WESTERN  OFFICE 

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1709  West  Eighth  Street 

Los  Angeles  17,  California 

WM.  H.  BENGEYFIELD 

Western  Director 

Phone  Dunkirk  2-<B6j 

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Western  Turfletter • 

Voi.  3  No. 4 

November  1955 

NOTES  FROM  THE  1955  WESTERN  TÜRF  CONFERENCES 

Interest  in  Turf  Conferences  remains  High  here  in  the  West.  Every  State 
excepting  Nevada  and  Idaho  now  holds  a yearly  conference  that  is  not  only  well 
attended*  but  ever  increasing  interest  is  being  shown.  Although  each  section  has 
its  own  particular  problems*  a brief  report  on  research  work  and  an  exchange  of 
information  is  bound  to  benefit  a l l. 

Latest  in  Fairy  Ring  Control  - Washington 

Tests  have  been  underway  since  1953»  Phenyl  mercuric  acetate  (PMA)  showed 
promising  results  in  1954-55  tests.  Monthly  applications  were  made  over a twelve 
month  period.  Best  results  came  from  1*5  oz.  (active  material)  PMA  per  1000  sq.  f t. 
A  wetting  agent  (Triton  X-100)  was  found  advantageous. 
39  mushrooms  were  counted  between  January  1*  1955  to  September  16*  1955*  Check  plots 
produced  1288  mushrooms  over  this  period.  Most  of  the  mushrooms  that  developed  in  the 
PMA  treated  plots  occurred  where  infrequent  watering  was  used  during  the  summer. 

In  15  test  plots  so  treated* 

Dr.  Charles  J. Gould*  Pathologist,  Puyallup  Experiment  Station*  reports 

that  this  work  will  continue  in  1956.  A  new  material  (Salicylanilide)  shows  promise 
in  laboratory  work  and  may  be  field  tested  next  year.  Methyl  Bromide  tests  are  also 
in  progress.  An  unusual  variety  of  Dollarspot  (Rhizoctonia)  has  been  active  this 
year  according  to  Dr.  Gould.  Pink  patch  infestations  have  also  increased  in  the 
northwest. 

Salt  Grass  Responds  to  Fertility  - Utah 

Utah  Copper  Club*s  salt  grass  (Puccinellia  distous)  fairways  show  continued 

improvement  under  increased  nitrogen  feeding.  Mr.  Jay  Richardson  and  Matt  Broderick* 
Club  Officials*  established  demonstration  plots  for  this  year?s  Utah  Turf  Conference. 
The  plots  show  that  this  sprawling*  very  salt  tolerant  perennial  grass*  can  be  made 
to  form  a  dense*  tight  sod  and  excellent  fairway  turf. 

Dr.  Arivil  Stark*  Wasatch  Chemical  Company*  assisted  in  setting  up  these 

plots.  He  pointed  out  that  bermuda*  rye  and  meadow  fescue  may  also  be  classified 
as  salt  tolerant  grasses.  At  Meadowbrook  Club*  Salt  Lake  City,  Mick  Riley*  Supt.-Fro. 
is  developing  good  fairways  using  meadow  and  alta  fescue  in  soils  that  are  over  9*5 
pH  and  extremely  high  in  soluable  salts.  Two  species  of  trees  that  grow  under  these 
conditions  are  White  Ash  and  Silver  Poplar. 

Turf  Irrigation  Studies  - Colorado 

Professor  George  Beach,  Colorado  A.  &  Am.  reports  that  amounts  and  intervals 
of  irrigation  in  studies  at  Fort  Collins  this  summer  indicated  that  under  their  con-
ditions,  Id  inch  of  water,  per  week,  was  optimum.  Turf  was  mowed  at 
day  intervals  gave  the  best  yields  in  these  tests.  Root  depth  was  not  included  in 
this  yearns  studies. 

inches.  Two 

Snowmold  in  October  - Washington 

How  many  times  have  you  heard  Charlie  Wilson  say  "disease  producing 

organisms  are  always  present  in  soils  and  whenever  the  environment  is  right  - watch 
out." 
attack  was  diagnosed  as  pink  snowmold  (a  variety  of  Fusarium  nivale)  on  three  greens 
and  a  nursery.  Two  applications  of  PMA  gave  generally  good  control. 

It  happened  in  the  Seattle  area  and  £he  Optober  environment  was  right!  The 

Other  snowmold  news  came  from  Dr.  Jim  Watson9s  test  plots  of  1955  at  Toro 

in  Minneapolis.  Mr.  Jack  Kolb  reported,  at  the  Pullman  Conference,  that  3  oz.  of  PMA 
per  1000  sq.  ft.  gave  excellent  control.  The  material  was  first  sprayed  on  a  carrier 
(milorganite)  and  application  was  made  in  November.  A  second  application  may  be  of 
value  in  mid-winter  if  the  season  has  been  open. 

a  Three  Fungicides  Tested  for  Dollarspot  - California 

Comparative  tests  were  made  by  Professor  P.  A.  Miller,  U . C . L . A .,  using 

Krominate,  Kormad  and  Calo-Clor.  The  test  period  ran  from  June  29th  to  September  6th, 
at  the  U.C.L.A.  Turf  plots.  All  three  fungicides  were  equally  effective  in  these 
tests.  Plots  sprayed  on  July  29th,  with  Krominate,  "Were  noted  as  showing  very 
noticeable  discoloration  and  those  sprayed  with  Calo-Clor  slight  discoloration." 

AN  OPPORTUNITY  FOR  ALL  WESTERN  GOLF  COURSE  SUPERINTENDENTS 

The  dates  are  February  5th  thru  10th,  1956,  at  Long  Beach,  California, 

for  the  27th  National  Turf grass  Conference  and  Show.  Whether  you  are  a  member  of  the 
National  Golf  Course  Superintendents  Association  (GCSA)  or  not,  you  are  urged  to 
attend  these  educational,  informative  and  important  Turfgrass  Meetings,  held  this 
year  in  the  West. 

Concerning  Registration:  —  Agar  M.  Brown,  the  GCSA9s  Executive  Secretary, 

sends  the  following  news:  Registration  fee  for  the  entire  Conference  is  $10.00  for 
non-members  as  well  as  regular  members. 
banquets,  etc.  for  their  fee).  The  exhibits  are  open  to  all  at  no  charge  although 
exhibit  registration  is  requested. 

(Regular  members  receive  other  compensations; 

Green  Chairmen  and  Club  Officials  should  be  encouraged  to  attend  these 

meetings  that  are  being  held  in  the  West  for  the  first  time  in  5  years.  Certainly 
all  Western  Clubs  should  make  it  possible  for  their  Superintendent  to  be  present. 
Time  and  money  are  never  ill-spent  when  knowledge  is  gained. 

THE  BETTER  BENTS  ARE  MOVING  WEST 

The  struggle  to  hold  Poa  annua  and  Seaside  bent  in  most  sections  of  the 

West,  last  summer,  caused  many  a  gray  hair.  We  hope  that  the  tough  growing  weather 
of  1955  will  hasten  the  trend  to  better  bentgrasses  in  the  West. 
may  be  a  blessing  in  disguise.  At  this  very  moment  the  writer  knows  of  only  one 
putting  green,  west  of  Salt  Lake  City,  that  has  an  improved  selection  of  bent  on  i t. 

If  it  does,  1955 

Harold  Stelling,  Superintendent  of  Santa  Ana  C . C .,  California,  tells  us  that  3  years 
ago  No»  1  Green  was  stolonized  to  Arlington  and  Congressional» 
It  has  consistently 
produced  better  putting  surfaces  than  the  17  other  Seaside  and  Poa  annua  greens  on 
his  course» 

One  thousand  miles  from  Santa  Ana,  at  the  Utah  Copper  Course  in  Magna,  Utah, 

one  will  find  the  next  greens  stolonized  in  improved  bents  (Arlington-Congressional)» 
These  are  5  years  old  and  continue  to  out-perform  all  Seaside  greens» 

But  the  trend  has  already  started  and  each  year  more  and  more  Western 

Superintendents  are  trying  Arlington,  Congressional,  Cohansey,  Toronto  and  Pennlu 
on  their  greens  and  in  their  nurseries.  Ken'Putnam,  Seattle  Country  Club,  rebuilt 
and  stolonized  a  green  this  fall  to  Congressional»  Karston  Hansen,  The  Country  Club, 
Salt  Lake  City,  has  a  new  Arlington-Congressional  green  that  went  in  this  year.  The 
Highland  Golf  Club  in  Billings,  Montana,  reports  -¿hat their  Toronto  nursery  was  excel-
lent  and  conversion  of  greens  to  Toronto  starts  next  year.  Don  Caulkins,  Fox  Hills  Men's 
Golf  Club,  Los  Angeles,  has  Pennlu  that  looks  good.  Ted  DeTata,  Green  Hills  C»  C ., 
Millbrae,  Calif,  has  Toronto  under  test  and  is  doing  well. 
bird  C.  C .,  Palm  Springs,  Calif»  gave  Cohansey  no  special  attention  at  all  this  year  and 
it  has  produced  well  in  the  nursery.  W.  H.  White,  Green  Valley  C.  C»,  Suisun,  Calif, 
reports  Cohansey  going  well. 
Jim  Haines,  Denver  C.  C .,  Denver,  Colorado,  has  one  of 
the  original  ¥tPie-shapeds?  greens  established  in  the  late  1930* s.  Toronto  and  Cohansey 
look  the  best.  Bill  Beresford,  Los  Angeles  C.  C .,  Los  Angeles,  made  his  own  selection 
(Los  Angeles  Bent)  and  it  looks  good.  Chuck  Priday,  HLllcrest  C.  C .,  Los  Angeles, 
reports  that  Toronto  is  his  favorite  over  many  others  tested 
and  so  it  goes. 
Apologies  to  those  fellows  we  have  not  mentioned,  but  our  congratulations  too 
giving  these  bents  an  opportunity  to  perform.  We  would  appreciate  hearing  your  comments 
and  would  like  to  pass  them  on  to  a l l. 

J.  D.  Kilpatrick,  Thunder-

for 

If  you  haven't  tried  one  or  two  of  these  grasses  in  your  nursery,  why  not 

plan  now  for  next  year?  Let's  find  out  whether  they  are  any  better  than  Seaside 
under  your  conditions. 

-if 

-if  -if  -if  -if  -if  -if  -if  -if  -if  -if  -if  -if  -if  -if  -if  -if  -if  -if  -if  -if  -if 

nThe  measure  of  success  is  not  whether  you  have  a  tough 
problem  to  deal  with,  but  whether  i t 's  the  same  problem 
you  had  last  year." 

John  Foster  Dulles 

Mr.  0.  J.  Boer 
Milwaukee  Sewerage  Cormsis.sion 
Jones  Is land 
Uilwaukee,  Wis.