SüfcNCE

July 1979

Published monthly by the Metropolitan Golf Course Superintendents Association

MGCSA MEETING NOTICE:
Date:
Thursday, July 19
Superintendent’s Championship-1 st Round
Place:
Innis Arden Golf Club
120 Tomac Ave., Old Greenwich, Conn.
Host
Superintendent: Pat Lucas
Club Manager:
William Woods
Golf Professional: William Mitchell
Greens Chairman: Chester Rice
Club President: Harold G. Rogers
Telephones:
(203) 637-3210 (Superintendent)
(203) 637-3677 (Clubhouse)
(203) 637-3679 (Golf Shop)
Golf:
12:45 Shotgun*
Carts: $18 (cash) Caddies: $10/bg. (cash)
Lunch:
A la carte available in grill room from
11:45 on (cash)
Social Hour:
6 p.m. with hors d ’oeuvres
Dinner:
7 p.m.—$15 (cash, inclusive)
Program:
Speaker: Martin Petrovic, Agronomy Dept.
Cornell University
Directions: From the Connecticut Turnpike (I-95):Exit #5.
Bear right (east) on the Post Road (U.S. #1). Go one block and
turn right at light on to Sound Beach Ave. Proceed to bottom
of hill and when park is on your right, make a left on Forest
Ave. (stone church). Continue on Forest Ave. past Electrolux
Plant, under R.R. crossing to club.
I* *Note: This tournament for Class A only, MGA Handicaps,
make your own foursome. Three gross and three net prizes.
COMING EVENTS:
July 9
Lawrence Labriola Memorial Tournament,
Whippoorwill Club
July 9-15
1979 U.S. Women’s Open, Brooklawn C.C.
(for information call 203-334-5116)
'July 19
MGCSA Monthly Meeting, Innis Arden
July 25
Univ./Mass. Annual Turf Field Day
August 16-19
Westchester Classic
August 20
Family Picnic—Woodway C.C.
^ August 22
Univ./Rhode Island Turfgrass
Field Day
. September 20
MGCSA Invitational, Ridgeway C.C.
September 25
CAGCS Field Day, Beardsley Park,
Bridgeport

Vol. IX, No. 6

October 2-3

NJGCSA Field Day, Rutgers University
Stadium, Piscataway
October 16
MGCSA Monthly Meeting, Salem G.C.
(2nd round, Supt. Championship)
November 13-15 N.Y.S. Turfgrass Association Conference
& Equipment Show, Syracuse
November
V^^MGCSA Annual Meeting
February 17-22 ' :ij,^S;AA’s Conference & Show,

«%.

^

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*

Missouri

MGCSA
^
^
June 7th was^^beautiftfl day in the country with Fred
Scheyhing at tfre Mt^i£isco Country Club. A total of 47 golfers
enjoyed the well groom'e^^cilities. The tournament was run
on the Callaway System and'^ftiis is how the net scores looked:
Mike Lehman
First Place
72
Ed Binsse
Second Place
73
John McFadden
73
Dennis Flynn
73
Mark Millet
73
A total of 94 were on hand to hear our speaker for the
evening, Ann Reilly, Executive Secretary of the New York
State Turfgrass Association. Ann gave an excellent presenta­
tion on the use of flowering trees, shrubs, and annuals in the
golf course landscape.
We were treated to a steak cookout fit for a king. Everyone
at Mt. Kisco did a superb job in spite of the fact that only 50
individuals informed Fred that they were coming out of the 94
who attended.
Thank God that the rains of May and early June have finally
subsided. Many courses experienced outbreaks of both leaf
spot, red thread, and here at Innis Arden we had a disease
which was identified as a form of Rhizoctonia. Courses with
poor drainage experienced difficulty in accomplishing routine
maintenance practices. It appears now that we have a great
deal of turf entering the stressful summer in a weakened
conditioned. The next few months will be touch and go.
Last month, we reported in this column the problems we
were encountering with deliveries due mainly to the truckers
strike compounded by the tugboat strike. It appears now that
the entire delivery situation has deteriorated due to the fuel
shortage. Enough said about ordering early?
Also, in connection with this fuel crunch, many of us may
not be able to go away on that month’s vacation this summer!
See you July 19th.
Pat Lucas

Editorial Staff
Ted Horton, Co-Editor

Office: 914-698-2827
Home: 914-937-3613
Office: 203-637-3210
Home: 203-637-3939

Pat Lucas, Co-Editor

OFFICERS

President

Robert Alonzi, Fairview Country Club
Office 203-531-8910, Home 914-531-1930

Vice-President

Michael Maffei, Back of Beyond Golf Course
Office 914-279-7179, Home 914-279-7895

Secretary

Paul Caswell, Greenwich Country Club
Office 203-869-1000, Home 203-661-8949

Treasurer

Sherwood Moore, Woodway Country Club, Inc.
Office 203-329-8257, Home 203-322-0004

Not copyrighted. I f there is good here, we want to share it with
all chapters - unless author states otherwise.
Publication deadline for Tee to Green is 21 days before the
regular meeting.
SUCCESSFUL GARDENING FOR THE GOLF COURSE
by Stephen Puvogel
Assistant Superintendent, Winged Foot Golf Club
Our guest at the MGCSA meeting at Mount Kisco Country
Club was Ann Riley. Ms. Riley’s topic was Successful Garden­
ing on the Golf Course. The use of color was encouraged to
help accent all the green color provided by the turf.
In fall the planting of bulbs in conspicuous areas will help to
highlight various backgrounds and entrances during the

MGCSA June meeting at Mt. Kisco C.C. Left to right: Melvin
Lucas, Vice President of the GCSAA, Bob Alonzi, President of
the MGCSA, Ann Reilly, Executive Secretary of the N Y ST A and
Fred Scheyhing, host superintendent at Mt. Kisco.

spring. The sequence of bloom can be extended with the use of
members of the Ericaceae family, by utilyzing them for hedges,
borders and specimen plantings. These plants offer the added
advantage of having low maintenance requirements.
For summer color in sunny areas the use of marigolds,
annual phlox, sweet alyssum and petunias were suggested.
Yucca was recommended for its interesting flower and foliage
while day lily’s prominent features were its low maintenance
and flower.
Impatiens planted with dusty miller, begonias, coleus, agér­
atum and hyrangea offer excellent color for those areas that
are shaded.
Fall color comes in two forms, fruit and foliage. Beauty
berry sometimes referred to as coral berry, and pyracantha are
two plants that have colorful fruits. The foliage of the dog­
woods and enonymous are particularly striking.
The viburnums give color by both fruits and foliage.

WANTED TO BUY:
100, 200 or 300 gallon sprayer.
Contact: Tom O’Neill
O’Neill’s Tree Care
(203) 655-7865
FOR SALE:
Brand New Lincoln Arc Welder
(single phase, 230 volts, 60 cycles, 50 amps)
$150.00 or will swap for other equipment
Contact: Pat Lucas (203) 637-3210
WANTED TO BUY:
Mallinckrodt “ Spray Hawk”—any condition
Contact: Pat Lucas (203) 637-3210

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF EMPLOYEES
Older employees handle tough assignments better in the
morning, while younger workers perform better in the afternoon, per recent survey by Alfred Marks Bureau Ltd., U.K.
Employment Agency. The study, involving over 1500 clerical
staff in 100 firms, revealed widely different levels of energy in
various age groups at different times of the day.
For example, employees in the 31 to 40 age range have more
energy than anyone else on getting up in the morning. Those
under 18 had the least. The 41 to 55 age group shows its
highest energy level on arriving at work. By mid-morning,
when overall energy levels are at their highest, the under-18 are
still the least active. It is not until mid-afternoon, when most
age groups are beginning to fade, that the youngest group
reaches its peak.
Credit: Small Business Report, June, 1979

WELFARE: Please contact any member of the Welfare Com­
mittee regarding any hospitalizations, etc. of members of the
MGCSA: Dennis Flynn (914) 636-8700; Pat Lucas (203) 6373210; Peter Rapoccio (203) 438-6720.

PROBLEM: MAINTAINING TURF
ON INTENSIVE USE AREAS.
SOLUTION: EN KAM Al

Enkamat is a turf reinforcing

low air, w ater and nutrients to

webbing for intensive use

move freely into the soil, mini­

areas. It can be used effectively

mizing m aintenance costs.

on tees and approaches. Cart

M ake traffic and golf spikes

traffic dam age in line-of-play

work for better turf, rather than

areas and around greens can be

destroy it. Install Enkamat.

minimized.

Cal I or w rite for full information:

Enkam at can be installed

TURFIBRE PRODUCTS

quickly and easily. Sim ply lift
the sod, laydow n Enkam at and
then replace the sod over Enka­
mat. Once in place, the continu­
ous three-dimensional Enkamat
webbi ng w i 11: (1) i ncrease the
structural strength of the sod;

1934 N.E. 151 Street, North Miami,

(2) distribute w eight of traffic,

Florida 33162 (305) 947-4649.

minimizing compaction; (3) a l­

TOM M ASCARO M ANAGER

ENKAMAT IS A REG. TM OF AMERICAN ENKA C O . ENKA. NC. A PART OF A J < Z Q n a INC . AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A NUMBER OF U S PATENTS

HYPERODES UPDATE
By Pat Vittum
Species Question
Several studies were conducted during the winter months to
determine how many species of Hyperodes weevils are damag­
ing turf. Weevils collected from Elmira (N.Y.) in August 1978
appeared to be very similar to weevils collected in Westchester
and Fairfield counties, so a series of tests were designed to
compare specimens from the two locations.
Several measurements were made (body length and beak
length, for example) on specimens from both regions. Both
appeared to be similar in size, shape, and color, and no
statistically significant differences were observed.
A small but complex structure was removed from male
weevils and nine portions of the structure were measured.
Seven of the nine parts were highly significantly different in the
different locations.
The hairs and scales on the prothorax (“shoulder”) differed
substantially from one location to the other. Weevils from
Elmira had many more hairs and scales than did the weevils
from the metropolitan area.
Most of the evidence indicates that the two weevils are in
fact two different species. However, they are very closely
related, and their life cycles and feeding habits are very
similar. I hope to confirm the species situation later this year,
based on the outcome of efforts to breed weevils from the two
areas.
Development This Year
I have collected samples from white pine litter throughout
the winter. Populations apparently peaked in December and
declined gradually through the winter. The numbers have
dropped sharply since the end of April, indicating the weevils
are beginning to move toward the fairways. Recent samples
(mid May) from fairways revealed eggs and a few very small
larvae. This would appear to be slightly ahead of last year, but

the spring of 1978 was unusually cool. The warmer tempera­
tures this spring are allowing the weevil—and the eggs and
larvae—to develop more quickly.
Samples collected from Bonnie Briar C.C., Waccabuc C.C.,
and Winged Foot G.C. on June 8 indicated the majority of the
population was in the largest larval stage. Samples taken a
week later indicated that most of the insects were pupae or
young adults. There should be no more damage from the
spring generation.
Based on the activity of the weevils in the past three
summers, we can expect the new adults to begin laying eggs
around the end of June. Ordinarily damage is not as severe as
it is in the spring, because the population is not as dense in any
given ares, but in some isolated areas, it can be considerably
worse. Those of you who have had a history of trouble spots
might consider treating those areas during the first week of
July. (Use Dursban at 2 lb/A or Diaxinon at 4 lb/A and avoid
treating on a hot, sunny day if possible to reduce chances of
burning the grass.) This is NOT an official recommendation—
we still do not have enough field data to fulfill EPA require­
ments.
The spring plots indicate that Dursban is still very effective
against the spring generation of larvae. Another material, not
yet available on the market, may have a longer lasting effect,
and the spring treatment may be effective against the summer
generation as well. We will know more about the residual
activity of this material after we sample the plots in late July.
Note: I will not be living in Westchester County this
summer, but I do plan to make sampling trips every two weeks
throughout the summer. If you have any questions, please call
Dr. Tashiro or me (315-787-2342 or 2355).

Something to think about.

. .

Just as turning the logs will make a dull fire burn, so a change
of studies will brighten a dull brain.
Longfellow

fo r recond itione d or new
Harley-Davidson golf carts.
Hundreds to choose from
— both gas and e le ctric —
at New Y o rk/C o n n e cticu t
area’s largest dealer.
Call Jack Orvis for more

Route 6 • Brewster, N.Y.
Open: 8:00-5:00 Mon.-Thur.
8:00-4:30 Friday
Closed Saturday

the conditions and spread rapidly soon growing into the
adjacent plots. The loss of color in winter and rapid spreading
Thissynopsis
o f the Rutgers Turfgrass Research
Day
may make
thisisless desirable. The fescues (Red & Tall) and rye
presented by the students on the grounds crew o f Winged Foot
grasses hold up very well under low fertility and maintenance
Golf Club. '
conditions.
Renovation is best done by using “ROUND UP” at a rate of
Low Maintenance Turfs
2 lbs/acre. This has a very short wait period. The turf should
With the present energy crunch, potential water shortages
then be run over with a thatching machine. The Ryan spikeaire
and increasing maintenance costs the use of low maintenance
or a similar machine, with fixed blades is better than the flail
turfs may prove to be a great asset in helping to ease these
type machine. The fixed blade machine penetrates the soil and
problems.
is more efficient at removing thatch.
Zoysia must be treated more frequently with “ROUND UP”
The most favorable prospects presented to us at Adelphia
and should never be rototilled. Tilling leaves some of the
were two Zoysia varieties Emerald and Meyer. No soil prepara­
Zoysia behind, and that will spread rapidly, competing with
tion was done prior to planting nor were any cultural practices
the desired grass.
employed during the growing season. These turf areas required
Kevin McClintock, State University-Plattsburg
only three mowings yearly and had invaded the blocks of the
neighboring cool season grasses.
Seed Bed Preparation
Among the cool season grasses showing the most promise
There may be times in turf grass management that require
were Kentucky 31 Tall Fescue and Pennlawn Red Fescue. Both
some areas to be renovated. By this I mean, a cultural practice
fescues provide green color for a longer period of time and
that goes beyond routine management. This is not a complete
consequently required more maintenance than their warm
reworking of the soil. It may be caused by thinned out turf,
season couterparts.
winter kill, weeds, disease or environmental stress. One of the
Stephen Puvogel, Texas A & M University
ways that you may renovate is to overseed the area with grass
Evaluation of Ryegrasses
seed. However, this could be a waste of time if proper
The recent development of improved turf type ryegrasses
consideration is not given to the seed bed preparation. If grass
has made this species a valuable specialty turfgrass in many
seed is just spread over the area without any type of cultivation
areas. The turf type rye grasses have finer leaves, greater
first, chances of new grass establishment is very low. One of the
density, somewhat better mowing qualities, longer persistance,
most important factors in turf grass establishment is good seed
and a somewhat slower rate of vertical growth. In some of the
and soil contact. It is for this reason that you must use
better varieties, outstanding wear tolerance has been noted.
mechanical methods of selectively tilling an established turf
Progress has also been made in improving resistance to some
without destroying the sod characteristics. One of the best
important diseases and increasing tolerance of heat and cold.
machines for the operations is a vertical mower. This machine
Some of the diseases which attack the turf type ryegrasses
involves the use of vertically operated rigid or flexible blades or
are dollar spot, brown patch, stem rust and crown rust. Dollar
wire tines that cut or pull into the turf, leaving grooves in the
spot on ryegrass will occur when nitrogen fertilization is kept
soil that the grass seed will be more apt to germinate and
at a minimum. Brown patch will cause problems in hot, humid
survive in. In these grooves the grass seed will find better
weather. Stem rust occurs mainly under hot temperatures,
environmental conditions for germination and survival. The
while crown rust prefers cool weather.
One new variety, SYN-456, proved to be a wear tolerant,
brown patch resistant turf type ryegrass. Flowever due to its
GREENHOUSE
NURSERIES
.manuel ohi
expensive nature it is, as of yet not available on the market.
One
Stop
Wholesale
Center
Horticulturist
Many other varieties of turf type ryegrasses evaluated at the
D istributors o f
Rutgers Adelphia plot areas promised favorable performances
• EVERGREENS
• TREE STAKES
as well.
• FLOWERING TREES • R A ILR O A D TIES
Louis P. Mytych, Rutgers University
• SHADE TREES
• MULCHES
RUTGERS TURFGRASS RESEARCH DAY

r

I
;
[
\

j

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/

Low Maintenance Turf
Plots were planted in 1967, since 1972 they have been left
alone. None of the normal turf maintenance procedures were
carried out—no water, fertilizer, fungicide, herbicide, aera­
tion, etc. The soil on which the plots have been planted, was
dredged from the lake and was mostly sand and gravel with
little inherent fertility or moisture holding capacity.
Grasses tested were: bluegrass (Merion & Kentucky), which
when compared to Red Fescue (Penn. Lawn) faired poorly
under low nutrient conditions. Bentgrass, fine from Florida
and coarse from Australia, held up very well with the inherent
low fertility of the soil. The coarse Australian held up particu­
larly well under high traffic conditions. The roots and rhi­
zomes showed good development. Zoysia held up well under

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GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT06830
(203) 531 7352

(914)937-4644

seed is better protected from drought and competition in these
grooves. There will be more moisture for when the seed
germinated and the seedling will find rooting easier. It is very
noticable when seeding is done after using this machine. The
only places the grass seeds grow is in the grooves which proves
it is worth the time and effort to prepare the seed bed.
Denzil Rice, Stockbridge School of Agriculture, U. of Mass
Station #9—Presented by Dr. P. Halisky
Red Thread Disease
Red Thread Disease is a fungus on top of the soil surface,
bearing no spores. This slow moving disease infects all turfgrasses, but mainly fescues and ryes. It occurs more commonly
in cool and humid areas at the time of mid to late spring (May
& June).
Conditions favoring Red Thread are:
1. Cool weather—60° to 75° F, coupled with prolonged
periods of high humidity (light rains, fog, heavy dews and
moisture-saturated air).
2. Wet Weather
3. Low Nitrogen Fertility
4. Slow Growning
5. Species Infected (Red Fescues, Perennial Rye [Man­
hattan]).
The cure for Red Thread is not known as of yet. Some
control has been discovered with such commercial products as
Acti-Dione, “Tersan” 1991, and Chipco 26019.
If Red Thread is a regular problem, carefully increasing the
nitrogen fertilizer in the program is needed. The soil reaction
(ph) should be between 6.5 and 7.0, to achieve maxium
elimination.
Dennis Petruzzelli, Cobbleskill College
Nitrogen Carriers
Presented by R.E. Engel
Nitrogen carriers can be subdivided into 3 groups on the
basis of whether they are of an inorganic or organic source and
whether they are synthetic or natural. The three groups are

synthetic inorganic, natural organic and synthetic organic.
Of these three nitrogen carriers all of them were present at I
the turfgrass show. They were used on two sets of six plots. One *
set of six plots were 22 days old and the other just 5 days old. '
There were six different nitrogen carriers used on both plots,
the only differance was in time they were used, either 5 days or
22 days. I am going to break up each plot and the carrier used
on that plot and give the results and helpful information on
each nitrogen carrier.
Plot 1—Synthetic Inorganic NC
Ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) is widely used as a nitrogen
carrier for turfgrass fertilization. Ammonium nitrate contains
50% of its nitrogen in the nitrate form and the other half in the
ammoniacal form. Ammonium nitrate is a quick release and
water soluble fertilizer which gives you a very fast plant
response. This is handy if you want quick greening before a
tournament but it can also turn your turf brown just as fast.
Ammonium nitrate should be applied in low rates and must be
watered it. If you are not satisfied with the results of your first
application you can always make another one but you can’t
pick up what you have already put down. Ammonium nitrate
tends to harden and cake unless properly conditioned during
manufacturing process and it also is a substantial fire and
explosive hazard. Dr. Engel approves and favors quick release
fertilizers and the results on both plots were good.
Plot 2—Natural Organic NC
Activated sewage sludge is one of the more common natural
organic nitrogen carriers used for turfgrass fertilization. Acti­
vated sewage products are made from sewage and is aerated in
big tanks after being innoculated with microrganisms. The
result is organic matter which is filtered, dried in rotary kilns,
ground and screened. The activated sewage sludge is steam
sterilized by drying in hot ovens to kill weed seeds and some
organisms. The most popular are Milorganite which is pro­
duced in Milwaukee and Hu-Actinite which is produced in
Houston. From what I understand Milorganite contributes
large amounts of micronutrients, like maganese, zinc, copper
and boron which help to support plant growth. Also, results
from tests show that milorganite seems to decrease dollar spot
and pythium on ryegrass and bentgrasses. One of its greatest
qualities is that it won’t burn and no water is needed. The
temperature is no factor to consider, unlike most fertilizers.
Activated sewage sludge is a slow release fertilizer which will
cost more than a fast release fertilizer, but a slow release will
stay in the soil longer and won’t burn. Dr. Engel seemed to shy
away from the slow release fertilizer and leaned toward quick
release. The 22 day old plot was showing a small amount of
greening but not much and the 5 day plot showed very little if
any at all.
Plot 3—Synthetic Organic NC
Urea CO (NH2)2 is a water soluble fertilizer which contains
about 45% nitrogen. It has all the characteristics of a Synthetic
Organic Nitrogen carrier which are the following: high water
solubility, fast plant response, short residual response, leach­
ing, high burn potential, and high rates of gaseous ammonia
loss compared to most water soluble nitrogen carriers. This
plot had some growth and a little greening but not as much as
plot 4 which is Sulfur coated urea.

Plot 4—Synthetic Organic NC

THE GIFT OF SIMPLICITY

S.C.U. S CO (NH2)2 is a form of urea, I don’t really know
too much about it except in comparison to plot 3 which is plain
urea. It had more growth and more greening. This is a new
Synthetic organic nitrogen carrier. Maybe, it will take the
place of plain urea. The effect takes 3-6 weeks and it has only 3
weeks and 1 day so it does a good job. The sulfur is the reason
for the extra growth in plot 4 and not 3.

Dedicated to Mr. Peter Gogolak

Plot 5—Ureaformaldehyde UF
Ureaformaldehyde UF is the primary nitrogen carrier in the
water insoluble synthetic organic group. UP is a combination
of urea and formaldehyde. It usually contains 38% nitrogen
which is largely in an insoluble, slowly available form. UF has
characteristics almost like the natural organics. These are the
intermediate initial release rate, low burn potential, low water
solubility, reduced loss by leaching, high cost per unit of
nitrogen, and the long residual response. Fair to good growth
results.
Plot 6—I.B.D.U.—Same as Plot 5
Joseph McGuire, Lake City Community College

Editor's Note: Our thanks to John Wistrand o f Metro Milorganite, Inc. for forwarding this article to us. It sounds like
good news.
Pat Lucas
NEW ROUNDUP USES ARE APPROVED
Monsanto Company has now received Environmental Pro­
tection Agency registration acceptance expanding the use of its
Roundup herbicide in several areas.
—The following weed, tree, and brush species have been
added to the label for Roundup: Texas blueweed, kikuyugrass,
reed canarygrass, cattails, Oaks, Maples, Berries, Willows,
Honeysuckle, Kudzu, Multiflora Rose, and Trumpet Creeper.
—dry ditches, dry canals, and ditchbanks—may be treated
when not carrying water or after final drawdown in irrigation
systems. In crop sites, furrows and ditches within labeled crop
sites may be treated when not carrying water as long as timing
is in accordance with the specific crop label.
—Non-crop use of the recirculating sprayer—controls the
same labeled species as recirculating sprayer applications in
cotton and soybeans.
—Ornamentals—any ornamental species may be planted
following an application. When a directed spray is used,
applications may be made only around particular species on
the label.
Roundup is a foliar-applied, non-selective herbicide sprayed
when weeds have reached a vigorous stage of growth. When
applied directly to foliage, it is described as trans-locating
throughout the plant, destroying above and below-ground
plant tissues, including the reproductive root system. Applica­
tion rates and timing vary according to the weed species being
treated.
Following an application of Roundup, visible effects in most
annual weeds occur within two to four days; but, in most
perennial weeds, visible effects may not occur for seven days or
more.
Credit, Farm Supplies, June, 1979

Ignored is the word “Simplicity
Perhaps—
This is why there's much complexity;
We yawn to the ego-jazz o f elaborate blaring,
A nd to the affected imposture o f an Elmer Gantryv
Happily, one arises who hadn't blown the night,—
Not on a trumpet that fingers a wearisome plight:
This Speaker, is un-adomed and brisk as a breeze,—
As He bridges-the-span with imparting ease;
Blending chromatically within his key,Soothing as the violin-strings o f a symphony:
Gifting us with a gentle touch-of-simplicity.
Frank Paladino

DRY PATCH
Soil Scientist Roy Bond of CSIRO in Adelaide, Australia,
has isolated a type of fungus that invades the sandy base of golf
greens and coats sand grains with a water repellant layer of
organic matter. Wetting agents failed to correct the problem
but introduction of loam soil into the sandy soil helped. This
might help us remember that slow water percolation on a turf
soil is not always caused by too many fine particles in the soil
mix.
Credit: Green World, Volume 8, Number 1

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Editor s Note: The following artiele by Marilyn Pelo taken
from the April 16 issue o f New York Magazine should he of
interest to anyone who deals with contraetors.
Pat Lueas
HOW TO CHOOSE AND USE A CONTRACTOR

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The homeowner-contractor relationship is seldom dispas­
sionate. Endless horror stories about incompetence, deliberate
sabotage, and take-the-money-and-run operations have made
homeowners paranoid and contractors defensive. Arguments
over both real and imagined problems are commonplace, but
many can be avoided if things are handled right from the
beginning.
From interviews with several contractors and industry obser­
vers, here is a skeleton course in hiring and coping with a
contractor.
The job: A contractor is responsible for turning sketches
and drawings into reality. He orders and pays for materials
and hires all workers. He is responsible for scheduling, super­
vising, and paying these workers.
Types of contractor: The general contractor works directly
on the project as supervisor. His workmanship is usually quite
good; his paperwork is often sloppy or slow.
A construction company, on the other hand, works on several
projects at once. You can be sure it will meet deadlines—
though it may sacrifice workmanship in order to do so. These
firms usually work only on high-budget jobs, and many require
that you retain an architect or designer. Almost invariably,
they hire high-priced union workers.
Licensing: The city Department of Consumer Affairs re­
quires that all contractors who work in the city be licensed.
About 2,900 are; far more are off the rolls, and many people
prefer them because they are often cheaper.
Insurance: The state requires contractors to carry work­
men’s compensation insurance; the city requires liability cov­
erage. Many carry neither. A prudent homeowner will consider
extending his liability and damage coverage to avoid a costly
lawsuit in case someone cuts off his thumb or triggers the
sprinkler system.
Finding a contractor: The best way is by asking friends and
business associates. The best small-job general contractors
work by referral only. Unfortunately, the Yellow Pages and
classified ads should only be used as a last resort.
Hiring a contractor: If possible, interview several and ask
them to submit bids on the job. Be sure that they are bidding
from identical sketches and specifications, or any attempt to
compare will be meaningless. Ask for references. You’d be
surprised how much you can learn over a drink with someone
the contractor has worked for. Try to see examples of his
finished work. If the renovation is going to be major, as for
financial references or proof of bonding. He also may ask you
for financial and personal references.
Fees: Most contractors work on a “cost plus” basis, charg­
ing the cost of the project plus their fee. Some take a fixed fee;
others work for a percentage of the cost, usually 15 to 30
percent. A fixed fee, if you can get one, is best because an
unethical contractor can always use cost overruns to his advan­
tage. However, many reliable contractors insist on a percentage. A good contractor will ask for a small deposit with
payments upon completion of various stages of the work. The
best will ask that you hold the final payment for 30 to 60 days
to be sure you are satisfied with the work.

Agreements: Do not pay any money or allow work to begin
before a written contract is signed. If the contractor has his
own agreement form, have a lawyer look at it. Or use the
American Institute of Architects forms A101 and A201. These
are used nationally and are available from the AIA, at 20 West
40th Street in Manhattan.
At the very least a contract should include:
□Plans and sketches of the work to be done.
□ A list of materials, quantities, brand names, styles, and
serial numbers. Do not allow any “or equal” clause permitting
the contractor to make substitutions without your permission.
□ A production schedule (what should be done by when).
□ A payment and fee schedule.
□ The contractor’s certification of insurance.
□ Notification of your right to cancel the contract within
three working days after it has been signed.
Read through the contract carefully several times to be sure
you know it thoroughly. Make sure it includes all doorknobs
and closet rods and all the necessary little things that the
unscrupulous contractor can leave off.
Changes: Just bear in mind that once work has begun, any
change, no matter how small, can delay completion and will
increase costs. Detail any change in a letter, asking the
contractor for a cost estimate. Make it clear that no change is
to be made until he gives you the estimate in writing and you
have approved it in writing. Give him two copies of every
memo, one to initial and return, and one to keep. Insist that he
do the same with any changes he must make, though he will
complain about all this paperwork. Experts agree that changes
and additions are the biggest cause of cost overruns.
Communication: Appoint one member of your household as
spokesman and you’ll avoid a huge number of fights. Similar­
ly, keep in mind that your spokesman should communicate
only with the contractor, not with the workers. Be especially
careful not to boss the workers around. They work for the
contractor, not for you.
Marilyn Pelo
Copyright© 1979 by the New York Magazine Company, Inc.
Reprinted with the permission of New York Magazine.

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$50,000 FERTILIZES GRASS STUDY
It’s back to the grass roots at Ohio State University where
workmen are completing a $50,000 underground laboratory
that scientists will use to watch grass grow.
“The most important part of the plant is the root and that's
the part we know least about,” said OSU agronomist Dr. Keith
J. Kernock, who will be in charge of the lab. “ Scientists only
have a general idea now when and how much to fertilize.”
Kernock said the lab, called a rhizotron, will be used to
learn how much cold, heat, fertilizer, water, mowing and other
practices make grass thrive.
The lab, which opens early next month, is Kernock's
brainchild. He said its proper name is a rhizothron-lysimeter
and it is perhaps the only one of its kind in the world because
the lab is equipped to accurately measure how much water is
being utilized by the plants.
Despite a plethora of pamphlets, gardening books and video
advice on how to treat your lawn, Kernock said there is
relatively little exact information about how turf grass devel­
ops, especially the roots.
Kernock said more detailed growth information is needed by
golf course managers and groundskeepers, as well as by a few
fanatical homeowners who are all part of Ohio's $300 million
turf grass industry.
Kernock says $15 billion is spent on lawns each year in the
United States.
He said watering and fertilization can be made to work

better by knowing when and how much to put on.
The rhizotron is a space-age name, but the idea is simple.
Scientists walk underground into a long hallway in the lab and
observe the roots of grass growing on the surface in 30
glass-fronted compartments. The lab has time-lapse microsco­
pic photography equipment. On the surface is a complete
meteorological station used to keep tabs on wind speed,
direction, rainfall, humidity and other weather factors.
Kernock said the lab will help homeowners. He said some
gardners overwater their lawns and others overfertilize, especi­
ally in August when there isn't enough rainfall to support the
extensive leaf growth the fertilization stimulates.
Kernock’s lawn fertilization time applies nitrogen to your
lawn in June and at the end of August at the rate of about three
quarters of a pound per 1000 square feet. Then apply IV2
pounds in October and another IV2 pounds in spring.
Credit: (AP), Advocate, Stamford, Conn., June 20,1979

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NINE WAYS TO NEGOTIATE A RAISE
Many people who have no trouble dealing with their super­
iors in most day-to-day situations find it very difficult to ask
for a raise. If you’re fainthearted at negotiation time, consider
these recommendations to ease the process:
• Know your worth. Ask yourself how valuable you are to the
course, how much would it cost to replace you, what have you
done lately to help the organization.
• Pick you place. Get your boss outside of the office to listen
to your request. Take him to lunch if possible.
• Detail your reasons. Tell you boss why you deserve a raise.
• Suggest an amount. You, not your boss, should propose
the amount of your possible raise.
• Set your figures high. Ask for more than you expect to get.
This leaves room to bargain.
• Compromise—but not too easily. Since you’ve started with
a high figure, realize you probably won’t get it. Let your boss
make a counter-offer, and be ready to compromise.
• Rehearse. Don’t go into negotiation cold. Be sure to be in
top mental and physical condition when the actual talks begin.
• Get it in writing. If possible, get your boss to put it in
writing—for both signatures—the raise he agrees to.
• Don’t wait—ask. Don’t wait around for the company to
recognize your value and give you a raise. Ask for it. Your
aggressiveness may pay off.
Credit: Forefront, May 1979

Editor s Note: Our thanks to Lloyd Hughes for forwarding this
article to us.
Pat Lucas
THE CASE OF THE PUTTER
THAT KILLED THE GOOSE
One way of looking at it is that Dr. Sherman A. Thomas
birdied the 17th hole at the Congressional Country Club in
Bethesda, Md. But such jokes are not up to par to the United
States Fish and Wildlife Service. All it knows is that it has a
dead Canada goose on its hands, and it has filed against Dr.
Thomas some of the more unusual charges ever brought under
the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.
On May 3, the doctor apparently clubbed a goose to death
on the 17th green, but the reason is in dispute. Fie says he
accidentally hit the bird with an approach shot, and blud­
geoned it with his putter to put it out of its misery. Another
version, however, is that he felt the goose’s honking had caused
him to flub a shot, and, in a rage, he went after it.
The country club has been thinking about expelling Dr.
Thomas, and now the Wildlife Service has gone even further
with two misdemeanor counts that could cost him $500 in fines
and six months in jail if he is convicted. The charge: killing a
goose out of season, which in Maryland ended January 26.
The law lists many prohibited ways of hunting migratory
birds—bait, unplugged shotguns, electronically amplified bird
calls—but Kurt Schmoke, the Federal prosecutor in the
Thomas matter, said, “No one has been able to turn up a
putter case before.”
Credit: The New York Times, Friday, June 1,1979

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Pat Lucas, Editor
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