Vol. 4 No. 5 September - October 1956 Here We Go I B A CK TO S C H O OL Onto the campuses of Western Colleges this fall came the Golf Course Superintendents. They were attending their Annual State Turf Conferences and sought the latest in research, techniques and trickeries of growing good golfing turf. Here are some of their notes: Snowmold TURF DISEASES f,Snowmold is possibly the most serious turf disease in the northern United States,11 says Dr. James Watson, Toro Manufacturing Co. came from 4 ounces of Calo-Clor per 1000 sq. feet, when mixed with either top dressing or Milorganite. This should be applied after the ground is frozen but before the first snow. Re-apply if snow cover a l t e r n a t e s —- Dr. C. J. Gould, Puyallup Experi- ment Station, Washington, found that preliminary trials with Mycostatin (a new anti- biotic not on the market) showed great promise for snowmold control. "Our best results this year Red Thread - Fairy ring Dr. Gould found Red Thread to be a slow grower but nevertheless serious. Temperatures over 70 degrees, plus high moisture, are needed for growth. Cadmium, or the mercuries, gave control. Fairy ring is continuing to be checked with 1 .5 ounces of PMA, plus a wetting agent, when applied monthly. ( If you try any of these use a small area first for test purposes) WEED CONTROLS Dallisgrass Nr. Charlie Wilson, Milwaukee Sewerage Commission, sends word that Florida Superintendents have had success in controlling Dallisgrass with 2 quarts of Di- sodium methyl arsenate (Crab-E-Rad; Di-Met; Sodar; e t c .) one quart of 2,4-D, one pint of a wetter-sticker, and 25 pounds of ammonium sulfate in 100 gals, of water per acre. Chickweed, Lambs-Quarter, Dog fennel, Annual grasses and Oxalis In Western Oregon and Western Washington, "Karmex" DW herbicide is being recommended to control such weeds as chickweed, lambs-quarter, dog fennel, and some annual grasses in plantings of raspberries, blackberries and related cane berries. One or two applications of two to three pounds per acre are required. Oxalis control has been reported in California with two to three pounds of "Karmex" D per acre. Seedling stage applications give best results. Clover, Silver Crab, Knotweed and Foxtail Mr. John Gallagher, American Chemical Paint Company, made the following suggestions for control of "Silver Crabgrass - PMAS (7 pints) plus 2,4-D ( 1 /2 pint) per acre. Foxtail Knotweed Clover - Di-sodium methyl arsonate. - Di-sodium methyl arsenate - seedling stage. - 2,4,5-T at the 1 l b. per acre rate for bluegrass; or 2 applications at 1/4 l b. per acre for bentgrass. An inexpensive way to prevent clover seed head formation is to apply 1/8 l b. of 2,4,5-T per acre in the early spring.n OBSERVATIONS ON GRASSES Seeded U-3 Bermuda Can U-3 Bermuda be propagated from seed? NO'. — seems to be the answer furnished by UCLA test plots. Dr. V. Youngner, Department of Floriculture and Ornamental Horticulture, established a planting of "certified U-3 Bermudagrass seed" this spring. From this planting he selected over 40 seedlings at random and set these in a field row. By late summer there were many strains of bermudagrass-—but none that looked like U-3. The majority of plants were coarser than common bermuda. "Extremely variable and definitely not U-3 Bermudagrass" were Dr. Youngner1s comments. Merion Bluegrass and Pannlawn Mr. Milt Bauman, Superintendent at Overlake Country Club, near Seattle, Washington, has an outstanding two year old tee of Merion bluegrass. 2% lbs. per 1000 sq. f t. and now maintain it at 1/2 inch cut. severe winter of 1955-56 much better than any other grass." "We seeded at It came through the Mr. Glen Proctor, Superintendent at Rainier Golf Club, Seattle, Washington, reports that "Common bluegrass froze out in the 1955-56 winter, but Merion did very w e l l. Pannlawn has formed a good tight cover with fair color. It has been slow to recover from divots, however." In a bluegrass study at the University of California, Davis, California, Dr. John Madison is screening over 80 bluegrass hybrids selected from throughout the country. They will be screened for their potential as superior bluegrass strains. Because of work like Dr. Madison1s, the entire bluegrass seed picture may change. The seed growers are already making selections of bluegrass for specific growing conditions. Mr. Ardin Jacklyn, seed producer of Dishman, Washington, tells of selections that have been made with the ability to mix well with other grasses, 'Arboretum 1 and 'Park* are a few of the selec- to form a good tight sod. tions under test. it forms a disappointing turf. When sown with fescues and bents, however, it is superior to common bluegrass. 'Delta' seems to be the outstanding "Mixer." When sown alone, 'Delta,1 A KEY TO TURFGRASSES Colorado A. & M. has published an excellent bulletin on "Colorado Turf- grasses, Basic Facts about Grasses, and A Key for Identification" - all under one cover. Fifty drawings are presented, illustrating the important characters of each grass. Dr. Jess L. Fults, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, is the author and the publication is "Circular 2663, Extension Service, Colorado A, & M ., Fort Collins, Colorado. An excellent addition to your f i l e s. NUTRITION There is a need for iron1. Fertilizer plot trials on fairway turf at Idaho Falls and Colorado A. & M. showed a definite response to iron applications. Plots receiving iron were consistently better in color and to. Chuck Drage, Colorado Extension Specialist, reports: Ferrous Ammonium Sulfate." "A definite herbicidal value has been noticed with "Protein is required in plant growth. 167* of protein is nitrogen. There- fore, new growth means nitrogen. -- Potash is important too. plants in strengthening tissues and in food (carbohydrate) production" stated Dr. A. Stark, Wasatch Chemical Company. It is utilized by MAINTENANCE "Slow down your green mower operator," suggests Dr. 0. J. Noer, Milwaukee "The successful mowing of greens should not be judged by the Sewerage Commission. time required but by the least amount of damage to turf on the collars." Mr. Ken Bricknell, Superintendent, and Mr. Howard Capps, Professional at The Desert Inn course, Las Vegas, Nevada, stated that"one of the best things we ever did for our greens was to mow them seven days a week." "Maintaining good soil structure is one of the most important factors in "Good fertility minimizing compaction" says Mr. Tom Mascaro, West Point Products. levels and good watering practices make for good soil structure," School1s Out "A fellow must do a lot of reading and studying these days to keep up with the fast changing times and methods of farming if he expects to be able to compete with the other fellow who does!" — TENNESSEE FARMER U. S. GOLF ASSOCIATION GKEEN SECTION WESTERN OFFICE 1709 West Eighth Street Los Angeles 17, California Mr. C h a r l e3 ä'ilson, Argronoaiist Milwaukee Sewerage Commission Milwaukee 1, Wisconsin BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID Los Angeles, Calif. Permit No. 19900