. However,
many spores are inhibited or killed by excessive moisture, as when
they are submerged in droplets of water. This is particularly true of
many rust fungi. At the other extreme are the powdery mildews whose
spores contain so much water that they can germinate even in relatively
dry atmospheres of 25 to 55% relative humidity.
(3) Longevity. Extremes of moisture usually shorten the life of
most spores, particularly at high temperatures.
(4) Growth of mycelia. A high relative humidity is essential for
most fungus growth, since the cell walls are so thin that water is lost
rapidly under dry conditions. This is particularly noticeable with
Fusarium.
C. Light:
High intensities inhibit germination of Rhododendron rust spores,
but low intensities are better than complete darkness. A little ultra
violet radiation will stimulate sporulation in some fungi but high levels
can kill. Most turf disease development in western Washington ceases
or slows down during bright sunny weather. In this case, the effect is
31

believed to be indirect, since low relative humidies and high temperatures
usually occur during such weather.
D. Gases. High levels of carbon dioxide in the soil may inhibit growth
of Ophiobolus graminis, but this factor will be elaborated on at a later
conference.
Distribution of Turfgrass Diseases in North America
It is generally recognized that turfgrass diseases vary in intensity
from one area to another. This variation arises from the effects of climate
on hosts as well as on pathogens. Thus, we seldom see rust in western
Washington because bluegrasses (except the widespread annual bluegrass) are not common in the area. Similarly, some fungi are more
abundant in hotter climates and some in colder ones, but most prefer
moderate conditions.
We have just completed tabulating the results of questionnaires
returned by 29 pathologists from various areas of the United States
and Canada. In order to draw definite conclusions, many more reports
are needed and many more detailed surveys are required. However, the
general results of this survey are certainly interesting. The two pathogens
that definitely appear to be generally most troublesome are Rhizoctonia
brown patch and Helminthosporium leaf blight. The next eight in order
of importance are: Sclerotinia dollar spot, Pythium blight, Helminthosporium crown and root rot, Typhula snow mold, Marasmius fairy ring,
Fusarium patch, Damping-off and various rusts. This listing represents
a combination of ratings for both putting and higher-cut turf. Of course,
some diseases are much worse on putting turf and others are more
serious on lawn type.
Putting Turf—Rhizoctonia, Helminthosporium
and Sclerotinia appear important in all but the Northwest and West Central areas. Pythium
is most destructive in warm regions and Typhula in cold ones. Nematodes
are worse (or have been most investigated) in the Southeast. Dampingoff appears to be worse on the West Coast, although it is fairly important
everywhere. Winter crown rot (caused by an unidentified low temperature basidiomycete) is definitely a northern United States-Canadian
problem, while the Pacific Northwest (west of the Cascades) is a haven
for Fusarium, Ophiobolus and Fairy Ring. (Fig. 1). The division of
North America into regions follows Musser (21) and is based upon
climates favorable to certain types of grasses.)
Lawn-type Turf—The disease picture is somewhat different in highcut turf. Helminthosporium
is a problem in most areas, Sclerotinia is
serious in the East, Rhizoctonia in the South, Typhula and Rusts in the
North, Spring dead spots in the southern Midwest, Powdery mildew in
the West Central, Pythium in the Southwest, Damping-off in the West
Coast, while Corticium red thread, Fusarium patch, and Fairy Ring are
dominant in the Pacific Northwest. We suspect that when time permits
an adequate survey, both Ophiobolus and Helminthosporium
will also
be found to be important pathogens in high-cut turf in the Northwest.
(Fig. 2).
Diseases and Climate in the Pacific Northwest
Let us next examine more closely some of the climatic factors and
diseases in our own corner of North America. Average temperatures and
precipitations for the months of January and July are shown in the
accompanying table. (Table 1). Data for other months would be necessary for a detailed evaluation but time and space do not permit their
inclusion at this time.
32

In general, disease distribution correlates well with temperature and
precipitation patterns. Thus, we find both of these climatic factors
favorable for development of Fusarium patch in January west of the
Cascades and the disease often appears during this month. However,
east of the Cascades January temperatures are usually too low for
Fusarium growth. Instead of this fungus we find Typhula in the more
northern area where snow persists longer. In July the temperatures
north of the Sacramento Valley are sometimes favorable for Fusarium
but precipitation (or relative humidity) is usually much too low. Consequently, the major diseases are rusts and powdery mildews east of the
Cascades. Other miscellaneous diseases sometimes appear in the western
area during this season. As we go south from Vancouver, B.C. we find
that July temperatures gradually increase to a point in the Portland area
and the Willamette Valley where we might expect occasional outbreaks
of brown patch and dollar spot. The former occasionally develops but
low daytime humidities usually keep it in check. Dollar spot only appears
rarely, if at all.
Fairy Rings are widespread throughout the Northwest and the causal
fungi often fruit west of the Cascades but seldom in the drier eastern
area. The Ophiobolus patch fungus, which apparently spreads below the
soil surface, continues to grow during the summer, except under very
dry conditions.
Even within restricted areas different temperature and moisture conditions drastically affect disease development. Thus, Fusarium patch is
usually much more important than Typhula snow mold in Southeastern
Washington, while the reverse is generally true for the Northeastern
section, probably because the snow cover persists longer. Let's look now
at some of the individual requirements of our various turf pathogens.
Fusarium Patch
Although several species and forms of Fusaria can cause trouble in
turf, the one of most concern to us at present is Fusarium nivale.
Temperature—The results of tests by two workers (5,10) show that the
fungus can make considerable growth in culture even as low as 36° F.
but the optimum temperature is near 68° F. and the maximum between
91° to 97° F. However, Dahl (10) obtained most infection of grass
between 32° and 41° and only a little at 59° to 68° F. within two days.
In recent tests Endo (13) obtained some infection at 40°, most at 60°
and 70° and none at 90° F. In our tests more infection has occurred at
58° than at 48° or 67° F. Bennett (5) showed that the fungus could
withstand 4° F. in the mycelial or vegetative stage but that it died after
5 days at 91° F. He and Smith (27) have shown also that different
strains of F. nivale exist. It is entirely possible that the strains of F. nivale
in eastern Washington differ from those in western Washington, where
disease development practically ceases when the temperature approaches
freezing.
Temperature is also important in its general effect on the turf. Thus,
infections are often masked from spring through fall by rapid growth of
the grass surrounding the spots but become apparent in the winter when
diseased areas fail to 'fill in.' Attacks may also follow sharp frosts when
the leaves are damaged and recovery is slow.
Moisture—Under normal conditions most turf is probably reinfected
by Fusarium soon after being disinfected with a fungicide. However, the
fungus apparently grows slowly at first until a Vi-Vz inch spot is affected. Then, under favorable conditions, it seems to explode. In western
Washington the moisture seems to be the critical factor in disease outbreaks more often than is temperature. Persistence of a high relative
35

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36

humidity around grass plants is necessary for the greater part of the
time during several successive days in order to permit rapid spread of
the fungus. In western Washington this occurs most often during
September and October when there are frequent periods of heavy fog,
light misting rain, or overcast skies that prevent evaporation of water
of guttation. Heavy rains seem to hinder spread of the fungus.
Light—Some light is necessary for production of spores and for development of pink color according to Smith (27). Light is also one of
the main factors affecting appearance of symptoms, which may range
from a bright copper through tan to a dead brown, brownish green, or
a grey, depending mostly on amount of light, age of the spot, temperature,
and moisture.
Corticium Red Thread
This fungus (C. fuciforme) is widespread over all of the Pacific
Northwest, but apparently is most severe west of the Cascade Mountains
and in this area it is most often found on fescues suffering from lack
of nitrogen. The stroma (masses of fungus strands) can withstand considerable drying and exposure to high temperature and resume growth
within two days when favorable conditions return.
Temperature—The fungus grows slowly near freezing, best at about
68° F. and ceases between 77° to 86° F. in culture (14). However, the
disease was worse in one of our tests at 58° than at 48° and very little
developed at 67° F. In Endo's (13) experiments infection was optimum
near 60° and 70°, slight at 40° and 80°, and lacking at 90° F. The
stroma can withstand -4° F. and 90° F. They have also been reported
surviving dry for two years (28). Rapidly growing grass apparently
'outgrows' the fungus but when turf growth is retarded (as in the case
of bentgrass in putting greens during most of the winter), the fungus
often causes trouble.
We may find Corticium becoming a very serious problem generally
if growth retardants come into general use. Smith (28) reported a
severe attack following use of maleic hydrazide—which may have resulted from retarded growth, injury or increased susceptibility of the
grasses. Different temperature-strains of the Corticium apparently exist,
as Erwin (14) has reported.
Moisture—Lack of moisture is the limiting factor governing spread
of the Corticium during the summer months in both England and in our
area west of the Cascade Mountains. The stroma are definitely dependent
on a high relative humidity for elongation. However, spread from diseased
spots is apparently suppressed by heavy drenching rains—just as in the
case of Fusarium nivale.
Light—The greater the sunlight—the redder the color of stromata
and of the entire diseased area.
Ophiobolus Patch
The causal fungus (O. graminis) causes a worldwide disease of
cereals called "Take-all." It is also certainly capable of 'taking all' of
the bentgrass in spots in areas west of the Cascades and in England
and Australia. Since the fungus is so common on cereals throughout
the world, it seems odd that turf is affected only in these areas mentioned.
It has been most destructive both here and in Australia (3) where
methyl bromide fumigation preceded planting. (Perhaps antagonistic
organisms (18) were eliminated or maybe some other factor was
responsible.) Although the fungus does not 'like' anaerobic conditions,
it often causes severe injury in low wet spots where the grass seems
to be hurt more than is the fungus. Liming increases attacks, while
addition of organic matter decreases them. These factors will be discussed
in detail at a subsequent conference. It should be noted that strains of
37

the fungus exist which vary in pathogenicity on different hosts.
Temperature—The optimum for growth in culture is about 73° to
75° F. (11) but most crown infection of wheat occurred at a lower
temperature (54-61° F.) (19). Garrett (15) and others have suggested
that this discrepancy may have been caused by increased microbial
antagonism in soil at the higher temperatures. Tests were made at the
Western Washington Experiment Station using naturally-infested, turf.
The turf was most rapidly affected between 69 and 76° F., but considerable spread developed subsequently at temperatures as low at 51° F.
Moisture—Symptoms are most noticeable in late summer under dry
conditions, presumably because diseased plants absorb or transport less
water. However, the disease is more severe generally in wet years than
in dry ones (28). Detailed studies are needed on turf.
Light—Markedly stimulates formation of the fungus fruiting bodies
(perithecia).
Typhula Snow Mold
This fungus can certainly be characterized as a winter type and
is appropriately called Snow Mold. It usually, but not always, appears
under melting snow or just beyond its edge. Several species cause considerable damage to cereals. Two species (T. incarnata and T. idahoensis)
cause most loss in turfgrasses, and of the two the former is apparently
the more serious. Older plants and weak or injured plants are more
susceptible than are seedlings to attack (7).
Temperature—Several reports (7,22,23,24,25) indicate that the fungi
can attack at freezing temperatures or even somewhat below freezing.
Based upon these reports the upper limit of growth in culture seems
to be near 64° F. and the optimum is about 48-54° F. However, most infection occurred between 32 and 41° F. in their tests. Smith (28) obtained most infection within two weeks at 36 to 41° F. but also found
the fungus could become well established at 32° F. Dahl (10) also noted
that the temperature under snow stayed near 32° F. even when air
temperatures dropped to -20° F.
Moisture—Garrett (15) reports more disease with higher rainfall in
spring or summer, but Cormack and Lebeau (7) report both growth and
infection are reduced in saturated atmospheres. They obtained most
infection with a combination of 35-41° F. temperatures and 80-90%
relative humidity.
Light—Development of sclerotia and mycelia are stimulated by diffused light but inhibited by strong sunlight and darkness (22). Ultra
violet light stimulates development of fructifications (24). Meiners (20)
found sporophores occurred mostly from late October to mid-December
and were occasionally abundant enough to give a pink cast to diseased
areas of turf in eastern Washington.
Fairy Ring
The national turf disease survey showed that the Fairy Ring disease
is widespread in North America and that it frequently causes considerable
trouble to turf. The causal fungus is usually the mushroom Marasmius
oreades but species of Psalliota, Lepiota, puffballs and other basidiomycetes are sometimes responsible. Some mushrooms adversely affect
turf; others merely stimulate it; and some produce no appreciable effect
except for formation of the fruiting bodies. Effects from Marasmius also
vary. In western Washington we have seen dead grass rings as much
as two feet wide in turf that is suffering from a deficiency of moisture,
organic matter and nutrients, while in nearby, but better-kept lawns,
the same fungus produced only a stimulated zone of grass and its
mushrooms.
38

The fungus starts in one spot and most often grows outward in a
circle, usually at a rate of 3-14 inches per year. Some rings have been
found that are over 200 feet in diameter and presumably are over 400 years
old (20). The mushrooms produce an enormous number of spores but
new rings are formed relatively infrequently—indicating that conditions
specifically favorable for spore germination and infection seldom occur.
Our experimental efforts to inoculate healthy turf by transplanting
infested plugs have usually ended in failure—as have similar efforts by
many others.
Shantz and Piemeisel (26) mentioned a report that rings were uniformly broken on the downhill side—suggesting a harmful influence on
the fungus of decomposition products washed toward the lower side.
Few careful investigations have been made on the effects of various
climatic factors on fungus infection. Soil moisture seems to be the chief
factor governing fruiting. Thus, most sporophores are found in western
Washington after the fall rains begin (16). If the weather dries up after
fruiting starts, the mushrooms are much smaller and tougher than under
normal conditions. Mushrooms develop much less frequently in eastern
Washington where rainfall is lower during the crucial period than in
western Washington.
Damping Off
Damping-off is a disease of seedlings, usually occurring under conditions that delay seed germination and/or growth. The disease is often
responsible for poor stands of grass in the spring when seed is sown too
early in cold, wet soil. High soil moisture may slow germination by
reducing seed respiration but dry soil may also retard germination.
Excessive seeding rates also provide more abundant succulent tissues for
the spread of the various causal fungi (particularly Pythium, Fusarium
and Rhizoctonia). Optimum temperature and moisture requirements
vary for the particular fungi concerned, but in most areas any condition
that delays germination and retards rapid maturation of the seedlings is
likely to result in damping-off.
Helminihosporium Diseases
Many species of Helminthosporium attack different types of grasses
under differing climatic conditions. This group of parasites has not yet
been adequately studied in western Washington on turfgrasses, but we
certainly suspect that they are present, particularly in turf that looks
'thin,' where improper culture is not the obvious cause. Some species of
Helminthosporium
cause a leaf-spotting, some a general blighting, and
some may do both.
Spores of some species may germinate within 30 to 40 minutes,
penetrate into leaves within 8 to 10 hours, and produce disease symptoms
5 days later. Some species can grow at almost freezing temperatures,
others at temperatures as high at 86 to 104° F. The optimum seems to
be around 77° F. for one of the most common species (H. sorokinianum)
(12). Spores may survive five years or longer. Symptoms vary with
temperature. Thus, Weihing (31) reports leaf spotting at 68° F. and a
severe and general leaf blighting at 95° F. Spotting is generally most
common at low temperatures and low relative humidity and blighting
at high temperatures and high relative humidity. Results of root infection are usually most severe in either extremely wet or extremely
dry soil.
Rhizoctonia Brown Patch
Although Brown Patch is the number one disease in most of North
America, it is not well known to golf course superintendents in western
Washington, primarily because our weather usually does not favor its
development. Apparently the fungus is widespread but we usually have
39

only one or two outbreaks here lasting a few (2-7) days each year.
Couch (9) states that penetration of leaves begins at 73° F., is highest
at 80-85° F. and ceases at about 90° F. Endo (13) found two pathogenic
strains: one with an optimum pathogenicity at 80 to 90° F. and another
slower acting between 70 and 80° F. The mycelium dies when temperatures drop below 62° F. If inoculum is widespread, large areas may
be blighted within 6-8 hours. Otherwise, the fungus spreads as a
'smoke ring' at about 1 inch per day. The soil moisture level is apparently
not too critical a factor as long as the relative humidity around grass
blades remains high with the temperatures over 62° F. Fortunately for
our turf, the days are usually too dry and the nights are too cool for
the fungus here.
Nemaiodes
This group of microscopic worms was reported in the survey as
troublesome to turf only in Florida, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Nebraska.
But it is extremely likely that additional investigations will reveal them
to be serious in other areas, either as direct parasites or as precursors
to various fungi. Most of them generally cause more trouble under warm
than under cool conditions so we in the Pacific Northwest can take some
comfort in this knowledge—for a while at least. Under their own power
nematodes move only about 2-3 feet a year but such cultural measures
as aerifying and thatching can assist their spread (6).
Sclerolinia Dollar Spot
Howard (17) reported that the fungus (S. homoeocarpa) will grow
slowly near freezing, makes most growth between 68 and 86° F. and
stops growing at about 99° F. Endo (13) got a little infection at 60°,
most between 70 and 80°, and none at 90° F. However, he found that
the fungus could grow in culture as low as 40° or as high as 90° F.
Its inability to infect grass at these temperatures may be due to failure
to produce a toxin that injures roots. Couch (9) stated that it becomes
active at 60° F. A high relative humidity around grass blades is necessary for its spread, but there is less damage to turf grown in saturated
soil than that in dry soil (8). In view of the temperature and moisture
requirements, we expect that the fungus may occasionaly develop here
(more likely in southwestern Washington) but certainly not as a serious
problem, unless a drastic change occurs in the climate.
Pythium Blight
Although we have not observed any trouble from this disease and
do not anticipate much, we have included it for comparison with our
known pathogens because it is so important in the southeastern United
States. The fungus is most serious in a hot and humid climate, and can
completely destroy stands of turf within 24 hours. Most infection occurs
in saturated atmospheres at high temperatures. Thus, in Endo's (13) tests
the optimum was 90° or higher, and the minimum was 60° F. Although
the spores need water in which to swim, infected grasses actually show
most damage when the soil moisture is near the permanent wilting point
(9). Various species of Pythium also may cause Damping-off.
Summary
Perhaps the most effective way to summarize the diseases known to
occur in Washington State is in the form of a chart. (Fig. 3) The solid
lines represent the usual period of greatest losses, while the dotted lines
indicate times when each fungus is either less destructive or not evident.
Control
Control measures for most of the diseases just described are summarized in Washington Extension Mimeograph No. 2049, available from
any Agricultural Extension office in Washington.
40

L

Literature Cited
1. ANON. 1941. Yearbook of Agriculture—Climate and Man. Published
by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.
2. ANON. 1953. Yearbook of Agriculture—Plant Diseases. Published
by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.
3. ANON. 1962. Ophiobolus Patch disease. J. Sports Turf Res. Inst.,
England. 10:467 & 468
4. ANTIPOV, V. G. 1959. Gas resistance of lawn grasses. Bot. Zurnal,
44:990-2.
5. BENNETT, F. T. 1933. Fusarium species of British cereals. Ann. Appl.
Biol. 20:272-290.
6. BLOOM, JAMES R., AND PAUL J. WUEST. 1961. Nematodes and
Turf. Golf Course Reptr. 29:12-17.
7. CORMACK, M. W , AND J. B. LEBEAU. 1959. Snow Mold infection
of alfalfa, grasses and winter wheat by several fungi under artificial
conditions. Can. J. Botany 37:685-693.
8. COUCH, HOUSTON B , AND JAMES R. BLOOM. 1960. Influence of
environment on diseases of turfgrasses. II. Effect of nutrition, pH,
and soil moisture on Sclerotinia Dollar Spot. Phytopathology 50:761763.
9. COUCH, HOUSTON B. 1962. Diseases of Turfgrasses. Reinhold Publ.
Corp., New York.
10. DAHL, ARNOLD S. 1933. Snowmold of turf grasses as caused by
Fusarium nivale. Phytopathology 24:197-214.
11. DAVIS, RAY J. 1925. Studies on Ophiobolus graminis Sacc. and the
Take-all disease of wheat. J. Agr. Res. 31:801-825.
12. DOSDALL, LOUISE. 1923. Factors influencing the pathogenicity of
Helminthosporium sativum. Minn. Agr. Exp. Sta. Tech. Bull. 17.
13. ENDO, R. M. 1963. Influence of Temperature on Rate of Growth of
Five Fungus Pathogens of Turfgrass and on Rate of Disease Spread.
Phytopathology 53:857-861.
14. ERWIN, LESTER E. 1941. Pathogenicity and control of Corticium
fuciforme. Bull. 278 Agr. Exp. Sta. of Rhode Island State College.
15. GARRETT, S. D. 1956. Biology of Root-Infecting Fungi. Cambridge
Univ. Press. 252 pp.
16. GOULD, C. J., H. M. AUSTENSON, AND V. L. MILLER. 1958. Fairy
Ring Disease of Lawns. Sta. Circ. 330, Washington Agr. Exp. Stations.
17. HOWARD, F. L., J. B. ROWELL, AND H. L. KEIL. 1951. Fungus
Diseases of Turf Grasses. Bull. 308, Agr. Exp. Sta. Univ. of Rhode
Island.
18. LUDWIG, R. A., AND A. W. HENRY. 1944. Studies on the microbiology of recontaminated sterilized soil in relation to its infestation
with Ophiobolus graminis Sacc. Can. J. Res. 21:343-350.
19. MC KINNEY, H. H., AND R. J. DAVIS. 1925. Influence of soil temperature and moisture on infection of young wheat plants by
Ophiobolus graminis. J. Agr. Res. 31:827-840.
20. MEINERS, JACK P. 1955. Etiology and control of snow mold of turf in
the Pacific Northwest. Phytopathology 45:59-62.
21. MUSSER, H. BURTON. 1962. Turf Management. (Rev.) McGrawHill Book Co., Inc. 339 pp.
22. POTATOSOVA, MME. E. G. 1960. Conditions of germination of the
sclerotia of the fungi of the genus Typhula. Zashch. Rast., Moskva
4:40.
42

23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.

POTATOSOVA, MME. E. G. 1960. Typhulosis of winter crops. Trud.
vses. Inst. Zashch. Rast. 14:135-142.
REMSBERG, RUTH E. 1940. Studies in the genus Typhula. Mycologia
32:52-96.
REMSBERG, RUTH E. 1940. The snow molds of grains and grasses
caused by Typhula itoana and Typhula idahoensis. Phytopathology
30:178-180.
SHANTZ, H. L., AND R. L. PIEMEISEL. 1917. Fungus Fairy Rings in
eastern Colorado and their effect on vegetation. J. Agr. Res. 11:191245.
SMITH, J. DREW. 1953. Fusarium Patch Disease. J. Sports Turf Res.
Inst. 8:1-23.
SMITH, J. DREW. 1959. Fungal diseases of turf grasses. Bull. Sports
Turf Res. Inst. 90 pp.
STAKMAN, E. C., AND J. GEORGE HARRAR. 1957. Principles of
Plant Pathology. Ronald Press Co., New York. 549 pp.
STEVENS, NELL E , AND RUSSELL B. STEVENS. 1952. Diseases in
plants. Chronica Botanica Co., Waltham, Mass.
WEIHING, JOHN L., STANLEY G. JENSEN, AND RICHARD I.
HAMILTON. 1957. Helminthosporium sativum, a destructive pathogen
of bluegrass. Phytopathology 47:744-746.

C U R R E N T R E S E A R C H O N C O N T R O L OF T U R F G R A S S
AT THE WESTERN W A S H I N G T O N

EXPERIMENT

DISEASES

STATION

by Charles J. Gould
Fusarium Patch
with Fungicides—Testing several treatments and rates. PMA alone
(when disease is most severe) and alternating PMA and Caddy (at
other times) remain our top recommendations. (Coop, with Vern
Miller and Roy Goss)
with Fertilizers—in cooperation with Roy Goss. Disease increases with
increasing nitrogen—particularly with organic sources,
with Soil Mixes—in cooperation with Roy Goss. We expect that the
best-aerated mix will give the best control.
Corticium Red Thread
with Fungicides—One test involving several different materials and
times. Cadmium compounds look best so far, followed by Panogen
and PMA. (with Miller and Goss)
with Fertilizers—Nitrogen continues to given good control except during
winter months when grass growth is reduced, (with Goss)
Ophiobolus Patch
with Fungicides—Two large tests. Two treaments appear especially
promising at present time, (with Miller and Goss)
with Fertilizers—High nitrogen from urea increased disease development in our plots. However, in England and Australia ammonium
sulfate has given good control, apparently by making the soil
more acid. It is worth testing here, (with Goss)
The financial assistance for these tests by the Northwest Turf Association, U.S. Golf Association-Green Section, and California Chemical
Corporation is gratefully acknowledged.
43

PANEL

DISCUSSSION

TOPIC: Advances in turf grass management
PANEL MEMBERS:
Ed Fluter, chairman
John Zoller
Harvey Junor
Milt Bauman
WHAT

IS M A I N T E N A N C E ?

—

OR W H A T

TO M A I N T A I N A GOLF COURSE

IT

TAKES

by Ed Fluter
Superintendent Glendoveer Golf Course, Portland
At the close of the Northwest Turf Conference at Pullman last year,
most superintendents agreed that it was a very good educational session
and many of us thought we had learned several things that we could
put to good use during the coming months.
Some of us had a program of work already lined up to go ahead
with during the late Fall and Winter months. Some of this work we
had been putting off on account of maintenance and other things crowding us.
We have found that maintenance schedules cannot be put off or
side-tracked; they must come first and head the list of our daily work
program.
Grass does not quit growing because the mowers are out of order
and fungus and other turf diseases do not always show up when we
have lots of spare time to take care of them. Machinery seems to have
the habit of breaking down when you are most crowded for time and
are behind in your work program. However, sometimes our plans and
intentions are rudely interrupted by some things that seem to come from
out of a "clear blue sky".
WEATHER CONDITIONS:
That is what happened to many of us when on Columbus Day in
October, a hurricane hit us with such force that our courses were
shambles in a matter of minutes. Trees and shrubs uprooted—boughs
and debris scattered from tees to greens. Electric poles toppled—transformers blew up—wires were lying on the streets and no one had lights
or heat for days—some as long as ten days before their power was
restored.
I happened to be home at the time the storm hit watching my trees
being blown down, when the phone rang and a voice from the clubhouse said, "Ed, we haven't got lights, what shall be do?" You can
imagine what I replied with the wind blowing over a hundred miles an
hour. Evidently he was looking across No. 1 fairway and he said, "Boy!
You are sure going to have one 'hell of a job' cleaning up this course."
That was an understatement—it was really a mess and it took a lot
of man power, etc. to get the course opened again for play.
Maintenance is a matter of taking things as they come—the planned
and the unexpected.
44

One of the courses that was hit the hardest in that storm was the
Eugene Country Club where John Zoller is the superintendent. He has
some pictures to show us what he ran into there—
John Zoller.
Thanks John.
Maintenance is a matter of taking care of the course regardless of
how old man nature treats you. Sometimes you have to work with him—
sometimes you have to work against him.
MANAGING AND MAINTAINING:
However, there are some things that are fundamental and everyone
managing turf has to keep them in mind. Plants like animals (including
man) have to be fed in order to live; whether it is Nitrogen, Phosphorus
or some of the trace elements. All are necessary for the building of
healthy plant tissues, and must be supplied in proper proportions. Water
must also be supplied at the right time and in right amounts. Sometimes that can be a problem on a golf course where there is heavy play.
The turf manager must be alert to the diseases of grass—either to
prevent them or to cure them. Compaction must be minimized by aerifying and if necessary by top-dressing with the right materials. All this
together with a rigid mowing program must be taken care of and systems
have to be developed to suit the individual or peculiar problems of each
course or turf project.
With play starting at daybreak and continuing heavy until dark, the
question is—when can you get all these things done?
Milt Bauman who is superintendent at the beautiful Overlake Golf
and Country Club will tell us how he maintains his course and what
it takes to keep it in such fine condition—Milt Bauman.
M A I N T E N A N C E A N D OPERATIONS PRACTICES
O V E R L A K E GOLF A N D C O U N T R Y C L U B

AT

by Milt Bauman, Supt.
We will start with mowing practices which change very little from
year to year and during the growing season the following procedure is
standard:
It takes us about 15 hours to mow our fairways depending upon the
condition of the grass and the amount of play. Our fairways are cut at
three-quarters of an inch and during the heavy growing season the fairways are mowed more than four times a week; the rest of the growing
season three times a week.
Our tees are cut at V2 inch with a tri-plex and are mowed every day
except Sunday.
Our greens are cut at 7/32" from the first of May until such time as
we run into hot weather or some other problem which necessitates raising the mowers to one-quarter inch. About the middle of October, maybe
sooner depending upon weather conditions, we raise the cutting height
to 5/16" where it remains until the weather breaks in the spring.
VERTICUTTING:
We practice vertical mowing during the lush growth and puffing
season; weather and grass conditions have to be right or we do not use
this machine. At no time do we set the machine to take off more than
IV2 baskets of grass from a 5,000 sq. ft. green when this is done after
45

the greens are mowed. In other words, what we are doing is trueing the
surface of the green.
FERTILIZATION:
Our fertility program is as follows: We generally fertilize fairways
twice a season—a shot of urea in March with about 80 lbs. of actual
Nitrogen per acre; then during the first part of June we use a complete
fertilizer as, for instance, this year we used a 15-5-10 with a dolomite
filler applied at the rate of 200 lbs. per acre. Some years we have come
in later with a light application on the fairways.
Tees and aprons are fertilized about eight times a season with three
applications of a complete fertilizer and the other applications of urea.
Our greens receive for the season as follows: 13 lbs. of N, 5 lbs. of
P, and 10 lbs. of K per 1,000 sq. ft. in about 30 applications. The reason
for so many applications is that we usually apply muriate of potash
separately and then use light applications of ammonium nitrate with our
fungicides.
From the middle of August until the first or middle of November,
depending on the weather, we apply a fungicide every two weeks and
if weather conditions warrant, we apply them more often. The rest of
the year we apply a fungicide about once a month.
During the good weather months our traps are raked daily except
Monday. Ball washers are cleaned and clean towels placed as needed;
the two starting tees are changed daily during the heavy play season.
AERIFICATION:
We aerify and top dress both spring and fall. We have a greensaire
and use k" tines. Both spring and fall we have been overseeding with
highland bent at the rate of 1 lb. per 1,000 sq. ft., and we definitely can
see an increase in our bent grass population. We use a light loamy sand
material for top dressing and apply about 1/3 of a yard per 1,000 sq.
ft. We mat this material in, pulling a standard steel drag mat with our
terra-tired Cushman Cart. This does a fine job; in fact, witR this
method one man can do the job better than was previously done by two.
I will not mention watering practices as there is no set standard or
procedure to follow. We water as water is needed and we try to keep
our course as dry as possible.
LIMING:
I will touch on lime now. Our fairway fertilizer has a dolomite filler
and staying with this formulation, we should not have to worry about
liming our fairways. We have used quite a bit of Dolomatic lime on our
greens and tees, in fact in eight years we brought our pH up from 5.3 to
6.1 on an average of all of our greens. Now I will ask a question. Does
bent grass require a pH above 6 to thrive and be healthy? Does a heavy
liming program help improve our poa annua crop? Does a program with
a high pH and heavy fertility have a tendency to give us coarse heavy
bladed leaves and stems on our grasses?
SIGNS:
We have quite a few signs on our golf course and contrary to what
a lot of people say, signs do get results. We fasten our signs on pieces of
reinforcing steel, sharpened on one end and having a handle on the
other. These signs can be moved very easily while the grass is mowed
and then be replaced in the ground. We have placed such signs as "Let
faster players through" and "Did you lift your ball mark" etc. They
have helped speed up play and the members have taken better care of
their golf course. We also have some wickets or gates made out of
46
x

reinforcing steel, 3/8" material, that keep the traffic from pulling carts
through narrow openings between traps and greens. These also are
pointed and can be moved very easily.
TRAILER EQUIPMENT:
One thing we do have that is of quite an interest to Superintendents,
especially on the west side of the mountains, is our trailer equipment.
We have three utility trailers with airplane wheels and tires, the tire
size being 29 x 13-5. Our mechanic built these trailers. They are well
balanced, heavily constructed and have lots of floatation. We have our
sprayer mounted on one of them and have the other two for whatever
jobs come along—hauling tile, gravel, dirt, limbs, etc. It is so wet during
the winter that a dump truck cannot be used, so you can well imagine
the use we have for these trailers.
Our mechanic also built a small lowboy tilt trailer we pull behind
our Cushman cart. We haul such things as our greensaire, sod cutter,
greens mower and what have you. We even use it for hauling sod when
it is to be moved a short distance. It certainly is a labor saver.
Getting back to a cart for the golf course superintendent to get
round in—I feel it makes him 25% more efficient than if he has to
walk, and with terra tires he does no damage to the course.
During the winter months we check all of our equipment and get
it in shape for the growing season. We are especially thorough with
our fairway units. After they are two years old we go through them
every year and check bearings, bushings and gears. We also paint almost
every piece of equipment we have each winter.
RECORDS:
I also keep records of maintenance and construction costs as well
as fertility and application of fungicides. Some people feel record keeping
is a waste of time, but it takes all of the guesswork out of what you
have done in the past. Also, it is nice to know how much was spent
the previous year when submitting a budget, especially for maintenance.
I keep a pad in my desk and each month I ad up our labor costs,
and when I check the bills at the office I mark down what items are
charged to our department. I have found this to be a pretty easy way
to keep a record of expenditures.
GREENS COMMITTEE:
This past year we have had a Greens Committee meeting about
every three months. There are five members on this committee and
the meetings have been held at one of their homes in the evening. My
first reaction was to resent this, but after attending a couple of them I
think they are fine. Previously, meetings were held at the clubhouse
during the day and the committee members had one thing in mind—
get through so we can play golf. These evening meetings have been
very constructive and interesting, and I endorse them.
EMPLOYEE-CLUB RELATIONS:
The Club has a good relationship with its employees. We try to
keep the wage scale up so that we can be selective and have a better
class of men on our greens crew. We have paid vacations, an insurance
program, and all of the permanent employees are on salary. We do not
have much turn over. All of our employees can find something to do
whether or not someone is there to direct them, and they respect their
job and the golf club.
47

In closing I might say that the golf courses and employees have both
made great strides in the past ten years.
Thanks Milt for such a good paper.
The next superintendent on the panel is Harvey Junor from the
lovely Portland Country Club. He also has had an unusual maintenance
problem. Awhile back it was decided that the local sewer line had to
go through the golf course. Sometimes the contractors are more concerned with getting their job finished than they are in preserving good
turf. Harvey will tell us some of his maintenance program—Harvey.
SEWER

PROBLEMS

by Harvey Junor
Portland Golf Club
In August of 1961 the Portland Golf Club was confronted with one
of the problems of a fast growing area.
An easement for construction of a sewer line directly through the
center of the course was required. This year we again face the same
problem. Many clubs in the area may be in similar situations as golf
courses seem to be the hub of many growing communities.
The main concern of all involved was to have the operation move
along as fast as possible.
Problem No. I
The route across the course. The most direct for the engineer crossed
several greens, tees, and the creek several times, leaving us with a
great deal of damage. After meeting with the engineers a plan was
agreed upon that caused the least amount of destruction.
Problem No. II
Access to and from the course had to be provided for heavy equipment. The trench was to be 18' deep and 6 to 10 ft. wide on the
surface. A 50' easement was granted to the contractor with the
understanding that all work was to be completed within this area.
Problem No. Ill
Keeping the golf course playable. One nine was to be kept open for
play at all times. The contractor was required to complete fairways
as soon as possible before starting on the next area.
Problem No. IV
Keeping irrigation system in operation. Due to the fact that the
work was being performed in August made this the most important
problem. The contract required the irrigation system be kept in
operation at all times.
The contractor tunneled under most of the lines but many were
broken. We were able to repair most lines within a few hours and
as a result no harm was done.
There has been very little settling as the dirt was packed back firmly
with heavy equipment.
Problem No. V
Drainage Problem. In all fairway areas the sod was removed and
layed back, the roughs were seeded. All drain tiles were replaced
and back filled with gravel. After the project was completed and it
looked like a good job, we are having a definite drainage problem.
The solid fill has spoiled all the natural sub drainage.
We dislike thinking about having these same problems next year
48

KNOW

YOUR

PRODUCT

by Harvey Junor
Portland Golf Club
Todays management problems do not all fall into the category of
turf. The superintendent has to have the ability to handle many different
types of problems outside the field of turf. These problems require many
hours of time, but basically we are hired for good turf and no matter
how well we handle these other matters it is the condition of the course
that we are graded by.
This is the field that we all want to advance in and through the years
the superintendent and his methods of turf management have done so in
many ways.
Many new types of equipment and products have given us a greater
advantage over the superintendent of 20 or 30 years ago, making many
of our jobs easier and yet producing better turfs.
The old timers learned from trial and error. Through the years we
also have made many mistakes but we have much more help from Agronomists and other outside sources. Years ago the superintendent developed
a habit of testing their new methods on the nursery as this was the only
way available to them, and to me this is something that should never be
forgotten.
Today's superintendent has many products available to him and many
different types for the same job. Many of these products are new to us
and many companies are new in the turf industry while other companies
have new products.
To me this brings up one of the most important things in turf management, and that is in knowing the product you are using and are absolutely sure of the effects it will have on your turf. Without proper
information sometimes this type of advancement ends up with more
problems than it anticipated. The results of one little mistake can cast
a shadow over all our good work as good turf is taken for granted and
errors are quickly seen. Don't use anything unless you have information
from a dependable source or have tested it for a long period of time on
your nursery. This way of thinking has stemmed from three words of
advice passed on to me by one of the old timers. When I was all enthused with a brand new product, they saved me a lot of trouble. Maybe
they will you: "Proceed with Caution
Thanks Harvey.
We have heard how some of the maintenance problems are met.
Probably among the newer turf managers there are some questions they
would like to put to the panel members. What is your problem?

49

TURFGRASS FERTILITY RESEARCH

REPORT1

by Roy L Goss^
The fastest and best guide to proper plant nutrition is through laboratory soil tests. The reaction and appearance of the plant is very important as well, but sometimes we cannot correct a deficiency in time to
help the crop. In the case of turf, if we wait until it shows a deficiency
symptom for potassium, phosphorus, or calcium, the lacking element
cannot be applied to the root zone as easily as with annual crops. It is
important, then, to know what our fertility level is before planting a
permanent turfgrass.
Table I gives us an idea of what our fertility balances are in some
of our turfgrass areas.
TABLE I.—Fertility Status of Some Golf Course Putting Greens.
Phosphorus Deficiency Potassium Deficiency
No. of Samples
No.
%
No.
%
227
11
4.8
108
48
Putting greens are illustrated, in this case, since these represent recent tabulations of soil tests from well managed golf courses. Potassium
was being used in the fertilizer programs, but obviously not enough. The
same general trend is true for all other turf soil tests. These results indicate that (1) insufficient amounts of the formulated fertilizer were not
applied or (2) the fertilizers were not properly formulated to meet the
crop needs. These potassium deficiencies must be corrected slowly in
order to avoid injury to the grass.
HOW MUCH POTASSIUM DOES YOUR TURFGRASS USE?
Table II illustrates some results from a turfgrass fertilizer experiment in progress at the Western Washington Experiment Station.
TABLE II.—Comparison of soil Potassium* Levels after 3 Years of Clipping Removal.
Lbs. K applied Relative net
N-P-K Treatments Initial K Present K
per acre
use K lbs./
lbs./a./yr.
in 3 yrs.
lbs./a.
lbs./a.
acre
1. 870-0-0
500+**
184
0
316+
2. 870-77-0
500+
149
0
351 +
3. 870-77-289
500+
329
867
1038 +
4. 522-0-0
500+
183
0
317 +
5. 522-77-0
500 +
175
0
325+
500 +
6. 522-77-289
330
867
1037+
7. 261-0-0
500+
217
0
283 +
8. 261-77-0
500+
220
0
280 +
500+
9. 261-77-289
348
867
1019 +
* Extractable with Morgan's solution
** 500/a. = Highest standard used by W. S. U. Lab.
iPaper presented at 17th Annual Turfgrass Conference, Portland, Oregon,
September 27, 1963.
2 Assistant Agronomist and Extension Specialist in Agronomy — Western
Washington Experiment Station, Washington State University, Puyallup,
Washington.
50

These data do not take into consideration certain variables, such as
possible leaching, fixation, and the release of non-exchangeable postassium in the soil. It is apparent, however, that large amounts of potassium have disappeared from these plot soils. The rates of nitrogen applied were 20, 12, and 6 lbs. per 1000 Sq. ft. per season. Phosphorus (P)
was applied at 1.76 lbs./lOOO Sq. ft. per season, and potassium (K) was
applied at 3.32 and 6.64 lbs./lOOO Sq. ft./season. All nitrogen was applied
as urea and potassium was applied at muriate of potash. They were
dissolved and sprayed on the plots at regular intervals to make up the
annual total. Phosphorus was applied as treble super phosphate separately.
NITROGEN INFLUENCES POTASSIUM USE:
As the rate of nitrogen application increases there is also an increase
in use of potassium. This trend is illustrated in comparing treatments
numbers 1, 2, 4, and 5 with numbers 7 and 8. It is surprising to note
that in spite of what was thought to be adequate applications of K all
plots shewed a net loss of potassium over the 3 year period. These data
are in agreement with several other investigators who have briefly reported on turfgrass fertilizer requirements. Just how high we would
have to go with our potassium applications to show a net gain is not
known for putting green turf. However, preliminary results (Table III)
on lawn turf fertilizer plots show that some net gains have been made,
especially when available N was applied at 8 lbs./lOOO Sq. ft./season and
K was applied at 6.64 lbs./lOOO Sq. ft. per season. See treatments No. 4
and 6 in Table III.)
TABLE III.—Relative use of potassium by lawn turf when variable rates
of N-P-K are used.
Relative net
N-P-K Treatments Initial K Present K
per acre
use K lbs./
in 3 years
acre
1. 348-0-0
479
180
0
299
2. 348-77-0
466
145
0
321
3. 348-77-145
419
289
435
565
4. 348-77-289
415
438
867
844
5. 348-0-145
414
386
435
463
6. 348-0-289
414
481
867
800
7. 174-0-0
428
180
0
248
8. 174-77-0
414
180
0
234
9. 174-77-145
449
381
435
503
Again, these data do not take into consideration the variables of fixation, leaching, and release of non-exchangeable potassium.
WHAT ABOUT FERTILIZER BALANCE FOR TURFGRASSES?
Results at this time indicate that balances are important to turfgrasses but not in the same proportion as for most field crops. For example, only small applications of phosphorus are necessary to maintain
a good healthy turf, but considerably more potassiusm is required to
maintain quality. Plots with high potassium levels have better color and
growth characteristics than those with low levels when observed in the
field. Nitrogen levels influence the uptake of postassium by turfgrasses.
The higher the nitrogen level, the more potash is removed.
In computing phosphorus use, it was found that potassium influenced
the levels considerably. When potassium was applied, larger amounts
of phosphorus were taken up. Likewise, phosphorus influences potassium uptake, but to a much smaller degree.
51

TABLE IV.—Relative use of phosphorus by Lawn Turf when variable
rates of N-P-K are applied.
Lbs. P. applied Relative net
N-P-K Treatments
Initial P Present P per a. in 3 yrs.
use lbs./a.
8
1. 348-0-0
0
21
13
2. 348-77-0
221
223
22
20
221
223
3. 348-77-145
22
20
221
4. 348-77-290
221
21
21
9
14
0
5. 348-0-145
23
9
14
0
6. 348-0-290
23
9
14
0
7. 174-0-0
23
224
221
21
18
8. 174-77-0
223
221
20
9. 174-77-145
22
223
221
18
10. 174-77-290
20
6
14
0
11. 174-77-145
20
4
14
0
18
12. 174-0-290
2
0
18
16
13. 0-0-0
TABLE V.—Relative use of phosphorus by Putting Green Turf when
variable rates of N-P-K are applied.
Lbs. P. applied Relative net
N-P-K Treatments
Initial P Present P per a. in 3 yrs.
use lbs./a.
6
0
9
1. 870-0-0
15
223
221
14
2. 870-77-0
16
221
221
15
15
3. 870-77-145
*220
221
4. 870-77-290
15
16
1
0
14
15
5. 0-0-0
7
0
9
16
6. 870-0-145
5
0
14
9
7. 870-0-290
4
0
14
10
8. 522-0-0
5
0
10
15
9. 522-0-145
7
0
9
16
10. 522-0-290
*220
221
17
11. 522-77-0
16
223
221
17
15
12. 522-77-145
223
221
15
17
13. 522-77-290
7
0
10
17
14. 261-0-0
7
0
11
18
15. 261-0-145
9
0
9
18
16. 261-0-290
223
221
17
19
17. 261-77-0
220
221
19
18
18. 261-77-145
227
221
12
18
19. 261-77-290
WHAT ABOUT DISEASE?
Nutrition plays a major role in disease development. In cooperative
disease control experiment with Dr. C. J. Gould of this station, we have
definitely established the fact that Fusarium patch disease is stimulated
by heavy applications of nitrogen. It was further observed that organic
forms stimulated greater infection than inorganic. Ophiobolus patch disease, an increasing problem in the northwest, is similar in its response
as Fusarium patch when considering nitrogen. Other examples of disease and nutrition interrelationships can be found.
Just how much these diseases are being affected by potassium, phosphorus, or combinations of these nutrients still remains to be seen. As
we approach the critical levels, both high and low, it appears that the
picture is changing somewhat and more can be said in the near future.
A vigorous, healthy turf will respond to management and resist disease
attacks. Hence, for the average conditions of the northwest, a fertilizer
52

with about 3-1-2 ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium will give
this health and vigor if the level is kept high enough and no serious
deficiencies were apparent initially.
TABLE VI.—PUTTING TURF RATINGS—Sept. 23, 1963
Treatment
1
2
3
Lbs. N-P-K/1000/Season Quality (Color, etc.) Ophiobolus Scalp & Thatch
1
10
1. 20-0-0
8
3
5
2. 20-4-0
8
1
2
9
3. 20-4-4
4
4
4. 20-4-8
8
0
0
9
5. Check
4
5
9
6. 20-0-4
0
10
7
7. 20-0-8
6
7
8
8. 12-0-0
4
5
9. 12-0-4
7
4
9
7
10. 12-0-8
8
11. 12-4-0
0
6
7
12. 12-4-4
8
0
7
7
0
13. 12-4-8
4
2
14. 6-0-0
7
0
10
6
15. 6-0-4
7
0
8
16. 6-0-8
5
10
2
17. 6-4-0
7
0
8
18. 6-4-4
6
5
10
19. 6-4-8
1 — Based on 10 as perfect quality
2 — Based on 10 as severely infected
3 — Based on 10 as severe scalp and thatched.
S U M M A R Y OF T U R F G R A S S A G R O N O M I C R E S E A R C H A T
WESTERN WASHINGTON EXPERIMENT STATION

by Roy L. Goss
EXPERIMENTS WITH PARAQUAT
Experiments on renovation of turfgrass areas have been conducted
since the fall of 1962 with paraquat (1: l-Dimethyl-4,4'-Dipyridylium
dichloride or paraquat dichloride). In all cases paraquat was effective
in rendering an immediate contact kill on all vegetation contacted. Plants
with storage root systems usually recover from these applications. Grasses
such as bent grass, Poa annua, and others not having underground storage
organs are effectively killed.
Rates of 1/2-1 and 2 pounds of Cation per acre have given excellent
kills especially when used with a wetting agent. Paraquat is also effective for edging and immediate contact kills where residual activity
for extremely short periods of time (1 to 2 days) is desired.
EXPERIMENTS WITH MALEIC HYDRAZIDE (A growth regulator)
Applications of maleic hydrazide were made in May, 1963 at the rate
of two and four pounds per acre. The two pound application rate was
repeated in two weeks after the first treatment. The four pound per acre
rate discolored the grass slightly, but recovered its color quickly as compared to the two pound rate repeated twice. A second application at the
53

two pound rate discolored the grass somewhat more than the four pound
original rate.
In September, 1963 the plots treated with maleic hydrazide still
showed reduced growth rate as compared to other materials tested and
to the check plot areas. The color in the MH treated plots was extremely
good indicating that the treatment is very effective. It would seem from
these results that the use of maleic hydrazide in secondary turfgrass
areas such as roughs, and perhaps even in some fairway areas, highway
roadsides, and certain other areas would be a beneficial program.
POA ANNUA CONTROL
As a pre-emergence treatment, Dacthal at ten pounds per acre, Zytron
at ten pounds per acre, Enide (formerly referred to a U4513) and
Betasam (formerly referred to a R4461) have all given satisfactory results
in the inhibition of the growth of Poa annua seedlings. Some field testing is required on some of these materials, however, at the present time
Dacthal has been the most widely tested for phytotoxic reaction. At this
time no phytotoxicity has been found with Dacthal on putting greens
especially. However, some minor reports have come in on the thinning
of fescues by Dacthal; however, the author has not corroborated such
results in his tests. More will be outlined at a later date on the control
of Poa annua with these pre-emergence materials.
Several materials were tested for post-emergence control of Poa
annua and briefly maleic hydrazide and Endothal produced considerable
burning to the bentgrass putting green turf and only Betasan showed
reasonable results in the control of mature Poa annua. More will be
coming on this in the future.
FERTILITY AND DISEASE
Fusarium patch continues to be aggravated by high rates of nitrogen.
This is essentially the same information that has been reported in
several previous instances. It seems likely then that during the disease
season the amount of nitrogen should be cut back and since evidence
indicates that urea and organic fertilizers increase the incidence of
Fusarium these should be reduced or eliminated from formulations
during the extreme disease season. Ammonium nitrate and ammonium
sulfate can be used with reasonably good success, however, the rates of
these should be kept low also.
Fusarium patch disease was extremely severe on plots with 20
pounds of available nitrogen per thousand square feet per season particularly where no phosphorus or potassium was included in the formula.
Extreme disease was also observed where twenty pounds of nitrogen,
no phosphorus, and 8 pounds of potassium per thousand square feet was
used. This indicates when imbalances of fertilizer are employed, disease
conditions can occur.
Extreme thatching was observed on all low rates of nitrogen. In
particular, this was noticed on some plots where high rates of potassium
were used. At this time, the cause of this reaction is not exactly known,
but it is supposed that potassium is actually stimulating better growth
and under a better management program these plots that are thatching
and scalping badly can be brought into excellent culture.
For a complete review of fertilization, disease, and thatch results,
refer to Table VI.

54

MEMBERS
NORTHWEST

Adams, Fred
Banks, Harvey L.
Bauman, Clayton
Bentley Company
Cabinet View CC
Chase, J. V.
City of American Falls
Down River Golf C.
Everhart, C.
Evergreen Memorial Pk.
Faulkner Spray Service
Federspiel, Fred
Fircrest Golf Club
Floral Hills, Inc.
Fluter, E.
Forest Lawn Cemetery
Galbraith and Company
Gese, P.
Goddard, Murl
Grays Harbor CC

TURFGRASS

ASSOCIATION

Turf co
1200 Stewart Avenue
Seattle, Washington
Kitsap Golf & CC
P. O. Box 397
Bremerton, Washington
Glendale G & CC
2036 9th St. W.
Kirkland, Washington
4126 Airport Way
Seattle, Washington
Box 441
Libby, Montana
4101 Beacon Ave. So.
Seattle, Washington
American Falls, Idaho
Spokane, Washington
Box 8025
Manito Station
Spokane, Washington
11111 Aurora Ave. No.
Seattle, Washington
2820 S. 150th
Seattle, Washington
Oswego Lk.
20 Iron Mt. Blvd.
Oswego, Oregon
6520 Regents Blvd.
Tacoma, Washington
409 Filbert Rd.
Alderwood Manor, Washington
14015 N.E. Glisan Street
Glendoveer GC
Portland, Oregon
5409 Kitsap Way
Box 1279B
Bremerton, Washington
2428 Alaskan Way
Seattle, Washington
Box 68
Mount Si Golf Club
North Bend, Washington
Box 187
Elks Golf & CC
Selah, Washington
Route 1
Aberdeen, Washington

55;

Greco, J.
Greenup Spray Service
Gueho, E. M.
Harrison, J.
Harrison, George
Haskell, D.
Hemphill Bros. Inc.
Hogan, D.
Holms, J.
Jacklin, A. W.
Jaslowski, J.
Junor, H.
Kuhn, C.
Land, Sr., H.
Land, Jr., H.
Latimer, D. W.
Lawton, G.
Lewiston Golf & CC
Lilly Company, Charles
Liotta, A.
Lufkin, H.
Macan, A. V.
Michel Lumber Company
Mihelich, J.

P. O. Box 2446
Parkland, Washington
12437 1st Ave. S. W.
Seattle, Washington
771 Austin Road
New Westminster, B. C.
Coeur d'Alene CC
Hay den Lake, Idaho
2030 Lincoln Avenue
Tacoma, Washington
100 Dexter Ave. N.
Seattle, Washington
201 Boren Ave. N.
Seattle, Washington
9060 37th Ave. So.
Seattle, Washington
Box 1196
Fairbanks, Alaska
8803 E. Sprague
Dishman, Washington
2340 Broadmoor Dr. E.
Seattle, Washington
5900 S. W. Schölls Ferry Road
Portland, Oregon
901 Lane Street
Seattle, Washington
320 129th So.
Tacoma, Washington
8333 55th Ave. N. E.
Seattle, Washington
Route 3
Olympia, Washington
P. O. Box 1063
Olympia, Washington
Lewiston, Idaho
1900 Alaskan Way
Seattle, Washington
1235 College Station
Pullman, Washington
1031 N. E. 114th
Seattle, Washington
1110 Beach Drive
Victoria, British Columbia
Box 555 338-A North State St.
Lake Oswego, Washington
Rt. 3, Box 599
Enumclaw, Washington

56

College GC

NULIFE
Golf Director
Seattle Park Dept.

Jacklin Seed Company
Broadmoor GC
Portland Golf Club
H. D. Fowler Inc.
Tacoma Country Club
Sand Point CC
Fort Lewis GC
Olympia C & GC

Pullman GC
General Spray Service
of Magnolia

Miller, D. J.

520 So. 53rd
Tacoma, Washington
7737 N. E. Killingsworth
Miller, R. E.
Portland, Oregon
Mount View Cemetery
P. O. Box 632
Walla Walla, Washington
Mt. View Memorial Park 4100 Steilacoom Blvd. SW
Tacoma, Washington
Northwest Mower & Marine 7710 24th N.W.
Seattle, Washington
Pacific Agro Company
3308 Harbor Ave. S. W.
Seattle, Washington
Peace Portal Golf C.
Box 130
190 King George Highway
White Rock, British Columbia
Putnam, Ken
145th N and N Greenwood
Seattle, Washington
Quast, T.
Route 1
Marysville, Washington
Reger, A. S.
P. O. Box 235
Liberty Lake, Washington
Ripley, Clarence
Route 5
Spokane, Washington
Royal Oaks CC
8917 N. E. 4th Plain Road
Vancouver, Washington
Salishan Beach GC
Gleneden, Oregon
Sander, B.
8105 N. E. Sunderland Ave.
Portland, Oregon
Schmidt, L. J.
W. 4302 West Drive
Spokane, Washington
Scott, L. A.
3252 Ferdinand St. S.
Seattle, Washington
O. M. Scott & Sons
P. O. Box 327
Salem, Oregon
Ed Short Company
2400 6th Ave. So.
Seattle, Washington
504 City Hall
Spokane Park Dept.
Spokane, Washington
Box 461
Sunset Hills Memorial
145 PI. S. W. 16th St.
Bellevue, Washington
Van Waters & Rogers
4000 1st Ave. So.
Seattle, Washington
Veterans Memorial GC
Walla Walla, Washington
Wagner, C
12221 Gravelly Lake Dr. SW
Tacoma, Washington

57

A-l Spray
Millers Products

Seattle GC
Cedarcrest GC
Liberty Lake Golf
Course
Wanderniere Golf
Course

Riverside Golf
Indian Canyon GC
W Seattle GC

Waite Company, Ramsey
Walla Walla CC
Walters Co., Charles R.
Reed, B.
Wenatchee G & CC
Werth, R.
Western Plastics Corp.
Western GC Supply
White, Sidney S.
Woods, N. H.
Zoller, J.
Zook, S.

P. O. Box 5173
Eugene, Oregon
P. O. Box 523
Walla Walla, Washington
Bothell, Washington
9817 E. Bumside Street
Portland, Oregon
P. O. Box 1479
Wenatchee, Washington
1000 N. E. 135th Street
Seattle, Washington
3110 Ruston Way
Tacoma, Washington
1240 S. E. 12th Ave.
Portland, Oregon
Route 3, Chenowith RD.
The Dalles, Oregon
6144 Wilson Road RR 7
Langley, British Columbia
255 Country Club Road
Eugene, Oregon
1100 S. E. Waverly Drive
Portland, Oregon

58

E. P. Baltz & Sons
Jackson Park GC

The Dalles CC
Eugene CC
Waverly CC

CONFERENCE

Allen, Elmer
Allen, Milt
Atkins, Luther B.
Baltz, Tom
Bashor, Noble
Banks, Harvey
Baptiste, Roscoe
Bauman, Clayton
Bauman, Milt
Beggs, Robt.
Bengeyfield, Bill
Booth, Victor
Brown, David
Burkette, Art
Carbaugh, W. S.
Chase, Jack
Clark, Phil
Clark, Virgil
Cockburn, Robert
Collier, Ray
Cowan, Ritchie
Dauterman
DeChambeau, Norm
Drew, Graham
Deshler, Mel
Everhart, Cliff
Fairbum, Don
Feinberg, Chester
Fletchall, Max
Florence, Paul
Fluter, Ed
Fortier, Bud
Fouts, Russ
Freed, Virgil
Fritsch, Dick
Gabel, Bill
Gavan, Frank
Gettle, Dick
Gleeson, A1
Goddard, Murl
Goetze, Norm
Goss, Roy L.
Gould, C. J.
Gregg, Bill
Gueho, Manny
Gray, Homer

ATTENDANCE

McCall, Idaho
Enumclaw, Washington
Warrenton, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Salem, Oregon
Bremerton, Washington
Grants Pass, Oregon
Bellevue, Washington
Medina, Washington
Victoria, B. C.
Garden City, California
New Westminister, B. C.
Island City, Oregon
Seattle, Washington
Neskowin Beach, Oregon
Seattle, Washington
Moses Lake, Washington
Everett, Washington
Everett, Washington
Portland, Oregon
Corvallis, Oregon
Longview, Washington
Bothell, Washington
Vancouver, B. C.
Spokane, Washington
Spokane, Washington
Spokane, Washington
Portland, Oregon
Salem, Oregon
Salem, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Albany, Oregon
Albany, Oregon
Corvallis, Oregon
Seattle, Washington
Walla Walla, Washington
Victoria, B. C.
Bellingham, Washington
Richmond, B. C.
Selah, Washington
Corvallis, Oregon
Puyallup, Washington
Puyallup, Washington
Pullman, Washington
New Westminister, B.C.
Corvallis, Oregon

59

1963

McCall Golf Course
Gearheart GC
Kitsap GC
Grants Pass GC
Glendale CC
Overlake G & CC
Victoria GC
USGA
British Columbia Highway
Department
LaGrande CC
Magnolia Company
Neskowin Beach GC
Jefferson Park GC
Moses Lake Park Dept.
Everett G & CC
Earlybird Spray
Collier Spray
Oregon State University
Longview CC
Wayne GC
University of B. C.
Pineacres Par 3
Manito G & CC
Toro Supply
Diamond Alkali
Illahe Hill GC
O. M. Scott Co.
Glendoveer GC
Springhill G & CC
Springhill G & CC
Oregon State University
Poison Implement
Walla Walla GC
Upland GC
Bellingham GC
Golfland Range
Elks GC
Oregon State University
West. Wash. Exp. Station
West. Wash. Exp. Station
Washington State University
Vancouver GC
Corvallis CC

Hamon, Clarke
Hale, Martin
Hamilton, Wes
Harshaw, Wm.
Harrison, George
Harrison, John
Hart, Allen
Hartmann, Richard
Harvey, George
Heider, Walt
Herman, John, Jr.
Hill, Herb
Haskell, Richard
Hogan, Don
Jaslowski, John
Johnson, Scott
Junor, Harvey
Keel, Tom
Kenning, John
Kuhn, Carl
Kumm, Don
Lake, Everett
Land, Henry Sr.
Larson, B. L.,
Law, A1
Lawton, George
Latimer, Dean
Locklear, O. C.
Lufkin, Howard
Macan, A. V.
Mackaness, Frank
Malpass, Dick
MacLean, Neil
Martin, Wm.
McKenzie, Ken
McLeod, Don
McNeilan, Ray
Martinell, Wm.
Mihelich, Joe
Mills, Claude
Mitchell, CB
Mock, Don
Moore, Lefty
Morrison, Ken
Murphy, Robert
Neidlinger, Tom
Newport, LeRoy
Nial, George
Oliphant, Richard
Orton, Stan
Pauling, John

Caldwell, Idaho
Whitefish, Montana
Portland, Oregon
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Tacoma, Washington
Hay den Lake, Idaho
Pleasant Hill, California
Portland, Oregon
Warrenton, Oregon
Vancouver, Washington
Albany, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Salem, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Roseburg, Oregon
Vancouver, B. C.
Seattle, Washington
Portland, Oregon
Hermiston, Oregon
Tacoma, Washington
Portland, Oregon
Pullman, Washington
Olympia, Washington
Ft. Lewis, Washington
Boise, Idaho
Seattle, Washington
Victoria, B. C.
Portland, Oregon
Junction City, Oregon
Vancouver, B. C.
Newport, Oregon
Seattle, Washington
Richmond, B. C.
Gre sham, Oregon
Seattle, Washington
Enumclaw, Washington
Portland, Oregon
Clarkston, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Oak Harbor, Washington
Pullman, Washington
Chilliwack B. C.
Corvallis, Oregon
Bend, Oregon
Caldwell, Idaho
Portland, Oregon
Puyallup, Washington
Washington, D. C.

60

King Brown Gardens
Whitefish GC
North Coast Seed
Coeur d'Alene GC
NuLife Company
Hayden Lake CC
O M Scott & Sons
Morton Chemical Company
Astoria G 6c CC
Royal Oaks CC
Northrup King 6c Co.
FMC Corp, John Bean
Director of Golf
Irrigation Engineer
Broadmoor GC
Portland GC
Roseburg Parks
Pt. Grey G 6c CC
H. D. Fowler Co.
E. P. Baltz Co.
Landscaping
Tacoma C 6c GC
Oregon Toro Distr.
Washington State University
Olympia C 6c GC
Ft. Lewis GC
Landscape Service
General Spray Service
Golf Architect
Port. Gen. Elec.
Shadow Hills CC
University of BC
Agate Beach GC
Pacific Agro
Richmond CC
Multno. Co. Ag.
Toro Supply
Enumclaw GC
Miller Products
Clarkston G & CC
Regional Chemical
Gallery GC
Washington Stat© University
Chilliwack G 6c CC
Oregon State University
Christmas Valley
Municipal GC
Lilly Co.
West. Wash. Exp. Station
US Dept. of Ag.

Pierson, Robt.
Porterfield, Jim
Pottenger, Joe
Proctor, Glen
Proctor, LarryPutnam, Ken
Reed, Byron
Rowe, "Chen"
Ripley, Clarence
Sander, Wm.
Schmidt, Louis
Schmidt, Ray
Schwabauer, Richard
Scott, Lloyd
Shearer, Marvin
Shults, Jack
Smith, Harold
Staib, Bob
Stuiber, Edwin
Thorpe, Tom
Venable, Marc
Vinson, Jim
Ward, Joe
Werth, Rudy
Willis, Frank
White, Sid
Wright, Vernon
Zook, Sam
Zoller, John
Lindsay, W. Dean
Mahan, Glen
Gamer, Ray
Couch, John
Woods, Norman
Rogers, Eddie
Butchek, Ken
Carper, John
Wilkerson, Jim
Brink, V. C.
Sater, Neil

Coos Bay, Oregon
Ashland, Oregon
Yakima, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Tacoma, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Portland, Oregon
Tacoma, Washington
Spokane, Washington
Portland, Oregon
Spokane, Washington
Great Falls, Montana
Corvallis, Oregon
Seattle, Washington
Corvallis, Oregon
Cornelius, Oregon
Vancouver, B. C.
Napa, California
Tumwater, Washington
Victoria, B. C.
Seattle, Washington
Portland, Oregon
Silver Lake, Oregon
Seattle, Washington
Longview, Washington
The Dalles, Oregon
Spokane, Washington
Portland, Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Wasatch Chemical Gresham,
Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Hood River, Oregon
Langley, B. C.
Seattle, Washington
Portland, Oregon
Seattle, Washington
Portland, Oregon
Vancouver, B. C.
3414 Royal Oaks Drive
Vancouver, Washington

61

Coos CC
Oak Knoll GC
Yakima CC
Rainier G & CC
McChord AFB GC
Seattle Golf
E. P. Baltz
Tacoma Seed Co.
Wandermere GC
Riverside G & CC
Indian Canyon GC
New Meadow Lark CC
Oregon State University
West Seattle GC
Oregon State University
Forest Hills GC
Capilano G & CC
Hercules Co.
Western Tree Service
Royal Colwood GC
Northwest Mower
Oregon Toro Distributors
Christmas Valley
Jackson Park GC
Longview Parks
Dalles CC
Lilly Company
Waverley CC
Eugene CC
Lilly Company
Cushman Mtrs.
Golf Course Archt.
Northwest Mower & Marine
Webfoot Fert. Co.
Naugatuck Chemical
University of B. C.