PROCEEDINGS
_

o f the

12 th ANNUAL
NORTHWEST
TURF
CONFERENCE

October 2-3,1958

STATE COLLEGE OF WASHINGTON

PULLMAN, WASHINGTON

WELCOME
M a r k Buchanan, D i r e c t o r
A g r i c u l t u r a l E x p e r i m e n t Stations
P u l l m a n , Wa shington

I have just r e t u r n e d f r o m t w o y e a r s in P a k i s t a n , I t ! s good to be back
in the United States a g a i n . When w e f i r s t went to s o m e of the c o u n t r i e s in
E u r o p e and on the t r i p home w e w e r e v e r y much i m p r e s s e d with the nice
green grass.
In P a k i s t a n , as p e r h a p s you know, everhthing i s d i r t and dust.
T h e r e just i s n ! t any g r a s s a n y w h e r e .
When you p l a y g o l f t h e r e ' s just sand
g r e e n s , and you chase your b a l l down the dusty f a i r w a y .
I had the p l e a s u r e
of w e l c o m i n g s o m e of you s e v e r a l y e a r s ago when M r . L a w and P r o f e s s o r
S c h a f e r w e r e establishing the f i r s t m e e t i n g of this s o r t .
A s I m e n t i o n e d at
that t i m e t h e r e a r e s e v e r a l things that c o m e f r o m c o n f e r e n c e s of this s o r t
in addition to r e g u l a r a c t i v i t i e s that you c a r r y on during the y e a r .
This conf e r e n c e p r o v i d e s an opportunity f o r you to share in the e x p e r i e n c e s of o t h e r s .
You know Confucius said that a s m a r t man l e a r n s f r o m his e x p e r i e n c e s , but
a s m a r t e r man l e a r n s f r o m the e x p e r i e n c e s of o t h e r s .
F o l l o w i n g this o r i g i n a l
m e e t i n g t w e l v e y e a r s ago your d e c i s i o n w a s to o r g a n i z e an A s s o c i a t i o n and
one of your a c t i v i t i e s f r o m which w e ' v e c e r t a i n l y been i n t e r e s t e d is to put a
l i t t l e m o n e y into the a g r i c u l t u r a l r e s e a r c h p r o g r a m p a r t i c u l a r l y r e l a t e d to
p r o b l e m s in which you a r e i n t e r e s t e d .
W e hope this has been a p r o f i t a b l e
i n v e s t m e n t f o r you.
I see f r o m the m e m b e r s h i p pad g i v e n m e that you now have a m e m b e r ship of s i x t y - n i n e .
T h i s must be outdated because t h e r e ' s m o r e than that
m a n y people h e r e , so you must have m o r e than 100 p e r cent attendance.

T A B L E OF C O N T E N T S
WELCOME
M a r k Buchanan

.

.

.

1

T U R F R E S E A R C H IN P R O G R E S S A T P U L L M A N
AND P U Y A L L U P , WASHINGTON
R o y Goss

3

W E T T I N G A G E N T S AND THEIR P L A C E IN
TURF MANAGEMENT
W. H. Bengeyfield

9

V E L V E T GRASS C O N T R O L
Panel Discussion — Chairman,
D I S E A S E C O N T R O L ON C A N A D I A N
N. A . MacLean

Jack K i n g

TURF

H I S T O R Y A N D P R O B L E M S IN C A N A D I A N
E . M . Gueho
P A N E L - HOME LAWNS
K . J. M o r r i s o n ,

15
TURF
17

J e r r y Munro, Ben R o c h e

P A N E L DISCUSSION--Cemetary
Chairman, Paul Brown

13

19

Problems
25

T U R F DISEASE R E S E A R C H A T T H E W E S T E R N
WASHINGTON EXPERIMENT STATION
C h a r l e s J. Gould

29

TESTING AND SELECTING FOR B E T T E R TURF
GRASSES
R o y G o s s and He r m a n A-izstcnson • • • • • • • • « * o * o e

33

T U R F GRASS B R E E D I N G
D. Markarian
.

35

NITROGEN FERTILIZATION--OBJECTIVES
METHODS
D. W. Kolterman
C O M P A R A T I V E P E R F O R M A N C E OF THE
BLUEGRASS SELECTIONS
J. K . P a t t e r s o n
PANEL

AND
37

P.N.W.

DISCUSSION--MACHINERY
Chairman, Glen P r o c t o r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

39
43

PROGRAM
Thursday
O c t o b e r 2, 1958
Morning
W i l s o n C o m p t o n Union Building
Room - Browsing L i b r a r y
C h a i r m a n , Don Hogan, P r e s i d e n t ,
Consultant, Seattle, Washington

N o r t h w e s t T u r f A s s o c i a t i o n and I r r i g a t i o n

8:30 - 10:00
Registration
10:00 - 10:00
W e l c o m e - M a r k Buchanan, D i r e c t o r , A g r i c u l t u r a l E x p e r i m e n t Station,
P u l l m a n , Washington
10:10 - 10:50
Turf R e s e a r c h Report - R o y Goss,

Junior A g r o n o m i s t ,

Puyallup,

Wash.

10:50 - 11:30
Wetting A g e n t s and T h e i r P l a c e in T u r f M a n a g e m e n t - B i l l B e n g e y f i e l d ,
W e s t e r n D i r e c t o r , USGA, F o r e s t G r o v e , C a l i f o r n i a
Afternoon
Chairman,
1:15 -

Jo K . P a t t e r s o n , A g r o n o m y D e p a r t m e n t , W S C , P u l l m a n ,

Washington

1:45

Annual B u s i n e s s M e e t i n g
1:45 -

2:30

V e l v e t G r a s s C o n t r o l , P a n e l D i s c u s s i o n , C h a i r m a n , Jack K i n g , G o l f
C o u r s e Superintendent, C o l u m b i a - E d g e w a t e r G o l f Club, P o r t l a n d ,
O r e g o n ^ T u r f R e s e a r c h WSC - R o y G o s s
2:30 -

3:15

D i s e a s e C o n t r o l on Canadian T u r f - No A . M a c L e a n ,
B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a , C a n c o u v e r , Canada
3:15 -

U n i v e r s i t y of

3:30

Break
3:30 -

4:00

Canadian T u r f G r a s s e s - V . C« B r i n k , U n i v e r s i t y of B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a ,
V a n c o u v e r , Canada
4:00 -

4:30

H i s t o r y and P r o b l e m s in Canadian T u r f - Manny Gueho* Supt„
Golf Club, 771 A u s t i n R d . N e w W e s t m i n s t e r B . C .

Vancouver

7:00
Banquet, H o r s e Sense in the A t o m i c A g e - E l w y n S c h w a r t z ,
of Idaho, M o s c o w , Idaho (Cub Banquet R o o m )

University

Friday
October

3,

1958

Morning
W i l s o n Compton Union Building
Room - Browsing L i b r a r y
Chairman,
8:30 -

A,

Go

Law,

A g r o n o m y Department,

WSC s

Pullman,

Washington

9:15

P a n e l D i s c u s s i o n , H o m e L a w n s - Ko Jo M o r r i s o n , E x t e n s i o n A g r o n o m i s t , WSC; J e r r y , Munro, L a n d s c a p e A r c h i t e c t , B o t h e l l , Washington;
and Ben R o c h e , E x t e n s i o n W e e d S p e c i a l i s t , W S C .
9:15 - 10:00
Panel Discussion, C e m e t e r y P r o b l e m s - Paul Brown, Chairman, E v e r g r e e n C e m e t e r y , S e a t t l e , P a n e l m e m b e r s : C h a r l e s W a l l a c e , Gordon
Bowen, B r y a n B r e w e r , Wmu E l s a s s , and L e e F r y e r
10:00 - 10:15
Break
10:15 - 11:00
R e s e a r c h R e p o r t - C h a r l e s Gould,
Washington

Plant Pathologist,

WSC,

Puyallup,

11:00 - 11:45
R e s e a r c h R e p o r t - H e r m a n Austenson ( G i v e n by R o y G o s s A g r o n o m i s t
WSC, P u l l m a n , Washington and D e r a n M a r k a r i a n )
Afternoon
Chairman, Glen P r o c t o r ,
Seattle, Washington
1:15 -

Superintendent,

R a i n i e r Golf

& C o u n t r y Club,

2:00

N i t r o g e n F e r t i l i z a t i o n - Obje c t i v e s and M e t h o d s - D* Wo K o l t e r m a n 9
P r o d u c t T e c h n o l o g i s t , DuPont C o m p a n y , W i l m i n g t o n , D e l a w a r e
2:00 -

2:30

R e p o r t on the P N W B l u e g r a s s S e l e c t i o n
WSC, P u l l m a n , Washington
2:30

-

- Jc K . P a t t e r s o n ,

Agronomist

3:30

Questions and A n s w e r s on M a c h i n e r y and E q u i p m e n t ( C o m p a n y
s e n t a t i v e s ) C h a i r m a n , Glen P r o c t o r

Repre-

Vinson,

J a m e s C«

W e s t e r n Golf Course
Supply C o .

1006 So Eo Hawthorne
Blvd.
P o r t l a n d 14, O r e 6

Wade,

Rolland

Wallace,

Charles

W a l l a W a l l a Country Club
Sunset H i l l s M e m o r i a l P a r k

Walla Walla,
B
Bo
e ixl e461
vue,

Wash 0

Wash,

Werth,

Rudy

Jackson G o l f C o u r s e

137 - 10th, No E .
Seattle, Wash*

White,

Sidney So

The D a l l e s C o u n t r y Club

Route 3
The D a l l e s ,

Williams,
Zook,

Sam

Glen

Veterans
Course

M e m o r i a l Golf

W a v e r i y G o l f & Country
Club

Ore*

52 C h e s o p i c S t r e e t
Walla Walla, Wash,
1100 So Eo W a v e r i y
P o r t l a n d 22, O r e .

Dr,

Sand P o i n t C o u n t r y

Land,

Tacoma Golf & Country
Club

9210 Winona A v e . S. W
Tacoma, Wash.

D e p a r t m e n t of A g r o n o m y
State C o l l e g e of Washington

Pullman,

Wash.

Elks A l l e n m o r e Golf Course

Tacoma,

Wash.

H i l l c r e s t C o u n t r y Club

B o x 4026
B o i s e , Idaho

Golf A r c h i t e c t

1110 B e a c h D r i v e
Victoria, B . C .

Law,

Henry

Alvin G.

Lawton,

Geo.

Leonard,

Joe

Macan, A .

Vernon

Club

23012 B r i e r Road
A l d e r w o o d Manor
Seattle, W a s h .

Land, H e n r y W . ( J r . )

MacLean,

Neil Allen

D i v i s i o n of P l a n t S c i e n c e s
Vancouver,
U n i v e r s i t y of B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a

Malcham,

Don

H. D.

Markarian,

D.

McKenzie,

K.

W.

Fowler

Co.,

Inc.

901 Lane S t r e e t
Seattle 14, W a s h .

Agronomy Department
State C o l l e g e of Washington

Pullman,

Galibrath

Seattle,

& Co.

B.C.

Wash.
Wash.

Mihelich,

Joseph P .

E n u m c l a w G o l f Club

Route 3, Box 599
Enumclaw, Wash.

Mitchell,

Charles

Clarkston Golf Course

Clarkston,

Liberty Lake Coif Course

E . 16207 Spokane, St.
L i b e r t y Lake, Wash.

Extension Service
State C o l l e g e of Washington

Pullman,

Morgan,

C.

Morrison,

Munro,

W.

Kenneth J.

Jerry

Munzenmaier,
Olson,

Robert

Patterson,
Pennell,

L.

J.

K.

James T .

J.

Wash.

Wash.

Highland P o i n t G a r d e n s

7622 S i m m o n d s R o a d
Bothell, Wash.

DuPont C o m p a n y

1720 W e b s t e r
Palo Alto, Calif.

Soil C o n s e r v a t i o n S e r v i c e

454 H o l l a n d L i b .
Pullman, Wash.

A g r o n o m y Department
State C o l l e g e of Washington

Pullman,

Later

Seal Island
Vancouver,

Chemicals

Wash.

B.C.

Pottenger,

Joe E .

Y a k i m a C o u n t r y Club

2704 W i l l o w
Y a k i m a , Wash*

Proctor,

Glen

Rainier Golf & Country
Club

2222 S. 111th.
Seattle 88, W a s h .

Putnam,

Ken

Seattle G o l f C o u r s e

Seattle, W a s h . •

Ec P . Baltz & Son

9817 E a s t B u r n s i d e
P o r t l a n d 16, O r e *

L i b e r t y Lake Golf Course

B o x 235
Liberty Lake,

Reed,

Byron E.

Reger,
Rive,

Austin
C«

Roche,

Elliott

Ben

Northern Industries,

Ltdo

Wastu

245 N o r t h 8 R o a d
Richmond, B . C .

Extension Service
State C o l l e g e of Washington

Pullman,

Northwest Mowers

20827 - 81st W e s t
Edmonds, W a s h .

T a c o m a Seed C o m p a n y

805 P a c i f i c A v e n u e
Tacoma, Wash.

R y d r y c h , Donald J.

Grant C o .

Ephrata,

Schmidt,

Indian Canyon G o l f C o u r s e

Rogers,
Rowe,

Ed H .

Chen

L o u i s J.

Schwendiman,

John L .

Extension

Soil C o n s e r v a t i o n S e r v i c e
USDA

Wash.

Washo

Cove 6th & 14th S t r e e t
Spokane 44, Washo
454 Holland L i b r a r y
Pullman,

Washo

Scott, L l o y d A .

W e s t Seattle G o l f C o u r s e

13017 - 41st A v e •, So
Seattle, W a s h .

Scott,

Shaughnessey H e i g h t s G o l f
Club

1400 Wo 33 A v e n u e
V a n c o u v e r 13, B . C .

Esmeralda Golf Course

2604 Eo C o l u m b i a

Robert

Shouse,

Robert H.

S p o k a n e 28,

Washo

Inglewood Golf & Country
Club

11301 No E . 9th S t r e e t
K i r k l a n d , Wash*

Strahl, W . H .

Bentley Company

1246 SOo 130th
Seattle 88, W a s h .

T a i t , R . So

Rain B i r d S p r i n k l e r M f g .
Company

120 - E a s t 25th Street
North Vancouver, BoC

Verling,

USBR
B u r e a u of R e c l a m a t i o n

Route 1

Spaulding,

Jack

Francis P .

Ephrata,

Washo

NORTHWEST TURF ASSOCIATION
BOARD'OF

DIRECTORS

M i l t Bauman

O v e r l a k e G o l f C o u r s e , P G O . B o x 97,
Medina, Wash.

Paul Brown

Evergreen Cemetery,
Seattle 33, W a s h .

John H a r r i s o n

Hayden L a k e G o l f & C o u n t r y Club,
Hayden L a k e , Idaho

Dick Haskell

Seattle P a r k D e v e l o p m e n t
10132 R a i n i e r A v e n u e , Seattle 88,

Aurora,

Wash.

N a t i o n a l I r r i g a t i o n Consultants
1910 M i n o r A v e 0 Seattle 1, W a s h o

Don Hogan
H e n r y Land,

111 E .

Sr.

T a c o m a G o l f & C o u n t r y Club,
9210 Winona A v e n u e , S , W M T a c o m a ,
Wash.

Glen P r o c t o r

R a i n i e r G o l f & C o u n t r y Club,
2222 So. 111th., Seattle 88, W a s h .

K e n Putnam

Seattle G o l f C o u r s e ,
Seattle 77, W a s h .

Sam Z o o k

W a v e r l y G o l f & Country Club
1100 S. E . W a v e r l y D r i v e ,
P o r t l a n d , 22, O r e g .
OFFICERS

1958
Don Hogan
Glen P r o c t o r
H e n r y Land, S r .
J. K . P a t t e r s o n

1957-58
President
Vice-president
Treasurer
Secretary

1957
Don Hogan
Glen P r o c t o r
H e n r y Land, S r .
J. Ko P a t t e r s o n

ATTENDANCE
N O R T H W E S T T U R F A S S O C I A T I O N - - 1958
Name

Representing

Address

Barr, H.

E,

M a r i n e D r i v e Golf Club

1011 Woodland D r i v e
Vancouver, B. C.

Bauman,

Clayton

Glendale Golf & C o u n t r y
Club

13440 M a i n S t r e e t
B e l l e v u e , Washington

Bauman,

Milt

O v e r l a k e Golf & C o u n t r y
Club

235 - 10th A v e n u e , W e s t
Kirkland, Washington
P » Oo B o x 567
Garden Grove, Calif0

Bengeyfield,

Bill

Uo So Go A * G r e e n s Section

Bertramson,

Rod

Agronomy Department
State C o l l e g e of W a s h i n g t o n P u l l m a n ,

Washington

Blohm, Charles E.

W e s t e r n Golf C o u r s e
Supply Coo

1006 So E . H a w t h o r n e
Blvd.
P o r t l a n d 14, O r e g o n

Borst,

Ed Short C o m p a n y

234 So Wo 160th
Seattle, W a s h i n g t o n

Bowen, G o r d o n S.

B o i s e C i t y P a r k Dept.

605 Bannock S t r e e t
B o i s e , Idaho

Brewer,

Mountain V i e w C e m e t e r y

P 0 O. B o x 632
Walla Walla, Washington

F r e d R„

Bryan Ee

Buchanan,

Mark

Director,
Stations

Ago

Experiment
Pullman,

Washington

Brink, V .

C.

U n i v e r s i t y of B r i t i s h
Columbia

Vancouver,

Cochran,

Bob

Rain B i r d S p r i n k l e r s

626 W h i t m a n
Walla Walla, Washington

Vancouver P a r k s Board

7506 C a r n a t i o n S t r e e t
V a n c o u v e r 13, B 0 C .

Boise City P a r k Dept.
(City Cemetery)

2701 D i l l S t r e e t
B o i s e , Idaho

W e n a t c h e e C o u n t r y Club

331 Sunset
Wenatchee,

C r o f t , Go
Elsass, Wm«
Erlacher,
Everhart,

August F ,
Cliff

Federspiel,
Filer,

F.

Fred

Ted H.

Bo Co

Washington

Manito Golf & C o u n t r y
Club

B o x 802 5 M a n i t o Station
Spokane, W a s h i n g t o n

O s w e g o Golf & C o u n t r y
Club

16755 S . W . P a c i f i c H w y ,
Oswego, Oregon

Plant Pathology Dept.
W a s h i n g t o n State C o l l e g e

Pullman,

Washington

Fryer,

Lee

Goddard,
Goss,

Murl

Roy

Gould, Co J.
Gourley,
Gueho,

Boyd
EoMo

P a c i f i c - A g r o Company

3308 H a r b o r A v e . ,
Seattle 6, W a s h .

Elks G o l f Club

807 N o r t h T h i r d S t r e e t
Yakima, Wash.

W e s t e r n Wash.
Station

Experiment

Western Wash.
Station

Experiment

Puyallup,

Wash,

Puyailup,

Washo

E v e r e t t C o u n t r y Club

1809 C o l u m b i a S t r e e t
P i n e h u r s t , Washo

V a n c o u v e r C o u n t r y Club

611 Shaw A v e n u e
New Westminster,

Harrison, George M.

Carsten's Packing Company
NuLife Fertilizers
P . Oo B o x 883
Tacoma, Wash.

Harrison,

Hayden L a k e G o l f & C o u n t r y H a y d e n L a k e ,
Club

Haskell,

John
Dick

Hogan, Donald

A.

Hoggatt, G e o r g e W.
Hohner,

Joe P .

Jackson,

Edward T .

Jaslowski,

John

Kolassa,

Heinz
Don

Idaho

Seattle P a r k D e p a r t m e n t

10132 R a i n i e r A v e n u e
Seattle 88, W a s h .

National I r r i g a t i o n Consuls
tant

19i0 M i n o r
Seattle, W a s h .

Three Lakes Golf Course

1200 Utah S t r e e t
Wenatchee, Wash.

Jefferson P a r k Golf Course

3960 - 59th So W .
Seattle 16, W a s h .

H . Do F o w l e r C o « ,

Seattle,

Inc.

901 L a n e S t r e e t

Northern Industries,

Washo

2606 - 12th N o r t h

B r o a d m o o r G o l f Club
Ltdo

Washo

245 N o r t h 8 R o a d
Richmond, BoC.

Washington T u r f &
Irrigation Co.

1200 S t e w a r t S t r e e t
Seattle 1, W a s h .
Wilmington DeL

Kolterman,

D.W.

DuPont C o m p a n y

Kuhn,

H.

H.

Carl

B.C.

19445 N o r m a n d y P a r k D r .
Seattle 66, W a s h .

Renton,

Knoedler,

SoW.

Do F o w l e r C o . ,

InCc

8434 So E . 37th S t r e e t
M e r c e r Island, W a s h o

T U R F RESEARCH IN PROGRESS
A T P U L L M A N AND P U Y A L L U P ,
WASHINGTON
By Roy Goss
Junior A g r o n o m i s t
A l l t o o o f t e n c o n s i d e r a t i o n i s g i v e n to s o m e f a c t o r s a f f e c t i n g the
q u a l i t y of turf only when s e v e r e d a m a g e has o c c u r r e d .
H o w e v e r , by looking
at a f e w of these f a c t o r s , I b e l i e v e that w e can be b e t t e r p r e p a r e d to a n s w e r
the p r o b l e m s of the f u t u r e .
A p r e l i m i n a r y r e p o r t of this e x p e r i m e n t w a s g i v e n l a s t y e a r , and
s o m e conclusions can be d r a w n at this t i m e f o r the f i r s t y e a r ' s data.
To
b r i e f l y r e i t e r a t e , the t r e a t m e n t s a r e as f o l l o w s :
HCHN*
HCLN
LCHN
LCLN

- 1" cut + 8 .# of N/1000 sq.
" + 2
" + 8 #
" + 2 i#

f t . d i v i d e d into 4 equal month

applications

* High cut high n i t r o g e n .
F r o m T a b l e 1, it can be s e e n that the high cut and high n i t r o g e n p r o duced the g r e a t e s t clipping w e i g h t with l o w cut and high n i t r o g e n the next
l a r g e s t in p r o d u c t i o n .
F r o m this data, it i s obvious that the n i t r o g e n l e v e l
c o n t r o l s the amount of g r a s s produced, if no other f a c t o r s a r e s e r i o u s l y
limiting.
In T a b l e 2, h o w e v e r , t h e r e i s p r e s e n t e d a much d i f f e r e n t p i c t u r e , and
no doubt startling to s o m e p e o p l e .
R o o t production which has a l w a y s been a
s e r i o u s p r o b l e m with c l o s e clipped turf i s i n v e r s e l y a f f e c t e d b y the amount
of n i t r o g e n a p p l i e d .
B y c o m p a r i n g r o o t y i e l d s of H C H N p l o t s and H C L N
plots, it w a s found that the low n i t r o g e n p l o t s p r o d u c e d 16% m o r e r o o t s than
the high n i t r o g e n p l o t s .
In the s a m e m a n n e r , H C L N plots p r o d u c e d 26% m o r e
r o o t s than L C H N p l o t s .
T h i s i s enough e v i d e n c e to show that both cutting
height and n i t r o g e n l e v e l i n f l u e n c e r o o t production, with n i t r o g e n l e v e l p l a y ing the m o s t i m p o r t a n t r o l e .
TABLE

1.

T u r f G r a s s Clipping

Y i e l d Data f o r 20 W e e k s (In

Grams)

Varieties

HCHN

HCLN

LCHN

LCLN

Ave.

Merion
602
402
205
104
Park
Newport
C r . Red
Bent
Delta

790
996
888
943
915
763
808
827
725
824

453
645
534
574
548
525
552
652
621
669

843
970
846
930
964
726
963
669
700
587

453
577
517
619
548
535
495
513
483
520

635
797
696
767
744
637
705
665
632
650

8479
42.40

5773
28.87

8159
40. 80

5260
26. 30

Total
Ave.

T A B L E 2.

Y i e l d of R o o t s and R h i z o m e s by T r e a t m e n t and V a r i e t y (In G r a m s )

Variety

HC
Roots

HN
Rhiz

HC
Roots

LN
Rhiz

Merion
602
402
205
104
Park
Newport
C r , Red
Bent
Delta

10. 81
11. 16
10. 40
11. 16
9. 47
9. 40
11. 69
9. 52
4. 56
7. 24

4. 75
6.50
6. 10
5.26
4. 90
2.63
7.56
0. 00
.25
.84

12. 02
12. 23,
13.. 70
12. 92
13. 53
10. 22
11. 23
1.1. 14
5. 84
9. 55

6. 06
8. 33
6. 20
8. 91
6. 80 8. 92
6. 39
7. 97
7. 59 12. 24
3. 75 9. 73
6. 86 10. 04
0. 00
8. 27
15 4. 77
»o 39 6. 08

Total
Average

95. 41 38. 54
2. 39

1.20

LC
HN
Roots Rhiz

LC
Roots

LN
Rhiz

Ave.
Roots

20
70
10
97
16
41
92
00
00
17

9. 66
12. 99
10. 61
10. 88
11. 96
8« 59
8, 16
11. 75
5. 24
8. 92

5. 40
6. 99
6. 51
6. 71
5. 49
3. 34
6. 11
0. 00
53
lo 08

2.
2.
2.
2.
2.
2.
2.
2.
1.

3.
5.
4.
3.
5.
2.
3.
0.
0.
2.

„

55
83
73
68
95
37
57
54
28
1. 99

Rhiz
1. 21
lo 59
1. 47
1. 40
1. 45
« 76
1. 53
0. 00
05
"028
®

112.38 43. 95 85.. 26 30. 63 98. 76 41. 53
2,, 81

1. 37

2. 13

0. 96

2. 47

1. 30

In conclusions d e e p e r r o o t p e n e t r a t i o n and l a r g e r r o o t m a s s e s can be
e x p e c t e d with higher cutting and by d e c r e a s i n g the n i t r o g e n l e v e l w h e r e p o s sible o T h i s could be a contributing f a c t o r in maintaining a b e t t e r and m o r e
v i g o r o u s stand of bent and P o a annua during the s u m m e r m o n t h s .
Nematode

Research

The c l i m a t i c conditions during the s u m m e r of 1958 caused m a n y strange
phenomena h e r e t o f o r e not e n c o u n t e r e d in the P a c i f i c N o r t h w e s t .
A s much
as 75% of the g r a s s w a s l o s t on one putting g r e e n at the B r o a d m o o r G o l f &
C o u n t r y Club and Seattle Golf and C o u n t r y Club, both at S e a t t l e .
Other
g r e e n s on both of these c o u r s e s s u f f e r e d v a r y i n g damage,,
L o s s of v i g o r on
s o m e g r e e n s at the R a i n i e r Golf & C o u n t r y Club a l s o o c c u r r e d , and in a l l
c a s e s l i v i n g r o o t s w e r e p r a c t i c a l l y nonexistent, e x c e p t in the upper 1 - 2
inches of soil*,
Since no d i s e a s e w a s evident at this t i m e and a m p l e w a t e r w a s being
applied, s a m p l e s w e r e taken and a n a l y z e d f o r n e m a t o d e s by D r e W a l t e r Apt,
U S D A N e m a t o l o g i s t at P u y a l l u p .
His findings indicated e x t r e m e l y l a r g e
populations of s p i r a l n e m a t o d e s , which alone could k i l l turf g r a s s e s by
d e s t r o y i n g the r o o t s , without any other s t r e s s e s or injuries.,
With this i n f o r m a t i o n , r e p l i c a t e d e x p e r i m e n t s w e r e i n i t i a t e d at the
Seattle and R a i n i e r Country C l u b s .
Two materials, emulsifiable Nemagon
and V C - 1 3 , having n e m a t i c i d a l p r o p e r t i e s , w e r e applied on t h e s e p l o t s c
T r e a t m e n t s w i l l continue through next s u m m e r (1959) b e f o r e r e s u l t s w i l l be
known.
It should be pointed out at this t i m e that®
(1)

I n f o r m a t i o n i s not a v a i l a b l e as to the extent of d a m a g e
by n e m a t o d e s .

(2)

C o n t r o l m e a s u r e s a r e not d e f i n i t e l y

(3)

T r e a t m e n t s a r e not being a d v i s e d until m o r e

caused

established,,
data a r e

available.

Wetting

Agents

F o r a long t i m e it has been known that wetting agents w i l l r e d u c e the
t e n s i o n between w a t e r and the m e d i a to which it is a p p l i e d .
A r m e d with this
k n o w l e d g e I b e l i e v e that good use of these m a t e r i a l s could be m a d e on turf
a r e a s that a r e hard to wet*
Since r o o t s a r e not a c t i v e in d r y s o i l , quite o f t e n the g r a s s m a y be
subsisting in the upper 1 or 2 inches of s o i l , or e v e n l e s s . Many l o c a l i z e d
d r y spots appear even a f t e r a m p l e i r r i g a t i o n .
T h e s e d r y a r e a s m a y be due
to thatched, c o m p a c t e d , or h e a v y soil a r e a s that take w a t e r v e r y s l o w l y
when they b e c o m e d r y .
In some s c r e e n i n g t e s t s at the W e s t e r n Washington E x p e r i m e n t Station,
f i v e d i f f e r e n t c o m m e r c i a l l y a v a i l a b l e wetting agents w e r e t r i e d on d r y spots
on the putting g r e e n , and it w a s found that a l l p r o d u c e d s a t i s f a c t o r y r e s u l t s
i n s o f a r as a l l o w i n g the hastening of w a t e r p e n e t r a t i o n .
Satisfactory results
f r o m the use of o r g a n i c wetting agents have f u r t h e r been r e p o r t e d f r o m
Sandpoint, R a i n i e r , T a c o m a , and M a n i t o Country C l u b s .
be

If use of these m a t e r i a l s
observed:

is contemplated,

" n o n i o n i c " wetting

the f o l l o w i n g points

(1)

Use o r g a n i c

(2)

Use only w h e r e and when

necessary

(3)

F o l l o w the m a n u f a c t u r e r s '

recommendations

should

agents.

carefully.

(1) P e a r l w o r t , M o u s e - e a r , and C o m m o n C h i c k w e e d : N e b u r o n s t i l l
r e m a i n s the best c o n t r o l f o r these w e e d s when used at the r a t e of 5 - 6 # of
50% m a t e r i a l per a c r e or 15-18# of 18* 5% m a t e r i a l .
50/50 m i x t u r e s of 4# /
g a l . of acid of 2, 4 - D and 2, 4, 5 - T with a good wetting agent w i l l g i v e f a i r l y
good r e s u l t s when used at the r a t e of 2 t a b l e s p o o n s p e r g a l l o n of w a t e r - - n o t
r e c o m m e n d e d f o r putting g r e e n s .
(2) S p e e d w e l l ( V e r o n i c a s p p . ) and White C l o v e r ( T r i f o l i u m r e p e n s )
can be k i l l e d with the same 50/50 m i x t u r e of 2, 4 - D and 2 , 4 , 5 - T «
A wetting agent or s p r e a d e r - s t i c k e r is a must h e r e .
Endothal a p p e a r s to be v e r y
e f f e c t i v e against s p e e d w e l l and white c l o v e r at the r a t e of 1 quart p e r a c r e
by s p r a y i n g t w i c e at 2 - w e e k i n t e r v a l s .
(3) C r a b g r a s s , a w e e d that r a r e l y c a u s e s s e r i o u s c o n c e r n in the N o r t h w e s t , caused some c o n c e r n this y e a r .
S e v e r a l outbreaks w e r e r e p o r t s on
the W e s t Coast, and h e a v y i n f e s t a t i o n s w e r e r e p o r t e d in the W e n a t c h e e and
Yakima valleys.
In plots t r i a l s this s u m m e r , D S M A ( D i s o d i u m M e t h y l A r s o n a t e ) and
Neburon w e r e applied, with the D S M A g i v i n g a good k i l l .
D S M A w a s applied
at the r a t e of l#/3000 sq. f t . of 2 t a b l e s p o o n s in 3 g a l l o n s of w a t e r 0
Apply
enough to w e t the f o l i a g e by using a good s p r e a d e r - s t i c k e r m a t e r i a l .
Favorable r e p o r t s of a m a t e r i a l c a l l e d P A X have been r e p o r t e d , but it has not
been t r i e d .
M o r e c r a b g r a s s w o r k w i l l be planned next y e a r .

Planned

Experiments

E x p e r i m e n t s f o r e l i m i n a t i o n of P o a annua
Since
annua acts as a w i n t e r annual h e r e , that i s , one that b e c o m e s e s t a b l i s h e d in the f a l l and w i n t e r months, sets seed f r o m e a r l y
spring until s u m m e r , and then d i e s during t i m e s of s t r e s s ( f r o m heat, d i s e a s e s , i n s e c t s , e t c . ) , the obvious t i m e to c o n t r o l the w e e d is during its
p e r i o d of e s t a b l i s h m e n t .
A n e x p e r i m e n t w i l l be initiated this f a l l on the e x p e r i m e n t station putting g r e e n f o r c o n t r o l l i n g P o a Annua by the use of a r s e n a t e s , Endothal,
N e b u r o n , and S i m a z i n e .
The e x i s t i n g populations of P o a and Bent w i l l be
m e a s u r e d , then t o t a l e d during the w i n t e r and e a r l y spring and r e m e a s u r e d
next y e a r .
T h i s e x p e r i m e n t w i l l be continued f o r an indefinite p e r i o d of
time.
Wetting

agents

The p o s s i b i l i t y f o r using wetting a g e n t s , e s p e c i a l l y nonionic f o r m s ,
f o r p r o m o t i n g b e t t e r d r a i n a g e of s o i l s a p p e a r s g o o d at this t i m e .
In
w e s t e r n Washington, w i n t e r p l a y i s the rule r a t h e r than the e x c e p t i o n and
hence r e s u l t s in m a n y p r o b l e m s of c o m p a c t i o n and t r a m p l i n g of the g r a s s
due to o v e r w e t n e s s of the s o i l .
A n e x p e r i m e n t is being planned w h e r e b y v a r i o u s r a t e s and f r e q u e n c i e s
of a p p l i c a t i o n of wetting agents w i l l be used in an a t t e m p t to c r e a t e b e t t e r
d r a i n a g e w h e r e g r e e n s w i l l be p l a y e d a l l w i n t e r l o n g .
Cooperative

experiments

E x p e r i m e n t s a r e being planned in c o o p e r a t i o n with D r . C . J. Gould
to d e t e r m i n e the p o s s i b l e i n t e r a c t i o n s b e t w e e n s o m e m a n a g e m e n t p r a c t i c e s ,
e s p e c i a l l y f e r t i l i z e r s , and the o c c u r r e n c e of d i s e a s e s .
N e m a t o d e i n v e s t i g a t i o n s w i l l continue in c o o p e r a t i o n with D r . W a l t e r
A p t , U S D A N e m a t o l o g i s t . T h e s e i n v e s t i g a t i o n s w i l l a l s o be m a d e in conjunction with a g r o n o m i c and p a t h o l o g i c e x p e r i m e n t s to d e t e r m i n e p o s s i b l e
complex interactions.
T u r f i n s e c t r e s e a r c h i s being planned with D r . A . J. H o w i t t , Station
E n t o m o l o g i s t , to p r o v i d e b e t t e r c o n t r o l s f o r s o m e of the c o m m o n i n j u r i o u s
insects.
T u r f f e r t i l i t y e x p e r i m e n t s f o r both putting g r e e n and lawn and p l a y f i e l d types w i l l be initiated in 1959 as m o r e turf i s e s t a b l i s h e d at the e x p e r i m e n t station.
T h e s e e x p e r i m e n t s w i l l include r a t e s , s o u r c e s of nutrients,
and t i m e of a p p l i c a t i o n .
Question and a n s w e r

period

Ques:

Do you a n a l y z e the s o i l s w h e r e n a m a t o d e s w e r e

discovered?

Ans. :

W e had c h e m i c a l a n a l y s e s run on a l l of these s o i l s and in a l l c a s e s
they w e r e high in a l l n u t r i e n t s .
W e a l w a y s take the c l i p p i n g s off
r a t h e r than w a s t e t h e m .
So the only l i m i t i n g f a c t o r in this c a s e w e

assumed here was nitrogen,
got d i r e c t r e s p o n s e .

and with an a p p l i c a t i o n of n i t r o g e n we

Ques:

(Paul Brown)

Did you run a c r o s s any sand f l e a s this

Ans.:

N o , I d i d n ' t a n d l ' m not in that p a r t i c u l a r line of w o r k ,
port much on that p r o b l e m „

summer?
so can't r e -

WETTING AGENTS AND THEIR P L A C E

IN T U R F

MANAGEMENT

Wo Hu B e n g e y f i e l d
USGA Western Office

What a r e t h e y ?
A good w e t S i m p l y stated, wetting agents w i l l m a k e w a t e r w e t t e r .
ting agent w i l l have the a b i l i t y to r e d u c e s u r f a c e f o r c e s , such as s u r f a c e
tension and i n t e r f a c e t e n s i o n .
What is s u r f a c e

tension?

Surface tension might be i l l u s t r a t e d by sprinkling a f e w d r o p s of
w a t e r on wax p a p e r .
Note how the w a t e r f f b a l l s u p . " T h i s i s an e x a m p l e
of the a t t r a c t i o n of w a t e r m o l e c u l e s f o r each o t h e r .
The t i g h t e r the b a l l ,
the t i g h t e r the t e n s i o n .
An actual p r e s s u r e d e v e l o p s within the w a t e r d r o p let.
T h e r e a r e m a n y w a x y - l i k e substances in soils,.
t e r i a have a w a x y coating as w e l l as o r g a n i c m a t t e r .

Certain soil bac-

What is i n t e r f a c e tension ?
T o i l l u s t r a t e this, c o n s i d e r a thin g l a s s tube with w a t e r in i t .
Note
that the w a t e r r i s e s around the e d g e s of the tube.
A rounded s u r f a c e ( c o n cave) is produced.
An actual p r e s s u r e is d e v e l o p e d within the w a t e r c o l u m n .
A s m a l l e r tube w i l l have a g r e a t e r c u r v e s u r f a c e ( c o n c a v e ) than a
l a r g e tube. A g r e a t e r pull is t h e r e f o r e d e v e l o p e d in the s m a l l e r tube.
In the soil, these c u r v e d s u r f a c e s m a y f a c e in any d i r e c t i o n , and the
m o v e m e n t of w a t e r due to tensions m a y be in any d i r e c t i o n .
Did you e v e r
think of why w a t e r m o v e s up a w i c k or into a f l o w e r pot when w a t e r e d f r o m
below?
T h i s i s nothing m o r e than c a p i l l a r y a d j u s t m e n t u p w a r d .
Capillary
adjustment w i l l a l s o w o r k downward or s i d e w a r d s .
In the d o w n w a r d m o v e ment, g r a v i t y helps but as the s u r f a c e of a s o i l is w a t e r e d , the w a t e r w i l l
m o v e downward due to c a p i l l a r y adjustment as w e l l as g r a v i t y .
When the
w a t e r i n g stops, an e q u i l i b r i u m is g r a d u a l l y r e a c h e d and the d o w n w a r d m o v e m e n t stops.
T h i s is brought about by equal p r e s s u r e s at the b o t t o m of the
w a t e r column as w e l l as at the top of the c o l u m n .
T h i s i s a l l brought about
by actual p r e s s u r e s within the w a t e r .
How a r e plants supplied with w a t e r ?
T h e r e a r e two m e t h o d s w h e r e b y plants obtain m o i s t u r e .
One i s by
the c a p i l l a r y adjustment m e t h o d just described,,
The plant r o o t l e t s a b s o r b
w a t e r in the soil, c a p i l l a r y f r o n t s a r e thinned and c u r v a t u r e s i n c r e a s e d .
T h i s i n c r e a s e d c u r v a t u r e i n c r e a s e s the p r e s s u r e within the w a t e r s y s t e m ,
and it i s " p u l l e d " t o w a r d the r o o t z o n e .
The second method w h e r e b y plants obtain w a t e r is by an e x t e n s i o n of
the plant r o o t s y s t e m .
The c l a s s i c e x a m p l e is a r y e plant that, in one
season, w i l l d e v e l o p a total r o o t length of a p p r o x i m a t e l y 380 m i l e s c a r r y ing 6, 600 m i l e s of r o o t h a i r s . T h i s i s a t r e m e n d o u s r o o t s y s t e m and g r e a t l y
helps in obtaining s u f f i c i e n t quantities of w a t e r f o r the plant.

So - What a r e wetting

agents?

Wetting agents a r e m a t e r i a l s that have the a b i l i t y to m a k e w a t e r
T h e y r e d u c e s u r f a c e tension and i n t e r f a c e t e n s i o n .

wetter.

Wetting agents a r e d i v i d e d into t h r e e c h e m i c a l c l a s s e s , based on the
e l e c t r i c a l c h a r g e of the c h e m i c a l .
These three classes are: Anionic, c a r r y ing a n e g a t i v e c h a r g e ; cat ionic, c a r r y i n g a p o s i t i v e c h a r g e ; and nonionic,
c a r r y i n g no c h a r g e on the p a r t i c l e . M o s t soaps and d e t e r g e n t s f a l l into the
f i r s t two c a t e g o r i e s .
The i o n i c m a t e r i a l s f o r m c h a r g e d p a r t i c l e s in solution and a r e g e n e r a l ly m o r e chemically active.
F o r e x a m p l e , when table salt is p l a c e d in s o l u tion it w i l l b r e a k into sodium ions ( c a t i o n s ) and c h l o r i d e ions ( a n i o n s ) .
The
nonionic m a t e r i a l s do not f o r m c h a r g e d p a r t i c l e s in solution and a r e t h e r e f o r e
less chemically active.
An e x a m p l e of this type of solution is one in which
sugar has been p l a c e d .
The sugar d o e s not b r e a k into an ionic solution.
R e s e a r c h shows that the ionic wetting a g e n t s a r e e r r a t i c in s o i l a p p l i c a tions.
Being m o r e c h e m i c a l l y a c t i v e , they s e e m to c o m b i n e with c e r t a i n soil
m a t t e r , and the r e s u l t i s that they no l o n g e r act as wetting a g e n t s . T h e noni o n i c ' s , being i n e r t to soil m a t t e r , do not l o o s e t h e i r identity in s o i l s as
wetting m a t e r i a l s .
The e n t i r e purpose or r e a s o n f o r using wetting agents can be b o i l e d
down to one v i t a l point: T h e y m a k e w a t e r m o r e e f f e c t i v e .
Do they w o r k ?

L e t ' s keep s o c r e

A.
D r . O. R . Lunt of U C L A w o r k e d with the anionic and c a t i o n i c
wetting agents in 1952. He r e p o r t e d the r e s u l t s as being l a r g e l y n e g a t i v e ,
i . e . , no b e n e f i t or i n c r e a s e d w a t e r a b s o r p t i o n of any g r e a t s i g n i f i c a n c e .
One wote " n o . "
B.
O. R . Lunt and V . Youngner of U C L A w o r k e d b r i e f l y but i n c o n c l u s i v e l y with a nonionic wetting agent in 1957. P i p e s of 4 - i n c h d i a m e t e r
w e r e d r i v e n into h e a v y U - 3 b e r m u d a g r a s s turf to a depth of 2 i n c h e s .
A
solution containing nonionic wetting agent m a t e r i a l w a s poured in one pipe
and plain w a t e r in a n o t h e r . T h e y noted no m a r k e d i n c r e a s e in w a t e r m o v e m e n t in the t r e a t e d w a t e r „ A " n o " v o t e .
Co W o r k at N o r t h C a r o l i n a State showed that "the r a t e of f l o w through
s o i l s of a t r e a t e d solution is not s i g n i f i c a n t l y g r e a t e r than that of plain w a t e r .
H o w e v e r , once the wetting agent had been applied, the r a t e of f l o w of plain
w a t e r w a s a p p r e c i a b l y h i g h e r on the t r e a t e d a r e a s as c o m p a r e d to untreated
a r e a s . " A " y e s " vote.
D.
M r . W a r r e n E , L a f k i n of the Golf and L a w n Supply C o r p o r a t i o n ,
White P l a i n s , N e w Y o r k , had a h e a v i l y thatched lawn a r e a with l o c a l i z e d d r y
spots d e v e l o p i n g during hot, d r y s u m m e r w e a t h e r .
He c u l t i v a t e d ( a e r i f i e d )
this a r e a , but this o p e r a t i o n did not p r e v e n t the f u r t h e r d e v e l o p m e n t of
browned a r e a s .
He then t r e a t e d one half of the a r e a with a nonionic wetting
agent and l e f t the other half u n t r e a t e d .
A f t e r a p e r i o d of i d e n t i c a l w a t e r i n g ,
s o i l c o r e s w e r e r e m o v e d f r o m both a r e a s . In the t r e a t e d z o n e , m o i s t u r e
depth w a s found to be b e t w e e n 6 and 8 i n c h e s .
In the untreated zone, w a t e r
depth w a s l e s s than 2 i n c h e s . M r . L a f k i n would v o t e " y e s . "

E.
D r . M a r v i n H . F e r g u s o n of the U S G A G r e e n Section did some
p r e l i m i n a r y w o r k with nonionic wetting agents on b e r m u d a turf and b a r e soil
in 1957. The b a r e soil a r e a s w e r e e x t r e m e l y d i f f i c u l t to " r e w e t " during the
summer.
H o w e v e r , a f t e r t r e a t m e n t , these a r e a s began to take w a t e r much
b e t t e r , and run off w a s r e d u c e d .
The t u r f e d a r e a a l s o a p p e a r e d to have
better penetration.
A qualified n y e s , ! vote.
F.
M r . G e o r g e R a s m u s s e n , Superintendent of the Contra Costa Country
Club, applied a nonionic wetting agent to his C o l o n i a l bent g r e e n s in the
e a r l y s u m m e r of this y e a r .
T u r f p r o b l e m s began to show up a p p r o x i m a t e l y
4 to 6 days f o l l o w i n g the application of the wetting a g e n t .
Those greens
C o n s i d e r a b l e thinning and
thate w e r e not t r e a t e d did not have this t r o u b l e .
some actual turf l o s s w a s r e p o r t e d .
T h i s would be a " n o " v o t e .
G.
The P a s a d e n a M u n i c i p a l Golf C o u r s e s a l s o t r i e d a nonionic wetting
agent this e a r l y s u m m e r .
T h i s w a s on P o a annua and Seaside bent g r e e n s .
About 7 days a f t e r the application, the P o a annua s t a r t e d to g o out with
c o n s i d e r a b l e b a r e a r e a s r e s u l t i n g . D i f f i c u l t i t i e s have been t r a c e d to the a
application of the wetting a g e n t .
Another " n o " vote.
In r e f e r e n c e to the last two c a s e s , the m a n u f a c t u r e r r e p o r t s that,
under c e r t a i n w e a t h e r and s o i l conditions,
a nonionic wetting agent s e e m s
to induce a n i t r o g e n r e l e a s e within the s o i l if any " s t o r e d f e r t i l i z e r s " a r e
present.
T h i s r a p i d n i t r o g e n r e l e a s e burns the g r a s s r o o t s , and subsequent
turf d a m a g e i s o b s e r v e d .
The above two c a s e s did appear to be s i m i l a r to
a n i t r o g e n burn.
H.
E l m e r B o r d e n , Superintendent of the O l y m p i c C o u n t r y Club, J i m
H a i n e s , Superintendent of the D e n v e r C o u n t r y C l u b , and C l i f f E v e r h a r t ,
Superintendent of the Manito C o u n t r y Club, have a l l used the nonionic wetting
agents in 1957 or 1958. T h e y a l l r e p o r t good r e s u l t s with b e t t e r w a t e r e f f e c tiveness.
Three " y e s " votes.
I.
A n i n t e r e s t i n g r e p o r t f r o m Joe Flynn of the M e t r o p o l i s C o u n t r y
Club in White P l a i n s , N e w Y o r k , a p p e a r e d r e c e n t l y in the G o l f C o u r s e R e porter.
Joe Flynn had a " w a s h - o u t " p r o b l e m on a t r a p next to his N u m b e r 4
Green.
H e a v y r a i n s a l w a y s caused a w a s h - o u t of this t r a p , and the c r e w
had to shovel back the sand. A c t u a l l y the c r e w m e m b e r s got in the habit,
and a f t e r a h e a v y r a i n they a u t o m a t i c a l l y went out to s h o v e l the sand back
into the t r a p .
E a r l y this y e a r , Joe Flynn and his a s s i s t a n t a p p l i e d a nonionic wetting
agent to the c o l l a r s and banks of N u m b e r 4 G r e e n . T h e y did not t e l l the
maintenance c r e w of this u n d e r t a k i n g .
Within a w e e k , a h e a v y downpour of
1/2 inches r e s u l t e d in the late a f t e r n o o n .
E x p e r i e n c e told the m e n that this
A^as enough r a i n to cause a s e r i o u s w a s h - o u t of the t r a p .
N e x t m o r n i n g , the
c r e w went out to shovel back the sand as usual.
H o w e v e r , when they got
t h e r e they found that " t h e r e w a s something funny going on as t h e r e w a s no
washing in the t r a p s of N u m b e r 4 g r e e n . "
Joe F l y n n s t i l l did not t e l l the c r e w
of his t r e a t m e n t of the c o l l a r s and a p r o n s of N u m b e r 4. In two w e e k s another
h e a v y r a i n f e l l , and the r e s u l t s w e r e the s a m e , no w a s h - o u t . H e has c o n cluded that the r e s u l t s show a g r e a t e r w a t e r e f f e c t i v e n e s s f r o m the a p p l i c a tion of the nonionic wetting a g e n t . A " y e s " v o t e .
A d d up the s c o r e , and this w i l l g i v e you a p r e t t y f a i r idea of the r e r
sults obtained to date f r o m wetting agent a p p l i c a t i o n s .

What a r e wetting agents

not?

It d o e s s e e m that wetting agents of the nonionic f o r m w i l l m a k e w a t e r
m o r e e f f e c t i v e . . H o w e v e r , they should not be c o n s i d e r e d as s o i l c o n d i t i o n e r s ;
they a r e not a substitute f o r good d r a i n a g e and they do not c o r r e c t a c o m p a c tion p r o b l e m .
Wetting agents m a y help to m o v e w a t e r through c o m p a c t e d
s o i l s , but they do not s e e m to be a substitute f o r any of our a c c e p t e d turf
maintenance p r a c t i c e s „
The vote a b o v e s e e m s to f a v o r wetting a g e n t s .
T h e y a r e not m i r a c l e
l i q u i d s that a r e going to change our w a y of l i f e .
T h e y a r e , h o w e v e r , another
tool in our bag of t r i c k s and s e e m to be w o r t h y of i n v e s t i g a t i o n on your c o u r s e .
When you w i s h g r e a t e r w a t e r e f f e c t i v e n e s s b e c a u s e of a thatch p r o b l e m or
" h a r d to w e t " s o i l s , they a r e w o r t h a t r y .
T h e y must be applied p r o p e r l y in o r d e r to have a f a i r chance to w o r k .
F o l l o w d i r e c t i o n s c a r e f u l l y in making their a p p l i c a t i o n .
It s e e m s that e v e n
the g r e a t e s t c r i t i c s of wetting agents w i l l concede that they m a y have a h e l p ful p l a c e in a r e a s with h e a v y thatch.

VELVET

GRASS

CONTROL

Panel Discussion
C h a i r m a n - Jack King
King:
I t ' s e m b a r r a s s i n g not to have the other f e l l o w s h e r e who have
done a lot of w o r k on v e l v e t g r a s s c o n t r o l . D r . H a r o l d Schudel of O r e g o n
State and H o m e r G r a y , Superintendent of the C o r v a l l i s C o u n t r y Club,
couldn't make it this y e a r .
W e ' v e t r e a t e d four f a i r w a y s down in our a r e a ,
half of them one y e a r and half of t h e m the next with v e r y good r e s u l t s , but
i t ' s a dangerous m a t e r i a l to use and I would hate to r e c o m m e n d i t .
Maybe
M r . G o s s can g i v e you some t e c h n i c a l evaluation of i t .
G o s s : We did look at his f a i r w a y s down t h e r e l a s t f a l l , and they
w e r e f r e e of v e l v e t g r a s s .
He has an e x c e l l e n t v e l v e t g r a s s k i l l on t h e m
as Jack s a y s .
Sam Z o o k w i l l go along with that; at the t i m e w e w e r e t h e r e
no v e l v e t g r a s s w a s to be seen.
K a r m e x DW ( D i u r o n ) is v e r y d a n g e r o u s
to use unless you know e x a c t l y what you want done and k n o w how to use i t .
It is a soil s t e r i l a n t , and m o s t s t e r i l a n t s w i l l act as h e r b i c i d e s used at the
proper rate.
But this i s h e a v i e r than the p r o p e r h e r b i c i d e r a t e . W e have
just a l i t t l e bit of w o r k going on i t . We a p p l i e d K a r m e x DW and s o m e
s i m o z i n e m a t e r i a l , which is a s o i l s t e r i l a n t , at the R a i n i e r C o u n t r y Club
in the rough.
We went out to the rough to apply these as Glen said if it
k i l l e d there he could talk his w a y out of that, but if it w a s a s t r i p of f a i r w a y
it would be m o r e d i f f i c u l t . W e got a t e r r i f i c k i l l on v e l v e t g r a s s , b e n t g r a s s ,
poa, and e v e r y t h i n g e l s e .
W e c l e a n e d the p l o t s - - t h a t ' s what it amounted to.
T h e i m p o r t a n t thing, h o w e v e r , i s the t i m e of a p p l i c a t i o n .
I ' l l go back to
Jack now and he can t e l l you when he a p p l i e d and h o w .
K i n g : A t the country club r a t e s f r o m 1/2 l b . of K a r m e x DW up to
10 l b s . w e r e t r i e d . With the 2 - l b . r a t e we got a p p r o x i m a t e l y a 50 p e r cent
kill.
A t the 6 - l b . e v e r y t h i n g is k i l l e d .
The 4 - l b . r a t e s e e m s to be the b e s t .
In one a r e a the soil w a s d r y and the s o i l w a s s t e r i l i z e d and nothing c a m e on
it.
On the other test plot w h e r e the s o i l and m o i s t u r e w a s r i g h t , t h e r e w a s
100 per cent k i l l .
W e put it on with a s p r a y r i g at the r a t e of 4 l b s . per a c r e .
Some
s t r i p s of g r a s s didn't c o m e back until late the next y e a r .
A couple of
p l a c e s w e r e burned w h e r e a h e a v i e r r a t e w a s a p p l i e d , as w e went s l o w e r
up the h i l l s .
It took a y e a r to get g r a s s back on these burned p l a c e s .
In the two y e a r s since that one half of the f a i r w a y s w e r e done,
h a v e n ' t found any v e l v e t g r a s s in them y e t .
We have b e t t e r f a i r w a y s
than any other part of the c o u r s e .

I
there

G o s s : V e l v e t g r a s s i s n ' t found too much in e a s t e r n Washington, but
on the coast it is i n c r e a s i n g a l l the t i m e .
T h e putting g r e e n s a r e b e c o m i n g
badly i n v e s t e d with it o v e r t h e r e .
It i s showing up as it b l e a c h e s out and
d o e s n ' t have the d e s i r e d g r e e n c o l o r of other g r a s s e s and a l s o it is v e r y
coarse.
I t ' s a pest on a g r i c u l t u r a l land a l l o v e r n o w .
J a c k , did you use
any wetting a g e n t ?
King: Y e s ,
I used
have any v e l v e t g r a s s on
p l a y s an i m p o r t a n t p a r t in
think you w i l l have a r a i n

s t i c k e r and s p r e a d e r .
our g r e e n s , only on our
the t i m e to s p r a y .
You
in about 24 h o u r s .
Last

We w e r e lucky and didn't
fairways.
The w e a t h e r
should s p r a y when you
t i m e I s p r a y e d I cut it

down to 3 1/2 l b s . an a c r e . F r o m O c t o b e r until the m i d d l e of May w e j u s t
had a burnt patch out in the m i d d l e of the f a i r w a y s . We did get s o m e c h i c k w e e d
and c r a b g r a s s in s o m e of the p l a c e s that w e r e s t e r i l i z e d .
Gos s:

How soon do you think you can apply this b e f o r e a r a i n ?

K i n g : W e l l you have to have y o u r soil and m o i s t u r e up f a i r l y high.
You need a f a i r l y h e a v y r a i n f a l l f o l l o w i n g t r e a t m e n t f o r it to w o r k p r o p e r l y .
G o s s : The only approach to putting g r e e n s and c l o s e r turf would be to
r e m o v e a patch and get r i d of the v e l v e t g r a s s that w a y , b e c a u s e anything
that would kill v e l v e t grass in the putting g r e e n would p r a c t i c a l l y r e m o v e
b e n t g r a s s cut at 3/17" or 1 / 4 " . I don't know of any m o r e m a t e r i a l l i k e it
that is out and b e f o r e using it, it would r e q u i r e a lot of i n v e s t i g a t i n g .
You
don't know of any other m a t e r i a l , do you Jack?
K i n g : K a r m e x D and K a r m e x W w e r e at one t i m e used s e p a r a t e l y .
I hesitate to r e c o m m e n d it e x c e p t on a t r a i l b a s i s , but s o m e t i m e s it w i l l get
100 p e r cent k i l l .
G o s s : T h e r e a r e many o t h e r things y o u ' v e p o s s i b l y h e a r d that a r e good
f o r killing q u a c k g r a s s e s , e t c . A m i n o t r i a z o l e w a s used at R a i n i e r , but w e
didn't have good r e s u l t s . It did b l e a c h it out quite a bit but didn't k i l l it.
B e n g e y f i e l d : One of the golf c o u r s e superintendents t r i e d s o m e of this
at T u c s o n at the T u c s o n Country Club. He was a f t e r c r a b g r a s s and he w a s
applying it at the rate of 3 l b s . p e r a c r e and it was doing a good j o b with the
c r a b , but he didn't f o l l o w with f e r t i l i z e r the next y e a r he had just as much
c r a b g r a s s again e K a r m e x DW has a v e r y strong r e s i d u a l e f f e c t in the s o i l
as it d o e s n ' t m o v e downward v e r y f a s t .
Q u e s . : Would you a d v i s e w a t e r i n g it in if you didn't e x p e c t a r a i n within
24 hours ?
K i n g : Y e s , I w o u l d s u g g e s t that you w a t e r f a i r l y h e a v i l y to get a steady
p e n e t r a t i o n f o r at l e a s t a month's t i m e a f t e r w a r d s . W e usually don't have
to w o r r y about l a c k of w a t e r , but l a s t y e a r w e did.
Q u e s . : D o e s nutrition o r pH have any e f f e c t on the r e o c c u r r e n c e of v e l v e t
g r a s s once you get r i d of it?
G o s s : A s f a r as I can see it p o s s i b l y would have b e c a u s e anything that
c a u s e s l o s s of turf could be an avenue of r e - e n t r y f o r v e l v e t g r a s s .
K i n g : W h e r e w e did this w e had a pH range of f r o m
K a r m e x DW is applied to f l a g s t o n e w a l k s and you get it in
you' r e all right, but if you get a washing rain on top of it,
l a w n . If K a r m e x DW is used around t r e e s , it has a f f i x e d
t h e r e f o r e v e r and eventually kill the t r e e .

6. 5 to 6. 8. Ii
the f i x e d p r o p e r l y ,
l o o k out f o r y o u r
i t s e l f and w i l l be

Q u e s . : If the ground is d r y to s t a r t with, would it be w e l l to w a t e r the
soil f i r s t ?
K i n g : In m y e x p e r i m e n t and on test plots I ' v e seen, you have to have
adequate m o i s t u r e to s t a r t w i t h . In o t h e r w o r d s you have to w a t e r f i r s t .

D I S E A S E C O N T R O L ON C A N A D I A N

TURF

N. A . MacLean
U n i v e r s i t y of B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a
I ' v e spent many long y e a r s at this institutions and i t ' s a p l e a s u r e to
c o m e back and r e n e w a c q u a i n t a n c e s . M a n y of the f a c u l t y a r e s t i l l h e r e , and
s o m e of the other f r i e n d s I knew that l i v e d in P u l l m a n . When I found out m y
topic w a s D i s e a s e C o n t r o l on Canadian T u r f , I f e l t much l i k e the young surgeon
did when he w a s talking to one of his R u s s i a n c o l l e a g u e s at a c o n f e r e n c e held
in M o n t r e a l r e c e n t l y . T h e y w e r e talking about o p e r a t i o n s and the d i f f i c u l t y of
these o p e r a t i o n s . What, he asked the R u s s i a n , w a s the m o s t d i f f i c u l t o p e r a t i o n
in R u s s i a . The R u s s i a n r e p l i e d the t o n s i l l e c t o m y w a s the m o s t d i f f i c u l t o p e r a tion. The Canadian looked quite s u r p r i s e d as that w a s a s i m p l e o p e r a t i o n in
this country and asked w h y ? W e l l , the R u s s i a n said, in the S o v i e t e v e r y b o d y
is so s c a r e d to open their mouth that w e have to approach that p r o b l e m f r o m
the other end.
A s you r e a l i z e Canada is a l a r g e c o u n t r y . We have p r o b l e m s c o m p a r a b l e
in e a s t e r n Canada to what you have in the e a s t e r n U . S . - - a r e a s of N e w Y o r k ,
N e w J e r s e y , and the N e w England s t a t e s . Our p r o b l e m s in B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a
c o m p a r e to those in Washington and O r e g o n to s o m e d e g r e e . B . C . i s a p e c u l i a r
p r o v i n c e in its g e o g r a p h i c a l d i s t r i b u t i o n . It i s p r o b a b l y the m o s t mountainous
a r e a in the w o r l d f o r its square m i l e a g e . M o s t of the a g r i c u l t u r e and the
people a r e l o c a t e d in the southern p a r t of the p r o v i n c e .
The d i s e a s e s in the e a s t e r n part of Canada a r e much the same as in the
e a s t e r n part of the United States. In B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a we had our f i r s t Sports
T u r f C o n f e r e n c e l a s t y e a r , and as a r e s u l t of that, w e d e c i d e d that one phase
of turf w o r k that should be f o l l o w e d in B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a i s d i s e a s e c o n t r o l .
V e r y little w o r k had been done, and v e r y l i t t l e w o r k is s t i l l being done. We
d e c i d e d p e r h a p s a s u r v e y m i g h t be in o r d e r so we could d e t e r m i n e what d i s e a s e s w e r e p r e s e n t in our a r e a . We had a d r y s u m m e r , and w a t e r r e s t r i c t i o n s
w e r e put on. Through the o b s e r v a t i o n of our superintendents they noticed that
there w a s one s p e c i e s of g r a s s that w a s dying out- - P o a annua. The g r a s s is
c o m i n g back f a i r l y w e l l now, and m o s t of the spots have been f i l l e d in. If we
don't get a sudden cold s p e l l we shall g e t through the w i n t e r in f i n e shape, and
next y e a r w e w i l l have s o m e f i n e t u r f s .
We have much the same d i s e a s e p r o b l e m s as Washington; f u s a r i u m patch
and f a i r y ring f o r the m o X part, a r e due to s o i l c o n d i t i o n s . Then w e have a
number of leaf spots, and r e d t h r e a d i s getting m o r e pronounced in some of
our f a i r w a y s .
T w o w e e k s ago I w a s out to an e x p e r i m e n t a l f a r m which is about 100
m i l e s north of V a n c o u v e r and w a s i n t r o d u c e d to a d i s e a s e on M e r i o n b l u e g r a s s .
It l o o k e d to m e l i k e a smut d i s e a s e . But I found out f r o m D r . G e o r g e F i s c h e r
h e r e at WSC that it w a s d e f i n i t e l y a s e r i o u s smut d i s e a s e on this M e r i o n b l u e grass.
W e ' r e p r i m a r i l y i n t e r e s t e d in r o o t r o t s and soil m i c r o b i o l o g y . We have
been using v a r i o u s f u m i g a n t s , f u n g i c i d e s , and s o i l d r e n c h e s . W e do not b e l i e v e , h o w e v e r , that f u n g i c i d e s and soil d r e n c h e s a r e v e r y p r a c t i c a l e s p e c i a l l y
with f a i r y r i n g .

W e have had s o m e good e x p e r i e n c e s with Vapan and a l s o s o m e bad e x p e r i e n c e s . One of our new c o u r s e s w a s t r e a t e d l a s t y e a r with Vapan, and it
c a m e out with not too m a n y w e e d s and it l o o k e d v e r y g o o d . Some other people
have used Vapan and have had nothing but hard luck with it, and it d o e s n ' t have
much e f f e c t on q u a c k g r a s s . When it is put on p r o p e r l y , h o w e v e r , I think it
w i l l do a good j o b . We w i l l be conducting m o r e t e s t s this f o l l o w i n g y e a r .
W e a r e i n t e r e s t e d in what we c a l l soil a m m e n d m e n t s . In o r d e r that a
d i s e a s e can take p l a c e , t h r e e things must be p r e s e n t . You f e e l you can't r i d
the ground e n t i r e l y or inoculate with f u m i g a n t s or f u n g i c i d e s . W e have to think
of e n v i r o n m e n t as an o v e r - a l l p i c t u r e , and i t ' s m o r e or l e s s what w e c a l l
m i c r o e n v i r o n m e n t o It m i g h t only be a s m a l l p o r t i o n of a g r e e n . W e a r e thinking of s o i l t e m p e r a t u r e s , soil m o i s t u r e , soil r e a c t i o n as the pH of the soil and
s o i l nutrient l e v e l , compaction, p l a c e s w h e r e you have h e a v y t r a f f i c , and a n y thing that is disturbing the plant in its n o r m a l g r o w t h . B e s i d e s pathogenic
o r g a n i s m s in the soil, of c o u r s e , t h e r e a r e b i l l i o n s of other o r g a n i s m s p r e s e n t .
One w a y , of c o u r s e , of establishing o r g a n i s m s that a r e f a v o r a b l e to the
plants i s to add them to the soil, and one w a y is to add t h e m to the o r g a n i c
m a t t e r . We hope that these c e r t a i n a m m e n d m e n t s in the s o i l w i l l p r o v i d e a
g r o w t h of o r g a n i s m s that w i l l be antagonistic in s o m e w a y to the p a r a s i t e s that
a r e a l r e a d y in the s o i l . The p r a c t i c e is not new, it g o e s back v e r y f a r in
h i s t o r y , but we f e e l p a r t i c u l a r l y in those a r e a s w h e r e you use nothing but i n o r g a n i c f e r t i l i z e r y e a r a f t e r y e a r , t h e r e is v e r y l i t t l e opportunity f o r any other
o r g a n i s m s to d e v e l o p in the s o i l . And we think by the addition of this o r g a n i c
m a t t e r to the g r e e n s we w i l l e l i m i n a t e these g r o w t h s e n t i r e l y .
Some of the w o r k done in G e r m a n y a f e w y e a r s a g o s u g g e s t e d that just
the use of g r a s s c l i p p i n g s added to the soil r e d u c e d the population of the fungus.
It w a s n ' t total c o n t r o l , but it c e r t a i n l y h e l p e d . P r o b a b l y a l l of you have h e a r d
of the d i s e a s e known as potato scab. It w a s found in England a f e w y e a r s ago,
that g r a s s c l i p p i n g s applied could r e d u c e this d i s e a s e f r o m about 100 p e r cent
to a l m o s t z e r o . We have used a l f a l f a c l i p p i n g s on another d i s e a s e of potatoes
in the B . C . a r e a and have r e d u c e d our t r o u b l e s with it f r o m 50 to 100 p e r cent
in some c a s e s .
F o r r o o t r o t in our s t r a w b e r r i e s we have used sawdust and a g r e e n m a nure c o m b i n a t i o n . W e ' r e w o r k i n g in the g r e e n h o u s e with t h e m now and a r e
finding that o r g a n i s m s a r e g r o w i n g on these v a r i o u s a m e n d m e n t s . When w e
find the ones that can c o m p e t e s a t i s f a c t o r i l y with the pathogens, w e ' l l use
those a m e n d m e n t s . E v e n t u a l l y we w i l l have to use a s o i l f u n g i c i d e and keep
adding a m e n d m e n t s .
L a s t y e a r looking through our g r e e n s , the a r e a s we r e f e r r e d to as poor
w e r e the spots w h e r e d i s e a s e s t a r t e d and m o v e d into the g r e e n s , so we think
m a n a g e m e n t has a lot to do with it to keep these o r g a n i s m s f r o m m o v i n g in.
B a r k products have a l s o been used as a top d r e s s i n g , T h i s i s a p p l i e d on
the top of the ground and s l o w l y m o v e s down to the r o o t s . F e r t i l i z e r is a l s o
used with i t .
I think in B . C . we w i l l go ahead with s o m e of our soil a m e n d m e n t p r o g r a m s , and I think p r o b a b l y it w i l l be a m a t t e r of f u m i g a t i o n and a m e n d m e n t s
to begin w i t h . We a r e t r y i n g a l s o to l e a r n how to use f i s h e x t r a c t s and chicken
f e a t h e r s.

HISTORY AND P R O B L E M S IN C A N A D I A N

TURF

E . M . Gueho
Gulf C o u r s e Supt. ,
Vancouver, B . C .
T h i s a r t i c l e deals with past and p r e s e n t p r o b l e m s in g r e e n s m a n a g e m e n t .
A s the past is not too i m p o r t a n t , I w i l l deal p r i m a r i l y with our p r e s e n t day
problems.
Owing to the heavy play on m o s t golf c o u r s e s our f o r e m o s t p r o b l e m t o day is c o m p a c t i o n , then of c o u r s e with c o m p a c t i o n c o m e s P o a annua. I ' l l
o f f e r a few suggests that m a y help it until such time a c h e m i c a l is found to
kill P o a annua.
I w i l l point out that m o s t of our g r e e n s a r e built with soil that is too
good, the p r o p o r t i o n of s i l t and c l a y is f a r too g r e a t .
We a r e o f t e n told that
this can be changed by continuous f o r k i n g and top d r e s s i n g with s a n d i e r m a t e r i a l . This w i l l help, of c o u r s e , but a p r o p e r j o b would be to take up the turf
and r e c o n d i t i o n the whole s u r f a c e down to a depth of at l e a s t 12 inches so as to
g i v e the w a t e r an even f l o w until it is w e l l past the depth of the root s y s t e m .
Of c o u r s e this is a l o n g - r a n g e p r o g r a m e . P e a t m o s s or any m a t e r i a l that is
inclined to hold w a t e r should not be used; instead use a m a t e r i a l that is d e c a y i n g , such as r i c e hulls. I used this m a t e r i a l 25 y e a r s ago in rebuilding
one of m y g r e e n s , and it is one of m y best g r e e n s today. T h i s , of c o u r s e , is
by no m e a n s c o n c l u a i v e . My w h o l e idea behind this m a t e r i a l o r such m a t e r i a l s
is to have something to c r e a t e a p e r m a n e n t cushion in the turf r o o t s y s t e m .
In the outer e d g e s of our g r e e n s w h e r e the t r a f f i c is l e s s , the bent g r a s s is
able to build its own cushion and c r o w d out m o s t of the P o a annua.
We m a y a l s o be able to cut P o a down by a c a r e f u l rotation of w a t e r i n g .
Our d r y June on the c o a s t this past s u m m e r and the f a c t that many of our g r e e n s
had some fade o u t - - s o m e t h i n g I had n e v e r e x p e r i e n c e d h e r e b e f o r e - - l e a d s m e
to b e l i e v e that a f t e r 6 o r 8 months f r o m g e r m i n a t i o n this g r a s s b e c o m e s v e r y
w e a k and shallow r o o t e d . T h e r e f o r e , I w i l l say that if a g r e e n could be w e l l
w a t e r e d f o r 2 days in s u c c e s s i o n and then l e f t without w a t e r f o r as long as
p o s s i b l e , say 4 days, the f i r s t 3 days f r o m s t a r t of w a t e r i n g would g e r m i n a t e
any s e e d that m a y be on the g r e e n and by the end of the f o u r t h day without
w a t e r the s u r f a c e of the g r e e n should be d r y enough to kill those same plants
and also d r y enough to kill some of the o l d e r m o t h e r plants. A g a i n this is not
c o n c l u s i v e , but I b e l i e v e it is something w e could e x p e r i m e n t on.
We a r e a l s o e x p e r i m e n t i n g with too many v a r i e t i e s of g r a s s e s in the
c o a s t a r e a . T h e r e a r e some f i n e patches of dark g r e e n C o l o n i a l Bent v a r i e t i e s
on old g r e e n s around V a n c o u v e r , Seattle, and T a c o m a ; s e e m i n g l y in r e c e n t
y e a r s the o r i g i n a l C o l o n i a l Bent has l o s t its identity.
I am going to c o n t r a d i c t m y s e l f h e r e , but the point I w i s h to m a k e is
this:
if w e have a patch of g r a s s on our g r e e n s with a good c o l o u r , that
stands up w e l l under heavy play, and has been standing up on those g r e e n s f o r
35 to 40 y e a r s under our coastal w e a t h e r then this is the g r a s s we should w o r k

P A N E L - HOME LAWNS
K , Jo M o r r i s o n , E x t e n s i o n A g r o n o m i s t
J e r r y Munro, Landscape A r c h i t e c t
Ben Roche, Extension Weed Specialist
M o r r i s o n : The a v e r a g e h o m e o w n e r g e n e r a l l y has about four o r f i v e
thousand square f e e t of l a w n . He would l i k e to have a g r a s s that he can f e r t i l i z e the f i r s t w a r m day of s p r i n g , that w i l l stay nice and g r e e n all s u m m e r ,
stay down until he is ready to m o w it, one that w i l l c r o w d out the w e e d s , that
d o e s n t need v e r y much w a t e r , w i l l take w e a r f r o m k i d s , d o g s , and the m a i l man, and w i l l not c r e e p into the f l o w e r b e d s o r the b o r d e r s * About the only
thing that would f u l f i l l these r e q u i r e m e n t s , as you g e n t l e m e n w i l l p r o b a b l y
a g r e e , is c o n c r e t e painted g r e e n .
The h o m e o w n e r m a k e s a m i s t a k e when he p u r c h a s e s his s e e d . You can
buy s e e d in the s u p e r m a r k e t , h a r d w a r e s t o r e , and the drug s t o r e . I don't
o b j e c t to anyone s e l l i n g s e e d , but I do o b j e c t to the type of seed he s e l l s .
The
r e a s o n seed s e l l s is that it is c h e a p . Some of it is unadapted f o r home lawn
use, and there m a y be 10 p e r cent w e e d s e e d o r ine rt-content G
The p r i c e
w i l l range a n y w h e r e f r o m 75£ to l e 2 5 per pound. B e n t g r a s s or c r e e p i n g r e d
f e s c u e is best f o r w e s t of the C a s c a d e s . Rust is a d e f i n i t e p r o b l e m on M e r i o n
b l u e g r a s s in w e s t e r n Washington, but is showing up good in plots at e x p e r i m e n t
stations in w e s t e r n Washington. T h i s is the f i r s t y e a r that rust has been a
m a j o r p r o b l e m h e r e . P e n n l a w n m a k e s a nice l a w n , but s e e d is s o m e w h a t
l i m i t e d as y e t c In e a s t e r n Washington b e n t g r a s s is not as good as c r e e p i n g
M e r i o n is one of the b e s t g r a s s e s f o r e a s t e r n
r e d f e s c u e o r the b l u e g r a s s e s *
Washington e v e n though it does get rust and f a i r y r i n g e
The second m i s t a k e that h o m e o w n e r s m a k e is t h e i r f e r t i l i z e r p r o g r a m .
T h e y don't r e a l i z e that a g r a s s has to have f o o d the s a m e as t h e i r d o g , c a t ,
or any o t h e r plant. The h o m e o w n e r again is prone to buy a l a w n a n a l y s i s
f e r t i l i z e r because it is r e a d i l y a v a i l a b l e in m o s t s t o r e s and the b e t t e r f e r t i l i z e r s a r e n ' t . The h o m e o w n e r should put on a m i n i m u m of 2 l b s . of a v a i l a b l e
n i t r o g e n p e r 1000 square f e e t . It is b e t t e r to put it on in three a p p l i c a t i o n s .
In w e s t e r n Washington 50-100 lbs c of a v a i l a b l e l i m e s t o n e to the 1000 sq„ f e e t
is r e c o m m e n d e d . In e a s t e r n Washington, h o w e v e r , as a g e n e r a l rule w e don't
r e c o m m e n d l i m e s t o n e . We r e c o m m e n d the h o m e o w n e r have his soil t e s t e d
b e f o r e using potash and phosphorus.
The t h i r d m i s t a k e h o m e o w n e r s make is t h e i r wate ring prog r a m .
Too
l i t t l e too o f t e n " d e s c r i b e s the situation, I t ' s hard on the g r a s s and i n c r e a s e s
the d i s e a s e p r o b l e m s . It w a s e s p e c i a l l y n o t i c e a b l e this y e a r with ail of the
p r o b l e m s . The m o s t o f t e n asked q u e s t i o n this y e a r w a s
Why do I have b r o w n
spots in m y l a w n ? " N i n e t y p e r cent of it w a s probably due to i m p r o p e r
waterings
A n o t h e r p r o b l e m with the h o m e o w n e r s is the p r o p e r m o w i n g height.
Many of our e a s t e r n Washington lawns a r e m o w e d too s h o r t , and the w e s t e r n
Washington lawns a r e the o p p o s i t e . In w e s t e r n Washington with the b e n t g r a s s e s
high c l i p p i n g s cause thatching. In e a s t e r n Washington w e r e c o m m e n d about an
inch and o n e - h a l f clipping height f o r c r e e p i n g r e d f e s c u e and the b l u e g r a s s e s
e x c e p t M e r i o n . M e r i o n should be c l i p p e d about 3/4 inches high. In w e s t e r n
Washington w e r e c o m m e n d about half an inch on b e n t g r a s s and an inch and o n e half m a x i m u m on b l u e g r a s s and c r e e p i n g r e d f e s c u e . M e r i o n should be c l i p p e d
lower.

A n o t h e r p r o b l e m with the h o m e o w n e r is r e m o v i n g the c l i p p i n g s . With a
b e n t g r a s s o r M e r i o n b l u e g r a s s l a w n , the c l i p p i n g s should be r e m o v e d . Other
g r a s s e s do not need c l i p p i n g s r e m o v e d if they a r e m o w e d o f t e n .
B e n Roche : If y o u ' l l b e a r with m e I ' l l make a statement that you m a y
think is r e p e t i t i o u s but which r e a l l y i s n ' t : 41 the m o s t e f f e c t i v e method of c o n t r o l l i n g w e e d s is by p r o p e r m a n a g e m e n t . " We know f r o m w o r k i n g with w e e d s
that they a r e b a s i c a l l y o p p o r t u n i s t s . A w e e d , with some e x c e p t i o n s , is m o r e
apt to make a v i g o r o u s g r o w t h w h e r e t h e r e is no v i g o r o u s g r o w t h of the d e s i r e d s p e c i m e n . C o n s e q u e n t l y , if w e e d - c o n t r o l , p r o g r a m s in lawns a r e to be
s u c c e s s f u l , they must e i t h e r be c o m b i n e d with o r p r e f e r a b l y p r o c e e d e d by a
p r o p e r lawn m a n a g e m e n t p r o g r a m . I would like to l i s t b r i e f l y the f i v e points
that m u s t be r e m e m b e r e d in a l a w n m a n a g e m e n t p r o g r a m :
1.

Adequate f e r t i l i z a t i o n .

2.

The planting of the type g r a s s e s that a r e adapted to the a r e a
to which they are being planted,,

3.

In the handling of those g r a s s e s a f t e r they have been planted,
so f a r as c l i p p i n g or m o w i n g is c o n c e r n e d , a l w a y s c o n s i d e r
the m o s t s u c c e s s f u l height that has been e s t a b l i s h e d f o r the
p a r t i c u l a r species

4.

The use of p r o p e r w a t e r i n g p r a c t i c e s 0

50

The c o n t r o l l i n g of i n s e c t s and d i s e a s e s .

I don't think w e can spend too much t i m e on w a t e r i n g p r a c t i c e s when w e
d i s c u s s lawn m a n a g e m e n t or w e e d c o n t r o l . Some of our lawn w e e d s , p a r t i c u l a r l y the c h i c k w e e d s , e i t h e r the m o u s e - e a r o r the annual c h i c k w e e d , a r e
p r o n e to t h r i v e on e x c e s s i v e , shallow i r r i g a t i o n s . If the b a c k f i l l is not s a t i s f a c t o r y and you don't have a r e s e r v o i r t h e r e f o r w a t e r f o r maintaining a healthy
r o o t s y s t e m , then it b e c o m e s n e c e s s a r y to w a t e r in such a m a n n e r as to be
i d e a l l y suited f o r w e e d s of the c h i c k w e e d t y p e . A m o i s t a r e a , f r e q u e n t i r r i gation, high h u m i d i t y - - t h e s e a r e ideal conditions f o r c h i c k w e e d . O t h e r w e e d s
f a i l into that same c a t e g o r y , so again I say w a t e r i n g is m o s t i m p o r t a n t .
I would l i k e to make the point that a v i g o r o u s l a w n , a healthy l a w n ,
be the b a s i s f o r a s u c c e s s f u l w e e d - c o n t r o l p r o g r a m in any lawn turf.

must

A couple o r t h r e e points I would l i k e to make w o u l d be as f o l l o w s :
Nothing i s as i m p o r t a n t in w e e d c o n t r o l as the t i m e of a p p l i c a t i o n of the t r e a t m e n t . I t ' s d e s i r a b l e f r o m the standpoint of the h o m e o w n e r , the g r e e n s s u p e r intendent, o r w h o e v e r m a y be i n v o l v e d to go out when they get s p r i n g f e v e r
and do t h e i r f e r t i l i z i n g , s p r a y i n g , e t c . But actually that i s n ' t the t i m e to do
the b e s t w e e d w o r k . Y o u r w e e d w o r k on turf should be m a n a g e d in such a w a y
as to f i t into y o u r m a n a g e m e n t p r o g r a m , a f t e r you get the e f f e c t s of y o u r
w a t e r i n g and f e r t i l i z i n g , c o m e in and put on y o u r c h e m i c a l and get the m a x i m u m r e s u l t s t h e r e f r o m . F i g u r e y o u r t i m i n g , then. If it is at ail p o s s i b l e ,
you should c o n s i d e r the t e m p e r a t u r e of the day (which should be at l e a s t 5 0 ° ) .
If it is higher i t ' s b e t t e r f o r m o s t m a t e r i a l s .
I think I should m e n t i o n the m e t h o d of application as a p p l i e d p r i n c i p a l l y
to home l a w n s . Of the many m e t h o d s I have s e e n used on home l a w n s , I think
by f a r the best and s i m p l e s t is the s i m p l e s p r i n k l e r can. The s p r i n k l e r can

is r e a d i l y adapted to any s i z e d a r e a . The h o m e o w n e r can p r a c t i c e with the
s p r i n k l e r can until he knows how much he needs to c o v e r a g i v e n a r e a . Once
he has m a d e this d e t e r m i n a t i o n with plain w a t e r , he can begin putting his
c h e m i c a l into plain w a t e r , and h e ' s apt to get a f a i r l y u n i f o r m c o v e r a g e . In
addition to a m o r e u n i f o r m c o v e r a g e he1 s not using any p r e s s u r e . Other m e t h ods have p r o v e d u n s a t i s f a c t o r y , and if people w o u l d get away f r o m these
m a r k e t e d ( p l a s t i c s h a k e r s , pull behinds, e t c . ) g i m m i c k s which p r e c e d e d the
hulahoop, w e w o u l d n ' t have n e a r the p r o b l e m of n e i g h b o r h o o d d a m a g e w e now
encounter.
A n o t h e r m e m b e r on this panel spoke of the type s e e d w e can buy and of
the unde s i r a b i l i t y of s o m e seed 0 I think that our c h e m i c a l setup is in as bad
a shape, if not w o r s e , than our seed supply. If you w i l l l o o k on many of the
s t o r e s h e l v e s you w i l l f i n d m a t e r i a l s that a r e supposed to kill w e e d s . If you
r e a d the label on the c o n t a i n e r you w i l l find the contents a r e not b a s i c a l l y
2 , 4 - D but a r e m o r e s i m i l a r to the 2 , 4 - D - 2 , 4 , 5 - T c o m b i n a t i o n that is sold
c o m m e r c i a l l y as a brush k i l l e r . Why they m i x that p a r t i c u l a r p r e p a r a t i o n
f o r l a w n u s e , I don't know, but when the two a r e m i x e d it turns out to be a
brush k i l l e r instead of a w e d d i c i d e that you w o u l d n o r m a l l y r e c o m m e n d f o r
l a w n s . The c o s t of these s m a l l c o n t a i n e r s of w e e d k i l l e r s is of such a nature
that if a p e r s o n w e r e d e s i r o u s of using the b e s t r e c o m m e n d e d m a t e r i a l , the
s m a r t thing to do i s , if it is p o s s i b l e to get c o n t a i n e r s s m a l l e r than a g a l l o n ,
to get a g a l l o n of the p r o p e r f o r m u l a t i o n . Enough w i l l be l e f t to do a good j o b
the second t i m e , and if any is l e f t it can be g i v e n to the n e i g h b o r s .
Weed
c o n t r o l by y o u r n e i g h b o r is w e e d - s e e d p r e v e n t i o n by you.
Q u e s t i o n : W i l l 2 , 4 - D kill Japanese c l o v e r o r should c o m b i n a t i o n of
2 , 4 - D - 2 , 4 , 3 ^ T be u s e d ?
R o c h e : A c t u a l l y the two best m a t e r i a l s I have s e e n used on it a r e : (1)
S i l v e x and (2) probably b e t t e r than that is the m a t e r i a l that is c a l l e d Endothal
which is v e r y poisonous and is having a hard t i m e getting on the m a r k e t .
Q u e s t i o n : Is it a good idea to change cutting heights during the s a m e
s e a s o n o r should you maintain one height throughout the y e a r ?
M o r r i s o n : I think it is a good idea to change cutting h e i g h t s . Y o u can
mow c l o s e r during the e a r l y spring months, and l a t e r on a l i t t l e h i g h e r cutting
w o u l d be b e t t e r . Don't m a k e a height change ail at once o r y o u ' l l have a v e r y
unsightly l a w n .
J e r r y M u n r o : W o r k i n g on home lawns c o s t - w i s e , w e run into a w i d e
range of situations.
Quality of lawn d e s i r e d , the a r e a to be planted, and c o n d i t i o n of the
p r o p e r t y influence the p r i c e of the l a w n and the m a t e r i a l s and l a b o r put into
the l a w n . W e have c o n s i d e r a b l e c o m p e t i t i o n in putting in lawns in the Seattle
a r e a . If the c o s t is much o v e r 10 cents p e r square f o o t , people o b j e c t and
w i l l t r y to put in t h e i r own l a w n s .
Our a v e r a g e p r i c e f o r a l a w n is about 10 cents a s q u a r e f o o t . W e d i f f e r
f r o m golf c o u r s e s , c e m e t e r i e s , and p a r k s in putting in lawns in that w e must
r e a l i z e a p r o f i t f r o m the j o b . F i g u r i n g on the b a s i s of 10 cents p e r square
f o o t , the f o l l o w i n g is a v e r a g e f o r our l a w n i n s t a l l a t i o n p e r 1000 square f e e t :

P e a t s o i l , 6 cubic y a r d s a v e r a g e s $ 1 8 . 0 0 , 30# f e r t i l i z e r , $ 3 . 0 0 , 5#
g r a s s s e e d , $ 7 . 5 0 , peat, b a l e , about $ 3 . 7 0 . U s e of t r a c t o r , r o t o t i l l e r s , and
equipment is about $9*00 p e r 1000 square f e e t , L a b o r a l l o w a n c e is 16 m a n hours p e r 1000 square f e e t . L a b o r a l l o w a n c e includes all p r e p a r a t i o n , planting,
hauling equipment a w a y , and cleaning up.
One change we have s e r i o u s l y c o n s i d e r e d in our lawn planting has been
the use of p r e m i x e d s o i l s . The s a m p l e s shown a r e the g r a d e of peat s o i l w e
u s e , which is of v e r y high q u a l i t y , and a l s o a p r e p a r e d soil m i x . Our c o s t
f o r m a t e r i a l s is i n c r e a s e d using the m i x , but the saving in l a b o r and p r e p a r a tion is m o r e . W h e r e the a r e a s to be planted a r e high in w e e d content, the soil
m i x e s a r e a d i s t i n c t advantage,, One o b j e c t i o n w e have to the use of soil m i x e s
is the tendency to cause l a y e r i n g of s o i l s . Soil l a y e r i n g can be r e d u c e d by
t i l l i n g in peat s o i l s , then using the p r e p a r e d soil on top. It is n e c e s s a r y to
c h a r g e m o r e f o r the lawn when this is done.
About 5 y e a r s ago, w e w e r e using conventional packaged lawn s e e d m i x e s
of b l u e g r a s s , chewing f e s c u e , r e d c r e e p i n g f e s c u e , and bents. A s w e v a r i e d
the m i x e s , w e found we w e r e m o r e s a t i s f i e d when b l u e g r a s s e s w e r e l e f t out of
the s e e d m i x e s . The lawn t e x t u r e s w e r e f i n e r and stood up w e l l . With lawns
of bents and f e s c u e s , w e found in many a r e a s that bents w e r e taking o v e r many
lawns and c r o w d i n g out the f e s c u e s . The bent lawns a r e not suitable f o r h o m e o w n e r s . T h e r e is too much s p e c i a l i z e d m a i n t e n a n c e . I hesitate to use a
V e r t i c u t . I have s e e n what it has done on o t h e r home l a w n s , and the r e s u l t s
have been u n d e s i r a b l e . Using an A e r i o f i e r has been c o n s i d e r e d to r e d u c e
p u f f i n e s s . W e handraked thatch out of one a r e a and hauled away w h e e l b a r r o w
l o a d s , but the lawn has been slow to r e s p o n d .
Capitan has been used on lawns to keep down the i n c i d e n c e of r u s t .
Question:

W a s Capitan s u c c e s s f u l ?

M u n r o : One o w n e r of a lawn f e e l s that is w a s .
f e r t i l i z i n g that lawn once a month with u r e a .
Question:
Munro:

He w a s a l s o s p r a y -

How old w a s the l a w n ?

It w a s the second y e a r f o r the l a w n .

H e r e ' s one o t h e r thing about the l a w n - - t h e o w n e r w a t e r s it once a w e e k .
F e s c u e and bent lawns in the s a m e a r e a had to be w a t e r e d a l m o s t continuously.
He now has a pretty good s o i l , but it took a l o t of l a b o r to g e t all the r o c k s out
of the w a y .
On a l a w n of f e s c u e d i f f e r e n t f e r t i l i z e r s w e r e t u s e d e a c h s u m m e r to
d e t e r m i n e r e s u l t s of d i f f e r e n t t y p e s . T h i s f e s c u e is v e r y u n i f o r m and as of
y e t w e have v e r y l i t t l e thatch. It w a s kept h e a v i l y w a t e r e d . We have found
i n v a s i o n of s o m e white p o w d e r y m a t e r i a l on s o m e of the f o l i a g e . On this l a w n
and a l m o s t all o t h e r lawns we have e x a m i n e d , w e have found the i n v a s i o n of
f a i r y r i n g . T o p r e v e n t this, f o r 2 y e a r s w e t r i e d using nothing but s t r a i g h t
c h e m i c a l f e r t i l i z e r s on c e r t a i n l a w n s , but these lawns a r e just as badly i n f e s t e d
as the lawns w h e r e w e used o r g a n i c f e r t i l i z e r s . W e now f e e l that o r g a n i c f e r t i l i z e r s hold l a w n c o l o r a l i t t l e b e t t e r f o r the h o m e o w n e r and s e e m to l a s t o v e r
a l o n g e r p e r i o d of t i m e than m o r e soluble c h e m i c a l f e r t i l i z e r s .

The h o m e o w n e r , h i m s e l f , is not in a position to use y o u r P M A S and
o t h e r s i m i l a r c o m m e r c i a l f u n g i c i d e s , I would l i k e to have P M A S t r i e d out to
see if w e can d i m i n i s h f a i r y ring e I know w e c a n ' t kill f a i r y r i n g , but can w e
reduce the g e r m i n a t i o n of new s p o r e s ?
In our w o r k , w e do s o m e s p r i n k l e r i n s t a l l a t i o n , and w e a r e s e r i o u s l y
i n t e r e s t e d in getting a s p r i n k l e r that would use a m e t e r e d f e r t i l i z e r a p p l i c a t o r
right through the sprinklers,, We have been using it with n u r s e r y stock, and
I think it has potential use f o r use on lawns in the n e a r future c

P A N E L DISCUSSION

Cemetery Problems
Paul B r o w n , C h a i r m a n , P a n e l m e m b e r s — C h a r l e s W a l l a c e , G o r d o n B o w e n ,
B r y a n B r e w e r , Wm 0 E l s a s s , and L e e F r y e r ,
Question: What is the c o m m o n p r a c t i c e now, A l , on this side of the
mountains pertaining to c l o v e r ?
A n s w e r : ( L a w ) It depends on who is seeding the l a w n s . L o t s of lawns
go in in e a s t e r n Washington with c l o v e r in the m i x with b l u e g r a s s e s and
f e s c u e s p r i m a r i l y . The only o b j e c t i o n I have to c l o v e r is that it stains my
c l o t h e s and the kids, and it m a k e s m y w i f e v e r y a n g r y .
Now going f r o m g r a s s m i x t u r e s the m o s t i m p o r t a n t thing is w a t e r i n g . In
w a t e r i n g the lawns the method of applying w a t e r is i m p o r t a n t . What m e t h o d
a r e you using on y o u r s , Chuck?
A n s w e r : ( C h a r l e s W a l l a c e ) I have an automatic s p r i n k l e r s y s t e m .
We
just do what the F o w l e r Company t e l l s us. I t ' s set up f o r about 1 o r 1 1/2
hours e v e r y 3 d a y s . We just turn the switch, and, of c o u r s e , it g o e s through
the w a t e r i n g c y c l e .
Q u e s t i o n : I w o n d e r if you could keep it f r o m burning up w i t h that amount
of w a t e r this s u m m e r ?
A n s w e r : ( C h a r l e s W a l l a c e ) Y e s , it held the w a t e r in the soil p r e t t y
much all s u m m e r , and the g r a s s r e m a i n e d g r e e n .
Question;

How is it down at B o i s e ?

A n s w e r : ( G o r d o n B o w e n ) I c a m e h e r e m o s t l y to l i s t e n , and r e g a r d i n g
our c e m e t e r y m a n a g e m e n t a l i t t l e background m i g h t be in o r d e r . T h i s s t a r t e d
out as an old country c e m e t e r y many y e a r s a g o . The f i r s t b u r i a l s w e r e m a d e
there about 1880, and f o r many y e a r s it w a s a m i l e o r two out of town. Within
the l a s t few y e a r s , h o w e v e r , the c i t y has g r o w n up around it, and i t ' s long
been handled a l m o s t like a country f a r m . V e r y l i t t l e attention w a s paid b e f o r e
to the m a t t e r s of d r a i n a g e , and consequently there a r e high and low s p o t s .
The r o a d s w e r e built so that they w e r e above the l e v e l of the surrounding l a w n s .
I think that c l o v e r helps a l i t t l e in maintaining the s t r u c t u r e in the upper
l a y e r of the s o i l , and also in our a r e a , p a r t i c u l a r l y if you have to s t a r t a l a w n
in the s u m m e r t i m e , c l o v e r helps to r e d u c e the amount of w a t e r i n g .
M r . B r e w e r could you tell us something about y o u r methods of w a t e r i n g ?
A n s w e r : ( B r y a n B r e w e r ) Y e s , we use R a i n b i r d s p r i n k l e r s .
We're
handicapped by low w a t e r p r e s s u r e due to the w a t e r mains being i n s t a l l e d in
about 1885.
Q u e s t i o n : Could you tell us the p r o p e r p r e s s u r e on a R a i n b i r d to make
it function r i g h t ?

A n s w e r : ( B r e w e r ) T h e r e a r e so many p r e s s u r e d i f f e r e n c e s f o r e v e r y
kind of s p r i n k l e r , that you c a n ' t say any p a r t i c u l a r p r e s s u r e , but m o s t of
them run about 30.
Paul B r o w n : The next important thing in a g o o d turf f o r c e m e t a r i e s , and
I ' v e a l w a y s said that turf is the show window f o r a c e m e t e r y , is p r o p e r m o w i n g .
G o l f c o u r s e m e n , park m e n , and school m e n should have the p r o p e r equipment
to keep these lawns looking t r i m and neat. I would l i k e to l e a r n f r o m these
m e n the type of m o w i n g equipment, e t c . they found w e r e b e s t f o r t h e i r c o n d i t i o n s . Chuck, what a r e you using o v e r t h e r e ?
A n s w e r : ( C h a r l e s W a l l a c e ) W e ' r e using a t o r o m o w e r .
s a r i l y w hat w e found best, i t ' s what w e got.
Question:

I t ' s not n e c e s -

What about Walla W a l l a , what type do you u s e ?

A n s w e r : ( B r y a n B r e w e r ) We use the 2 1 - i n c h r o t a r y t y p e . The w a y the
l o t s a r e l a i d out if you use a 72-inch m o w e r , you c a n ' t m a n e u v e r as w e l l .
Question:

How about B o i s e , M r ,

Elsass?

A n s w e r : ( W m . E l s a s s ) W e l l , w e ' r e using t o r o now, and if you g e t the
right f e l l o w to o p e r a t e it, it w o r k s quite w e l l . W e ' v e got a r e a s that they w i l l
just b a r e l y go through, and quite a f e w of them w e have to double back on.
Paul B r o w n : Mowing is v e r y i m p o r t a n t in our c e m e t e r i e s and is j u s t as
i m p o r t a n t as any other p r o f e s s i o n a l turf. Having it l o o k p r e s e n t a b l e at all
t i m e s at a p r o p e r height at all t i m e s is a r e a l p r o b l e m . In the c e m e t e r i e s w e
have another p r o b l e m aside f r o m m o w i n g , and that is t r i m m i n g .
Trimming
must be done around m a r k e r s and m o n u m e n t s , along c u r b s , d r i v e s , and w a l k s ,
and on s t r e t c h e s w e c a n ' t get with a m o w e r . If w e would allow the g r a s s to
g r o w up tall around the headstones it would b e c o m e unsightly. T h i s has to be
t r i m m e d just about as o f t e n as the g r a s s i t s e l f . T h e r e a r e many types of
t r i m m e r s , but the best that I have found is the Jacobson 10-inch. With one
guide w h e e l in f r o n t and tw^ in the r e a r , it does a good j o b . I would l i k e to
ask these g e n t l e m e n too what methods they a r e using f o r t r i m m i n g .
A n s w e r : We f r a m e our m a r k e r s in 4 - i n c h c e m e n t so that w e can put our
Jacobson b e t w e e n the g r a s s and the c e m e n t . That speeds up the t i m e spent on
the m a r k e r s .
Brown:

How about Walla W a l l a , M r .

Brewer?

A n s w e r : ( M r . B r y a n B r e w e r ) We use a 10-inch G o o d a l l r o t a r y .
been v e r y dependable and does a beautiful j o b of t r i m m i n g .
Question:

What do you use down in B o i s e , M r ,

It has

Elsass?

A n s w e r : ( M r . E l s a s s ) I use an 18-inch r e e l - t y p e to cut around the
stones, and then the Stanley t r i m m e r to t r i m .
B r o w n : I would l i k e to say a l i t t l e about f e r t i l i z e r as it is a l s o i m p o r tant, and w e ' r e l e a r n i n g m o r e about it ail the t i m e , I w a s f o r a long time
r e c o m m e n d i n g an o r g a n i c b a s e . T h i s y e a r I used an a l l - c h e m i c a l f e r t i l i z e r ,
f m going to ask L e e F r y e r to enlighten us on this b e c a u s e he has been i n s t r u m e n t a l in m i x i n g f o r us a f e r t i l i z e r with w e e d k i l l e r in i t .

L e e F r y e r : It is a l w a y s a p r o b l e m to get a f e r t i l i z e r that w i l l g i v e a
g r e e n c o l o r and sustain it f o r a c e r t a i n amount of time f o r the l e a s t amount of
m o n e y . We found that the applications of f e r t i l i z e r s containing 50 p e r cent
o r g a n i c and 5 p e r cent a v a i l a b l e n i t r o g e n best a c c o m p l i s h e d this p u r p o s e . We
used the amine f o r m of 2 , 4 - D which is a r a t h e r r a r e o n e . One of the advant a g e s of this is that the dust of 2 , 4 - D w i l l r e m a i n on the l e a v e s of the w e e d s
l o n g e r and you g e t a kill on some of the w e e d s that a r e h a r d e r to handle. A s
you know we have supported the idea of o r g a n i c bases in f e r t i l i z e r s f o r many
y e a r s , and w e still f o r many r e a s o n s in many situations do that. W e ' re t r y i n g
to d e v e l o p f e r t i l i z e r s that g i v e us c o l o r , and g i v e a sustained action, and
have a h i g h e r n i t r o g e n content. W e ' v e been w o r k i n g on this f o r 3 o r 4 y e a r s .
I t ' s dangerous unless you use the u r e a - f o r m a l d e h y d e f o r m of n i t r o g e n b e c a u s e
g r a s s can be burned v e r y e a s i l y . T h e r e w a s a l a d y who went to a p s y c h i a t r i s t
and said she had six c h i l d r e n and her husband didn't l o v e h e r . He said, 41 W e l l
l a d y , see what trouble you would be in if y o u r husband did l o v e y o u ! "
I'd
l i k e to r a t h e r introduce this situation.
If you f e l l o w s pay $200 a ton f o r a
f e r t i l i z e r that you can apply and get on 3 o r 4 l b s . of n i t r o g e n p e r 1000 s q . f t .
p e r application, y o u r c o s t f o r that p e r 1000 sq. f t . w i l l not run o v e r 75% of
the c o s t if you a r e s t i l l using the old 5% o r g a n i c f o r m u l a t i o n s .

T U R F DISEASE R E S E A R C H A T T H E W E S T E R N
WASHINGTON EXPERIMENT STATION
C h a r l e s J„ Gould^
The d i s e a s e p i c t u r e in 1958
The unusually m i l d w i n t e r and hot d r y s u m m e r r e s u l t e d in an a b n o r m a l
turf condition in 1958 in w e s t e r n W a s h i n g t o n . Although m o s t of this trouble
w a s a p p a r e n t l y p h y s i o l o g i c a l ( d r y n e s s , dying of P o a annua, e t c . ) , the unusual
w e a t h e r did have an e f f e c t on the d i s e a s e c o m p l e x . Thus, f o l l o w i n g a w e e k of
hot d a y s and w a r m nights, B r o w n P a t c h ( R h i z o c t o n i a solani) w a s found on a
golf c o u r s e near T a c o m a — t h e f i r s t appearance, of this d i s e a s e in r e c e n t y e a r s .
The outbreak w a s m i n o r and l a s t e d only a short t i m e — t h a n k s to f u n g i c i d a l
t r e a t m e n t s by the superintendent and/or a change in w e a t h e r .
L e s s trouble than usual w a s e n c o u n t e r e d with r e d thread and f a i r y ring
during the s u m m e r months, but both d i s e a s e s b e c a m e i n c r e a s i n g l y pronounced
a f t e r a p e r i o d of r a i n y w e a t h e r in e a r l y S e p t e m b e r . T h e s e two continue to be
the m a i n d i s e a s e p r o b l e m s on h i g h - c u t turf ( l a w n s , e t c . ) .
B r i e f outbreaks of f u s a r i u m patch o c c u r r e d on m o s t g o l f c o u r s e s in the
spring of 1958. The fungus then b e c a m e d o r m a n t during the s u m m e r , but b e gan d e v e l o p i n g again in S e p t e m b e r with the onset of m o i s t w e a t h e r .
In addition to the fungi m e n t i o n e d a b o v e , many o t h e r s have been i s o l a t e d
f r o m d i s e a s e d turf by the w r i t e r and by his a s s o c i a t e , D r . M a k s i s E g l i t i s .
T h e s e include v a r i o u s t y p e s of f u s a r i u m , h e l m i n t h o s p o r i u m , and other f u n g i .
T e s t s a r e under w a y to d e t e r m i n e their p a t h o g e n i c i t y .
C o n t r o l o f f a i r y ring
The use of m e t h y l b r o m i d e f o r c o n t r o l of this c o m m o n d i s e a s e w a s r e p o r t e d at the 1957 T u r f C o n f e r e n c e . D e t a i l e d d i r e c t i o n s f o r this t r e a t m e n t and
f o r c e r t a i n other t r e a t m e n t s w e r e published in A p r i l by the Washington A g r i c u l t u r a l E x p e r i m e n t Stations as Station C i r c u l a r 330. The f a i r y ring r e s e a r c h
has been c a r r i e d on in c o o p e r a t i o n with V . L . M i l l e r and H . M . Austenson,
both of the W e s t e r n Washington E x p e r i m e n t Station.
Since f i e l d e x p e r i m e n t s with f u n g i c i d e s f o r c o n t r o l of this d i s e a s e have
been v e r y t i m e - c o n s u m i n g and often f r u i t l e s s , e f f o r t s w i l l be m a d e this w i n t e r
to d e v e l o p a method by which m o s t of the n o n e f f e c t i v e f u n g i c i d e s can be e l i m i nated in the l a b o r a t o r y . T h i s w i l l p e r m i t a m o r e r a p i d and e f f e c t i v e m e t h o d of
testing new m a t e r i a l s .
C o n t r o l of r e d thread
T h i s d i s e a s e , which c a u s e s a w i d e s p r e a d s c o r c h i n g of h i g h - c u t turf in
w e s t e r n Washington, has r e s p o n d e d b e t t e r to f e r t i l i z a t i o n with n i t r o g e n than to
f u n g i c i d a l c o n t r o l in t e s t s on lawns and on a f a i r w a y at the R a i n i e r G o l f and
Country Club in c o o p e r a t i o n with Glen P r o c t o r , Superintendent.

^Plant P a t h o l o g i s t , State C o l l e g e of Washington,
E x p e r i m e n t Station, Puyallup, Washington

W e s t e r n Washington

C o n t r o l of f u s a r i u m patch
Culturalo P e r h a p s half of the battle a g a i n s t this d i s e a s e is c u l t u r a l .
T h i s i n c l u d e s : (1) keeping the g r e e n s as d r y as p r a c t i c a b l e by t r i m m i n g or
e l i m i n a t i n g surrounding t r e e s and h e d g e s , sweeping (if not m o w e d ) in the e a r l y
m o r n i n g , e t c . ; (2) maintaining good soil d r a i n a g e ; (3) avoiding o v e r f e r t i l i z a t i o n
with n i t r o g e n ; (4) s e l e c t i o n of r e s i s t a n t v a r i e t i e s ; and; (5) such other good
m a n a g e m e n t p r a c t i c e s as p r e v e n t i o n of thatch, a e r i f y i n g , e t c .
R e s i s t a n c e , A t e s t of the r e s i s t a n c e of s e v e r a l g r a s s e s w a s s t a r t e d in
1957 in c o o p e r a t i o n with D r . H , M . A u s t e n s o n and H e n r y Land, S r . , S u p e r i n tendent at the T a c o m a Golf and Country Club. The plots have been cut at
g r e e n s height but have not been p l a y e d on. The m o s t r e s i s t a n t g r a s s e s to
date have been P e n n c r o s s and a s t r a i n of S e a s i d e . The m o s t s u s c e p t i b l e w e r e
C o l o n i a l and Highland. I n t e r m e d i a t e t y p e s w e r e P o a annua, C o n g r e s s i o n a l ,
C o h a n s e y , Rhode Island Colonia #5, and P e n n l u . The Pennlu and C o h a n s e y
have shown a m a r k e d a b i l i t y to r e i n v a d e k i l l e d a r e a s . P e n n c r o s s d e v e l o p e d
an o f f - c o l o r in l a r g e spots during the late w i n t e r m o n t h s . B e c a u s e of the v e r y
unusual w e a t h e r during the past 10 months, e v e n p r e l i m i n a r y r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s
must be postponed. M e a n w h i l e , two additional e x p e r i m e n t a l plots have been
e s t a b l i s h e d - - a n o t h e r at the T a c o m a Golf and C o u n t r y Club and the other at the
Seattle Golf and Country Club in c o o p e r a t i o n with K e n Putnam, Superintendent.
F u n g i c i d e s . F u n g i c i d a l t e s t s have been m a d e in c o o p e r a t i o n with V . L .
M i l l e r , H . M . Austenson, and R o y G o s s of the W e s t e r n Washington E x p e r i m e n t Station® The f i r s t s e r i e s of t e s t s w e r e c a r r i e d on at the O v e r l a k e G o l f
and C o u n t r y Club in c o o p e r a t i o n with M i l t Baumann, Superintendent, and l a t e r
at the B r o a d m o o r Golf and Country Club with the c o o p e r a t i o n of Superintendent
John J a s l o w s k i . R e s u l t s to date have shown that m e r c u r y f u n g i c i d e s a p p a r e n t l y
g i v e the best c o n t r o l of f u s a r i u m patch and that c e r t a i n t y p e s of m e r c u r i e s a r e
m o r e e f f e c t i v e than other t y p e s . In g e n e r a l , a f o r m u l a t i o n of phenyl m e r c u r i c
a c e t a t e ( P M A S ) has g i v e n the best r e s u l t s in r e c e n t t e s t s f o l l o w e d by m i x t u r e s
of m e r c u r o u s and m e r c u r i c c h l o r i d e (as C a l o c u r e and C a l o c l o r ) .
Excellent
c o n t r o l has been obtained with P M A S applied e v e r y 2 w e e k s at 3/4 o z . in 10
g a l l o n s of w a t e r p e r 1000 square f e e t . Some superintendents, h o w e v e r , a r e
r e l u c t a n t to use this type of m a t e r i a l b e c a u s e it has n o t i c e a b l e burned the turf
at t i m e s . T h e r e f o r e , we began a s e r i e s of e x p e r i m e n t s in the spring of 1958
to find a m e a n s of o v e r c o m i n g the i n j u r y . The p r e l i m i n a r y r e s u l t s on the
W e s t e r n Washington E x p e r i m e n t Station g r e e n indicated that the addition of
n i t r o g e n and p e r h a p s of i r o n compounds to the f u n g i c i d a l solution m i g h t help
in reducing g r a s s i n j u r y . A l a r g e - s c a l e test w a s then s t a r t e d at B r o a d m o o r to
c o n f i r m the p r e l i m i n a r y r e s u l t s as w e l l as to d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r the f u n g i c i d a l
e f f e c t i v e n e s s of the P M A S w a s a f f e c t e d . T h i s e x p e r i m e n t is s t i l l under w a y .
R e s u l t s to date indicate that an e f f e c t i v e and safe combination m a y be p o s s i b l e
by using c e r t a i n n i t r o g e n o u s m a t e r i a l s . The type of n i t r o g e n used a p p e a r s to
be quite i m p o r t a n t , since the d i s e a s e w a s i n c r e a s e d with one type and not with
a n o t h e r . H o w e v e r , c e r t a i n a r e a s of the g r e e n r e s p o n d e d d i f f e r e n t l y to the
combination t r e a t m e n t s . The cause of this v a r i a t i o n is unknown. T h e s e d e v e l o p m e n t s pose new p r o b l e m s f o r i n v e s t i g a t i o n .
Some of these new p r o b l e m s w i l l be studied this w i n t e r in the new p l a s t i c
house r e c e n t l y c o n s t r u c t e d and equipped at the W e s t e r n Washington E x p e r i m e n t
Station with grant funds f r o m the N o r t h w e s t T u r f A s s o c i a t i o n and the N o r t h w e s t
Golf C o u r s e Superintendents' A s s o c i a t i o n . Our a p p r e c i a t i o n g o e s to Don Hogan,
H e n r y Land, J r . , Glen P r o c t o r , and a l l o t h e r s who have made this p o s s i b l e .
T h e r e s e a r c h w i l l a l s o be aided by a r e c e n t g r a n t f r o m the G r e e n s Section of
the United States Golf A s s o c i a t i o n .

T h e s e g r a n t s and other a s s i s t a n c e w i l l d i r e c t l y aid the d e v e l o p m e n t of
b e t t e r c o n t r o l m e a s u r e s . T h e y w i l l a l s o f a c i l i t a t e the study of such f u n d a m e n tal f a c t s about turf d i s e a s e s as the e f f e c t of t e m p e r a t u r e , m o i s t u r e , pH,
nutrition, e t c . Through such study mo;re e f f e c t i v e c o n t r o l of the d i s e a s e s and
reduction in cost of t r e a t m e n t s should r e s u l t .

T E S T I N G A N D S E L E C T I N G F O R B E T T E R T U R F GRASSES
R o y G o s s and H e r m a n A u s t e n s o n
R e - s e l e c t i n g and testing Coloniat b e n t g r a s s
F o r some t i m e it has been known that m o s t of our o l d e r turf g r a s s e s have
b e c o m e m i x e d or contaminated due to c a r e l e s s production and handling methods 0
C o l o n i a l bent, having been one of the b e t t e r adapted v a r i e t i e s in the N o r t h w e s t ,
has d e v e l o p e d c o n s i d e r a b l e v a r i a t i o n as to g r o w t h habit (upright or c r e e p i n g ) ,
l e a f blade length and width, c o l o r , and seed productivity,.
In this p r o g r a m t h r e e a p p a r e n t l y d e s i r a b l e t y p e s w e r e s e l e c t e d f r o m
about 30 d i f f e r e n t t y p e s , all f r o m C o l o n i a l . T h e s e t h r e e t y p e s w e r e planted
in r o w s and a l l o w e d to f r e e l y c r o s s . Seed w a s taken f r o m the best of these
t h r e e types and i s o l a t e d in individual plant r o w s .
In September of this y e a r 30 plants w e r e s e l e c t e d f r o m this plot of 200
i n d i v i d u a l s . T h e s e plants w i l l be g r o u p e d a c c o r d i n g to s i m i l a r c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s .
Wide v a r i a t i o n s in plant type have been found.
Seed f r o m these 30 individuals w i l l be tested f o r g e r m i n a t i o n and p l a c e d
in plant bands in the g r e e n h o u s e this w i n t e r and planted in i s o l a t i o n next s p r i n g .
In this m a n n e r , it can be d e t e r m i n e d if s e e d f r o m s e l e c t e d individuals
w i l l produce true to type plants. Selection is planned on this b a s i s f o r as
many g e n e r a t i o n s as is n e c e s s a r y to s e c u r e u n i f o r m plants with as m a n y d e s i r a b l e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s as p o s s i b l e .
T e s t i n g introduced turf g r a s s e s
ZOYSIAs

(Matrella,

Japonica,

etc.)

B e c a u s e of a v e r y m i l d w i n t e r in 1957-58 these g r a s s e s a r e s t i l l l i v i n g ,
but show a v e r y low v i g o r . A t this t i m e this g r a s s cannot c o m p e t e in this
c l i m a t e with native w e e d s and g r a s s e s .
DICHONDRA:
T h i s plant is doing a good job this y e a r f o r making a ground c o v e r , even
in the absence of sprinkling and f e r t i l i z e r in test p l o t s at the W e s t e r n W a s h i n g ton E x p e r i m e n t Station. The height attained this y e a r w a s 2 - 3 i n c h e s . W i n t e r h a r d i n e s s is s t i l l a questionable f a c t o r , since it hasn't had a s e v e r e w i n t e r test
yet.
If r e c o m m e n d e d at all, it should only be c o n s i d r e d f o r l e d g e s ,
banks, and r o c k e r y .

steeper

B E R M U D A GRASS:
S m a l l test r o w s of T - 3 5 A , Uganda, E v e r g l a d e N o . 3, C o m m o n , and U - 3
l i v e d through l a s t w i n t e r and w e r e in good condition this y e a r . C o m m o n a p p e a r s m o r e like a w e e d in addition to its other u n d e s i r a b l e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s .

T h e s e B e r m u d a s , of c o u r s e , have the same u n d e s i r a b l e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s
h e r e as in the b e t t e r - a d a p t e d a r e a s in r e s p e c t to e a r l y d o r m a n c y and late
spring r e c o v e r y .
In conclusion, it might be said that the bents, f e s c u e s , and b l u e g r a s s e s
a r e the best adapted s p e c i e s of the N o r t h w e s t , and s e l e c t i o n s and b r e e d i n g
along this line a r e much m o r e apt to b e a r f r u i t than s o m e of the e x o t i c s d i s c u s s e d above 0

T U R F GRASS BREEDING
Do M a r k a r i a n
The b r e e d i n g of turf g r a s s e s includes g e n e t i c phenomena c o m m o n to a l l
the c r o s s - p o l l i n a t e d g r a s s e s . The status of turf g r a s s b r e e d i n g today m i g h t
be approached by c o n s i d e r i n g t h r e e of these g e n e t i c phenomena.
Ao
B.
Co

Genetic r e c o m b i n a t i o n 0
Hybrid v i g o r .
Apomixis.

Genetic r e c o m b i n a t i o n : R e f e r s to the a b i l i t y of the parent plants to e x hibit in their p r o g e n i e s the m a n y p o s s i b l e combinations of their h e r i t a b l e t r a i t s .
T w o c a t e g o r i e s of plants m a y be c o n s i d e r e d h e r e .
1.

S e l f - c o m p a t i b l e plants: t h e r e a r e p r o b a b l y no turf g r a s s e s in this
c a t e g o r y . S e l f - c o m p a t i b l e plants a r e those which can produce good
seed by utilizing their own p o l l e n . E x a m p l e s of this type of plant
a r e wheat and b a r l e y . S e l f - p o l l i n a t i o n r e s u l t s in u n i f o r m v a r i e t i e s .

2.

S e l f - i n c o m p a t i b l e plants^ In c o n t r a s t to the above, these plants d e g e n e r a t e r a p i d l y in a g r o n o m i c m e r i t when s e l f e d and, in m a n y c a s e s ,
turf g r a s s e s a r e c o m p l e t e l y s e l f - s t e r i l e . T h i s m e a n s that at l e a s t
two plants f r o m d i f f e r e n t seeds must be p r e s e n t in order to p r o d u c e
f e r t i l e s e e d . A l s o in c o n t r a s t to the s e l f - c o m p a t i b l e plants m e n t i o n e d
above, the turf g r a s s e s a r e h i g h l y v a r i a b l e f r o m plant to plant. T h i s
v a r i a t i o n p e r m i t s the b r e e d e r to s e l e c t s u p e r i o r individuals and
propagate t h e m in c l o n e s . I m p r o v e m e n t can a l s o be m a d e in s e e d
stocks by testing s u p e r i o r clones in i s o l a t e d b l o c k s f o r what is t e c h n i c a l l y c a l l e d g e n e r a l combining a b i l i t y , which r e f e r s to an i n d i v i d ual plant's a b i l i t y to c r o s s with other plants and produce a s u p e r i o r
progeny.
The p r i m a r y d i f f i c u l t y the s e l f - i n c o m p a t i b l e type of plant p r e s e n t s
to the b r e e d e r is that pure l i n e s cannot be i s o l a t e d r - only l i m i t e d
p o r t i o n s of the total g e n e t i c v a r i a t i o n can be i s o l a t e d without danger
of a g r o n o m i c d e g r a d a t i o n . W h e r e the use of the g r a s s is a h i g h l y
s p e c i a l i z e d one, such as a g r e e n s turf, the p r o b l e m i s c i r c u m v e n t e d
by clonal p r o p a g a t i o n .

H y b r i d v i g o r : H y b r i d v i g o r r e f e r s to p r o g e n i e s f r o m m a t i n g s w h e r e the
q u a l i t i e s c o n c e r n e d surpass the a v e r a g e of the p a r e n t s . H y b r i d c o r n and the
mule a r e e x a m p l e s of this phenomenon, and, although not so g r a p h i c a l l y d e m o n s t r a t e d in turf g r a s s e s , there i s no question that h y b r i d v i g o r is i n v o l v e d in
s p e c i a l l y produced seed such as P e n n C r o s s C r e e p i n g B e n t . A c h a r a c t e r i s t i c
of h y b r i d v i g o r i s that s u c c e s s i v e seed g e n e r a t i o n s f r o m the h y b r i d exhibit
l e s s and l e s s v i g o r ; in fact, the v i g o r if o f t e n l o s s in the second g e n e r a t i o n .
Thus v a r i e t i e s dependent on this phenomenon f o r t h e i r p e r f o r m a n c e must be
c a r e f u l l y p r o p a g a t e d a c c o r d i n g to the b r e e d e r ' s r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s .
A p o m i x i s : T h i s g e n e t i c phenomenon p r o v i d e s a m e a n s w h e r e b y i n d i v i d ual plant t y p e s a r e i d e n t i c a l l y r e p r o d u c e d through seed, e v e n though c o n s i d e r able g e n e t i c v a r i a t i o n is p r e s e n t . O b v i o u s l y the n o r m a l p r o c e s s of the p o l l e n
and egg uniting is disrupted and, f o r t u n a t e l y f o r the turf g r o w e r , p r o v i d e s an
e a s y m e a n s of clonal p r o p a g a t i o n .

The b l u e g r a s s e s a r e the m o s t f a m i l i a r t y p e s exhibiting A p o m i x i s , and
M e r i o n is a product of this p r o c e s s . When t h e r e i s need f o r introducing v a r i a tion into an a p o m i c t i c v a r i e t y some d i f f i c u l t y is encountered, although m o s t
a p o m i c t i c v a r i e t i e s exhibit a s m a l l p e r c e n t a g e of sexual r e c o m b i n a t i o n . A t
WSC one of our studies with b l u e g r a s s i n v o l v e s the use of x - r a y s to induce
v a r i a t i o n into M e r i o n b l u e g r a s s .

NITROGEN F E R T I L I Z A T I O N - - O B J E C T I V E S AND METHODS
(Condensation)
Do W . K o l t e r m a n - - E . I . du P o n t de N e m o u r s
& C o „ , Inc o Wilmington, D e l a w a r e

1. N i t r o g e n nutrition is one of the m o s t i m p o r t a n t phases of turf g r a s s m a n agement. Nitrogen means growth; nitrogen means color.
2.

Source of n i t r o g e n - - N a t i v e soil f e r t i l i t y or soluble, natural o r g a n i c , or
synthetic o r g a n i c f e r t i l i z e r s - - i s i m m a t e r i a l to g r a s s plant as long as it
g e t s the r i g h t t i m e and in a v a i l a b l e f o r m .

3.

S p e c i a l - p u r p o s e g r a s s e s a r e s o m e w h a t unique in the plant w o r l d in that
v i g o r o u s and a t t r a c t i v e v e g e t a t i v e g r o w t h is demanded of t h e m not only
y e a r a f t e r y e a r but a l s o f o r the m a x i m u m p e r i o d of t i m e each y e a r .

4.

T o f u l f i l l this r i g i d r e q u i r e m e n t , g r a s s e s on e v e n o r i g i n a l l y f e r t i l e s o i l s
must be g i v e n adequate n i t r o g e n through f e r t i l i z a t i o n .

5.

T o much a v a i l a b l e n i t r o g e n can be as d i s a s t r o u s as too l i t t l e .

6.

N i t r o g e n f e e d i n g can be a c c o m p l i s h e d with any of the t h r e e c l a s s e s of n i t r o gen f e r t i l i z e r s - - s o l u b l e , natural o r g a n i c , or synthetic o r g a n i c - - p r o v i d e d
each is e m p l o y e d in a c c o r d a n c e with its a v a i l a b i l i t y c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s „

7.

Soluble n i t r o g e n - - A m o n i u m , n i t r a t e , u r e a , e t c . T h e s e a r e q u i c k l y a v a i l able - - r e q u i r e f r e q u e n t light a p p l i c a t i o n s — l o w m a t e r i a l cost, but high in
labor cost, e a s i l y m i s u s e d , r e q u i r e s t r i c t e s t use m a n a g e m e n t .

8.

N a t u r a l o r g a n i c s - - S e w a g e sludges, v e g e t a b l e p r o t e i n s , tankages, e t c .
T h e s e have c o n s i d e r a b l e advantages o v e r s o l u b l e s . M o r e s l o w l y a v a i l a b l e
and r e q u i r e l e s s f r e q u e n t a p p l i c a t i o n s and a r e s a f e r - - r e q u i r e l e s s use
m a n a g e m e n t . H o w e v e r , they have l o w n i t r o g e n content and a r e high in
cost.

9.

Synthetic o r g a n i c s - - U r e a f o r m f e r t i l i z e r s have most i d e a l r e l e a s e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s and high n i t r o g e n content. R e q u i r e f e w e s t number of a p p l i c a t i o n s ,
p r o v i d e a v a i l a b l e n i t r o g e n m o s t n e a r l y in a c c o r d a n c e with g r o w t h c o n d i tions and g r a s s needs, r e q u i r e l e a s t m a n a g e m e n t e f f o r t . High in m a t e r i a l
but l o w e s t in labor c o s t s .

10.

U s e of any n i t r o g e n f e r t i l i z e r must m e e t a single need - - a d e q u a t e but not
e x c e s s i v e a v a i l a b l e n i t r o g e n in the r o o t zone throughout the g r o w i n g s e a son. T h i s m a y r e q u i r e a w i d e l y v a r y i n g soluble or natural o r g a n i c f e e d i n g
p r o g r a m as dictated by c l i m a t e and e n v i r o n m e n t a l conditions. It m a y m e a n
supplementing a u r e a - f o r m f e e d i n g p r o g r a m , p a r t i c u l a r l y if f e e d i n g l e v e l
has been i n c o r r e c t l y judged, with light a p p l i c a t i o n s of soluble n i t r o g e n .

11.

The DuPont Company supplies two of the t h r e e c l a s s e s of n i t r o g e n f e r t i l i z e r s to the p r o f e s s i o n a l turf g r o w e r . Soluble urea n i t r o g e n - - a s " N u G r e e n "
f e r t i l i z e r compound. Synthetic o r g a n i c u r e a f o r m - - a s " U r a m i t e " f e r t i l i z e r
compound.

12. U r e a - - r e l a t i v e l y l o n g - l a s t i n g soluble n i t r o g e n s o u r c e , i d e a l f o r solution or
solid f e r t i l i z e r s , l e a c h r e s i s t a n t , n o n c o r r o s i v e , c o m p a t i b l e with p e s t i c i d e
S p r a y s . U s e d w i d e l y to c o l o r up turf with light s p r a y a p p l i c a t i o n s .

13.

U r e a f o r m — M e t h y l e n e urea products f o r m u l a t e d to r e l e a s e a gradual supp l y of n i t r o g e n in the s o i l . U r e a f o r m m a n u f a c t u r e r e q u i r e s e x t r e m e l y
p r e c i s e c o n t r o l since a slight d e v i a t i o n m a y r e s u l t in s e v e r e l y l o w e r e d
f e r t i l i z e r q u a l i t y . Buttons and telephone r e c e i v e r s , w o r t h l e s s as f e r t i l i z e r s even though f i n e l y ground, a r e made f r o m the s a m e i n g r e d i e n t s as
u r e a f o r m . The f e r t i l i z e r value of u r e a f o r m s is d e t e r m i n e d s o l e l y by two
f a c t o r s - -amount and quality of the insoluble m e t h y l e n e urea n i t r o g e n .
F o r t u n a t e l y c h e m i c a l methods e x i s t (and have been adopted by State F e r t i l i z e r C o n t r o l C h e m i s t s ) f o r d e t e r m i n i n g u r e a f o r m quality b e f o r e sale and
a p p l i c a t i o n . D u P o n t ' s " U r a m i t e " f e r t i l i z e r compound is c o n s i s t e n t l y m a n u f a c t u r e d and sold at a quality l e v e l w e l l a b o v e the m i n i m u m r e q u i r e d by
law.

14. DuPont a l s o supplies these two t y p e s of n i t r o g e n to the f e r t i l i z e r industry
f o r m a n u f a c t u r e of c o m p l e t e m i x t u r e s . Same h i g h - q u a l i t y standards m a i n tained f o r both.
15.

" U r a m i t e 1 1 f e r t i l i z e r compound has gained w i d e s p r e a d a c c e p t a n c e in the
United States and Canada since its introduction to the t r a d e in 1955. R e sults on turf g r a s s e s , f l o w e r s , and w o o d y o r n a m e n t a l s have been e x c e l l ent. A l a r g e number of g o l f c o u r s e s have a l r e a d y s t a n d a r d i z e d on " U r a m i t e " f o r their b a s i c n i t r o g e n supply on g r e e n s and t e e s . U s e is e x p a n d ing at an e v e r - i n c r e a s i n g r a t e t o d a y .

16.

The above has dealt with n i t r o g e n only in turf g r a s s m a n a g e m e n t . N o i n tent to discount the i m p o r t a n c e of other p h a s e s - - o t h e r nutrients, w a t e r i n g ,
mowing, disease control, etc. - - i s implied.
N o n i t r o g e n f e r t i l i z e r or a p p l i c a t i o n technique can g i v e d e s i r a b l e turf a l o n e . A c o m p l e t e m a n a g e m e n t
p r o g r a m - - f r o m budget to p l a y - ~ w i l l a l w a y s be n e c e s s a r y .

Question:
per y e a r ?

How many pounds of n i t r o g e n p e r thousand do you r e c o m m e n d

A n s w e r : It v a r i e s with a r e a .
9 pounds i s the best l e v e l .
Question:

M o s t people have found that b e t w e e n 7 and

What is the e f f e c t of t e m p e r a t u r e on b r e a k d o w n ?

A n s w e r : The e f f e c t of t e m p e r a t u r e is the s a m e on u r a m i t e as it is on
b a c t e r i a . B a c t e r i a o p e r a t e s f a s t e s t at r o u g h l y 8 7 ° F . , and the r e l e a s e r a t e i s
at its m a x i m u m at that p a r t i c u l a r soil t e m p e r a t u r e .
Question:

A t what l o w e r t e m p e r a t u r e is the n i t r o g e n a v a i l a b l e ?

A n s w e r : It depends on the c o n v e r s i o n of a c t i v e b a c t e r i a . A s long as
t h e r e ' s w a t e r and m a t e r i a l , i t ' s going to d i s s o l v e . I t ' s the d i s s o l v i n g r a t e
that is i m p o r t a n t , not the m i c r o b i a l r a t e .
Question:
the g r a s s ?

Do you notice the a b i l i t y of u r a m i t e to change the t e x t u r e of

A n s w e r : Y e s , w e ' v e noticed that in a l l t y p e s of plants you get a d i f f e r e n t
type of g r o w with slow additions of n i t r o g e n than with f a s t .

C O M P A R A T I V E P E R F O R M A N C E OF THE P . N . W .
BLUEGRASS SELECTIONS
J. K . P a t t e r s o n
Washington State C o l l e g e
A g r o n o m y Department
T e s t s starting in 1955 h e r e and r e p o r t s of p e r f o r m a n c e f r o m other a r e a s
c o n c e r n i n g a potential b l u e g r a s s v a r i e t y f o r turf is s u m m a r i z e d in this r e p o r t o
Agronomic Characteristics
Bluegrasses
L e a f Width
mm.
P.N.W.

Selections

105
205
402
602

5.85
6.05
6.01
6.21
6.03
5. 18
4. 19

Average
Merion
Common

Agronomic Characteristics
Bluegrasses
% P l a n t s That
M i l d e w e d 1955
P.N.W.

Selections

105
205
402
602

2. 3
7. 1
4.7
4. 7
4. 7
100.0
83.3

Average
Merion
Common

R a t e of E m e r g e n c e
50 s e e d s a f t e r 1 w e e k , 1957
0 trt.
402
602
205
Merion

30
28
34
11

Gibberellic
37
37
36
19

Treated

D i s e a s e R e s i s t a n c e , August 19,

1958
Rust Index

Merion
402
205

7.2
3.8
3o 8

602

2.8

Delta
Newport

1o8
1.0

1 Rust f r e e
10 H e a v i e s t i n f e c t i o n

Turf P e r f o r m a n c e ,
^gm^r/plot''' 6 ^
402
602
205
Average
Merion
Newport
Delta

696
797
767
753
635
705
650

1957
Roots

Rhizomes

2.73
2.83
2.68
2.75
2.55
2.57
1.99

1.47
1.59
1.40
1.49
1.21
1.53
.28

G e r m i n a t i o n of N e w Seed
(1958 H a r v e s t ) A u g . - S e p t . 1958
% Germination
after 4 weeks
Newport
Merion
Delta
P N W 602
P N W 402
P N W 205

T u r f Quality
Color
Cover (density)
R h i z o m e production

0
3
23
72
72
72

PNW

Merion

Newport

Delta

Exc.
Exc.
Exc.

Exc.
Exc.
Good

Good
Good
Exc.

Good
Fair
Poor

Exc.
Exc.
Exc.

Poor
Poor
Poor

Poor
Poor
Poor

Med.
Exc.
Exc.

Germination
Immediately after
harvest
Rate of e m e r g e n c e
Seedling v i g o r

Disease Resistance
L e a f rust
Stem rust
Helminthosporum
Seed production

Med
Med
Med
?

Poor
Poor
Poor
Poor

Med
Exc.
?

Med
Med
?

?

ExCo

Summary
The P . N . W". b l u e g r a s s s e l e c t i o n i s about o n e - s i x t h w i d e r l e a v e d than
M e r i o n and about o n e - t h i r d w i d e r than c o m m o n bluegrass®
Well-fertilized
clipped turf of this g r a s s has the same type of dark g r e e n c o l o r f o r which
M e r i o n i s f a m e d . Its g r o w t h habit ( l o w s p r e a d i n g ) m a k e s it e x c e l l e n t as a
turf g r a s s since it p r o v i d e s thorough ground c o v e r . It p r o d u c e s s l i g h t l y m o r e
g r o w t h than M e r i o n and is s o m e w h a t m o r e v i g o r o u s in r o o t and r h i z o m e d e v e l opment.
It i s susceptible to s o m e of the c o m m o n d i s e a s e s such as m i l d e w , l e a f ,
and s t e m rust but l e s s so than M a r i o n . T e s t s in other a r e a s have shown it to
be quite r e s i s t e n t to h e l m i n t h o s p o r i u m , a d i s e a s e quite w i d e s p r e a d in the b l u e g r a s s - g r o w i n g a r e a and one that attacks c o m m o n and e s p e c i a l l y N e w p o r t b l u e grass severely.
In c o n t r a s t to M e r i o n and N e w p o r t , the P . N . W . s e l e c t i o n has e x c e l l e n t
seedling v i g o r and does not appear to have the d o r m a n c y f o l l o w i n g h a r v e s t that
is so p r e v a l e n t in the M e r i o n and N e w p o r t v a r i e t i e s . T h i s d o r m a n c y has often
b e c o m e a p r o b l e m in the o r d e r l y m a r k e t i n g of s e e d ( e s p e c i a l l y c e r t i f i e d ) of
Merion

P A N E L DISCUSSION- - M A C H I N E R Y
C h a i r m a n - Glen P r o c t o r
Ed R o d g e r s , N o r t h w e s t M o w e r s
C h a l r e s B l o h m , W e s t e r n Golf Supply
Wo Strahl, B e n t l e y and C o .

Question:

W h a t ' s new f o r 1959 ?

A n s w e r : (Ed R o d g e r s ) W e have the Worthington gang m o w e r and the
Jacobson g r e e n s m o w e r , and the D e v e r e R o t a r y L i n e . A s f a r as w e ' r e c o n c e r n e d we haven't been e x p o s e d to any new m o d e l s f o r '59, but i m p r o v e m e n t s
a r e being made on the old lines 0
Chuck B l o h m : I r e p r e s e n t T o r o , and w e a r e coming out with a r e v o l u t i o n a r y new g r e e n s m o w e r this y e a r . I t ' s t o t a l l y d i f f e r e n t than any g r e e n s
m o w e r that's been d e v e l o p e d , and the new p r o f e s s i o n a l is coming with p o w e r
s t e e r i n g which is going to make it e a s y to handle in tight q u a r t e r s .
Then
t h e r e ' s the new 32-inch w h i r l w i n d which has a turn radius of 14 inches, and
it is i d e a l l y suited f o r c e m e t e r i e s .
B i l l Strahl: I r e p r e s e n t the W e s t p o i n t p r o d u c t s p e o p l e in the R o s e l a n d
m o w e r s , and up to the t i m e I l e f t the company on this t r i p we had no w o r d of
any new changes f o r '59 at ali„ T h e r e w i l l be, I ' m s u r e , but at the t i m e I
cannot say just what they w i l l b e .
Question: In the case of a home lawn owner who is just going to run his
own m o w e r at h o m e , w h a t ' s the best w a y to find out what cutting height you
have on your a d j u s t m e n t ?
Strahl: I would suggest that a p e r s o n buy a home l a w n m o w e r and go to
a reputable f i r m to get i t . T h e r e it w i l l be adjusted, and you w i l l be g i v e n
all possible help.
You can a l s o use a p i e c e of p l y w o o d m a r k e d off at c e r t a i n
m e a s u r e m e n t s and put the m o w e r on a f l a t s u r f a c e and r a i s e or l o w e r the
blade to the height you want i t .
Question: Do you need a torque w r e n c h to adjust the bed bar b o l t s on
your f a i r w a y units ?
B l o h m : T h e w a y it is done at the shop is with a a i r gun, and the bolts
a r e tightened with a punch. Of c o u r s e , if you didn't have an a i r h a m m e r , a
punch would be the best method of doing t h i s .
Question: Why don't c o m p a n i e s s t a n d a r d i z e their equipment so you can
go to the h a r d w a r d s t o r e and get s o m e of the s i m p l e p a r t s to f i t these m o w e r s
A n s w e r : It cuts down on the r e v e n u e 1 S e r i o u s l y , one r e a s o n they don't
s t a n d a r d i z e p a r t s is they want you to r e p a i r something the w a y the f a c t o r y
wants you to do it, and t h e y ' r e a f r a i d you m i g h t put something in there that
d o e s n ' t f i t and w i l l foul up your m a c h i n e .

Fertilizer

Panel

L a r r y M u n z e n m a i e r , DuPont C o .
Jim M c K e n z i e , Galbraith & Co.
George Harrison, NuLife Fertilizer
Lee F r y e r , P a c i f i c - A g r o Co.
Question: How long should a plug l a s t in a Jacobson m o w e r without f o u l ing up, and how much oil should you use ?
Answer:

One quart of oil should be used to about 5 g a l l o n s of g a s .

Jack K i n g : I use white gas and outboard m o t o r o i l and have v e r y l i t t l e
t r o u b l e with plugs getting fouled up.
Everhart:

Standard Oil has a new 2 - c y c l e o i l which has done v e r y well.

Putnam: We use a teaspoon of Z e m o u t e to a tank of gas, and w e e l i m i n ated a good deal of our t r o u b l e s .
Question:

What kind of oil d o e s the m a n u f a c t u r e r

recommend?

A n s w e r : T h e r e is a Jacobson oil, but w e have been s e l l i n g other t y p e s
of oil f o r the Jacobson m o w e r s and have had good luck with a l l of t h e m .

I r r i g a t i o n panel
Don K o l a s s , Wash. T u r f & I r r i g a t i o n
C a r l Kuhn, H . D. F o w l e r & C o .
Bob Cochran, Rain B i r d S p r i n k l e r C o .
Don Hogan, N a t i o n a l I r r i g a t i o n Consultants
Question: ( P u t n a m ) Don Hogan, i s a s y s t e m down the center as p r a c t i cal as a t r i a n g u l a r s y s t e m ?
A n s w e r : I think a s y s t e m down the m i d d l e is not n e c e s s a r i l y as e f f i c i e n t
as what i s c l a s s e d as a m u l t i r o w s y s t e m . The m o r e s p r i n k l e r s you can g e t into
a g i v e n a r e a the m o r e p o s i t i v e the c o n t r o l is going to b e .
Question: A r e home s y s t e m s put in with p l a s t i c pipe s u c e s s f u l l y or i s
the old s t e e l pipe s t i l l the b e s t ?
A n s w e r : I would §ay this l a s t season 100% of the r e s i d e n t i a l and c o m m e r c i a l s have been put in with p l a s t i c s y s t e m s . One r e a s o n i s the e c o n o m i c s
of i t . A l s o t h e r e ' s not as much chance of c o r r o s i o n , and it i s e a s i e r to a s semble .
Question:

H o w about f r e e z i n g ?

A n s w e r : In s o m e a r e a s , f o r instance this one, you might have the p r o b l e m of f r e e z i n g . D r a i n s a r e put on t h e r e to d r a i n out the s y s t e m s when w i n t e r
approaches.
Question:

How do the m o l e s and g o p h e r s w o r k on these ?

A n s w e r : W e l l , just like the m a n u f a c t u r e r of s e v e r a l pipe c o m p a n i e s have
said, if we can find any p r o o f w h e r e they have b o t h e r e d the pipe, they w i l l g i v e
you $1000 f o r their r e s e a r c h d e p a r t m e n t . So if you f i n d any we w i l l be glad to
hear of i t .
Question: ( H e n r y Land, J r . )
cal in g o l f c o u r s e i r r i g a t i o n ?

Has the l a r g e popup s y s t e m p r o v e n p r a c t i -

A n s w e r : In the N o r t h w e s t I know of no c o u r s e s that have w a t e r e d by r o t a r y
popup except f o r around a f e w g r e e n s and t e e s . W e have used t h e m on l a r g e turf
a r e a s — f o o t b a l l f i e l d s , p a r k s , e t c . - - v e r y s a t i s f a c t o r i l y , but the cost is m o r e ,
and the s y s t e m i s n f t as p r a c t i c a l .
Question:
dividually ?
Answer:
Question:

Would it be e c o n o m i c a l to be able to cut out each s p r i n k l e r i n N o , it wouldn't as it would cause double p i p i n g .
I would l i k e to h e a r something about the new Buckner

sprinkler.

A n s w e r : W e l l , Buckner this y e a r c a m e out with a new g e a r - d r i v e n r o t a r y
popup, and it can be adjusted to any p o r t i o n of a c i r c l e in the f i e l d .
K o l a s s : T h i s s p r i n k l e r i s our 880 s p e c i a l , and Buckner has c o m e out with
a new attachment f o r it c a l l e d the SR attachment* The attachment w i l l speed
the s p r i n k l e r up and slow it down so that the r a t e of p r e c i p i t a t i o n w i l l m o r e or
l e s s be u n i f o r m in the whole c i r c l e . T h i s attachment can be put on any 880
sprinkler.
Question: Why i s n ' t a w r e n c h m a d e so that you can take your v a l v e s out
without digging a big hole ?
Answer:

W r e n c h e s a r e a v a i l a b l e f o r a l l Buckner

sprinklers.

Question: Is using urea f o r m f e r t i l i z e r , if you wanted to add other f e r t i l i z e r s to c o m p l e t e the m i x , would you m i x them or put them on s e p a r a t e l y ?
A n s w e r : You can m i x i t . The r e a s o n we h a v e n ' t m i x e d it is that you m a y
not need the potash or the phosphorus. Y o u can add them s e p a r a t e l y , and the
r e s u l t s w i l l be much the s a m e .
Question: What t i m e of the y e a r would be the best t i m e to apply u r e a type f e r t i l i z e r ?
A n s w e r : The f a l l is the best t i m e to apply i t . One r e a s o n i s b e c a u s e in
the spring it m a y be too wet and the n i t r o g e n f e r t i l i z e r i s t h e r e , and a l s o you
g i v e the g r a s s a head start on the w e e d s .
Question:

D o e s the r a i n f a l l r a t e m a k e any d i f f e r e n c e in the w a y you apply

it?
A n s w e r : Y e s , I would say it m a k e s s o m e d i f f e r e n c e .
to be d i s s o l v e d in the soil w a t e r of c o u r s e .

The f e r t i l i z e r has

Question: ( H e n r y Land s J r . ) Can the c o n c e n t r a t e d n i t r o g e n be put into
liquid solutions without hurting g r a s s ?
A n s w e r : You can a l w a y s use 20 l b s . of urea in 100 g a l l o n s of w a t e r ,
and anything around that r a t e is adequate.

and