UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION GREEN SECTION EASTERN REGION NORTHEASTERN DISTRICT MID-ATLANTIC DISTRICT R U T G E RS U N I V E R S I TY N EW B R U N S W I C K. N EW J E R S EY 7 11 W E ST A V E N UE J E N K I N T O W N. P E N N S Y L V A N IA EASTERN TURFLETTER ALEXANDER M. RADKO E A S T E RN D I R E C T OR CHARLES K. HALLOWELL M I D - A T L A N T IC D I R E C T OR RAYMOND E. HARMAN N O R T H E A S T E RN A G R O N O M I ST JAMES R. K O L L E TT NORTHEASTERN AGRONOMIST No. 2 April 1961 Kollett Newest Staff Member James R. Kollett recently was appointed to the Green Section Staff...Jim Is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island with B.S. and M.S. degrees in Agronomy where he studied under Dr. DePrance..* Jim will work out of the Northeastern District of the Eastern Region. Play It Safe With Poisons With the Spring season some thought is always given to the pesticide programs for the year ahead, and it seems appropriate at this time also to give a little thought to the extremely im- portant subject of pesticide poisoning and what to do in case it should happen to you. Each year new pesticides are placed on the market and it seems that more and more of these materials are being worked into the course maintenance programs. This Increases chances for accidental poisoning, even under good super- vision. It is therefore extremely important that all safeguards possible be employed in the battle against accidents with pesticides. These materials should be kept under lock and key...workers must be taught to respect these materials...workers must know how to safely handle them...superintendents must have an emergency plan of procedure. Most superintendents have a spare drawer or cabinet in their office or shop set-up...it is suggested that it be set aside for FIRST AID alone...that it contain any and all information import- ant to emergency care of workers...a first aid book, some bandages, some medicines, and most important a file card index of the active ingredient of each pesticide used on the course and the recommended antidote for each. Employees should be informed of this FIRST AID drawer, its location, its purpose, and how to use it. Don't depend on your ability to quickly put your hands on a labeled container for antidotes...these are easily misplaced, and after use, labels often are Illegible. The card Index file should also contain the names and telephone numbers of the Poison Control Centers (see our October 1958 Eastern Turfletter - if you don't have one write us), also emergency rescue services and hospitals...take time to check your present FIRST AID KIT or to get this information to- gether while you are thinking about it...as a golf course super- intendent you not only have the responsibility for the condition of your course, but you are equally responsible for the safety of your employees...play it safe..-be prepared! Snowmold Severe in Parts of the Region This winter conditions were favorable for increased, and for some apparently severe attacks of snowmold...this disease is caused by a fungus...It is one that attacks grass in cold weather.•.snow is not necessary to the disease incidence but oftentimes conditions that result from ice, snow, and thaw often accelerates disease severity. While it is too early at this writing to predict just how severe a turf injury will result, there are small areas that injury seems to be rather severe. In normal years injury from snowmold is not really troublesome where correct preventative fungicides are applied - usually one treat- ment in Pall and one treatment during a winter thaw. In Spring also it is usually advisable to apply some mercurlcal fungicides if any Infestations occur...this helps to check any active fungus and deters germination of fungus spores present. One of the results of snowmold attacks whether mild or other- wise, the permanent turf weakens and gives way to weeds such as Poa annua, chickweed, PearXwort to name a few. On the Canadian golf courses the C-19 Congressional strain of creeping bentgrass has been found to be highly resistant to snowmold and in areas where this disease is an annual problem, more C-19 18 being used. Knotweed - Germinates in April During the past several years Knotweed has been a problem in fairway and tee areas on several Northeastern golf courses. This weed is obnoxious in that one plant at maturity may cover a couple of square feet and will seed prolifically to perpetuate Itself from year to year. Knotweed germinates in this area during the first two weeks in April...like death and taxes...you can count on it. The seedling plant seems to 11 sit still" for quite a while In Spring...usually when the permanent turf grasses begin to falter and thin out. If it should become HOT and DRY as the summer pro- gresses Knotweed really thrives under these conditions...Unfortunately at this time and under conditions of heat and dryness the risk of damaging turfgrasses becomes more acute...so it makes good sense to go after Knotweed in the seedling stage...when it is easiest to kill this weed pest...and when conditions are right for safe treatment with herbicides. Sodium arsenlte is effective at .rates about one pound actual to the acre in three treatments at 7 to 10 day intervals... rates can be adjusted to climatic conditions at the time of application in April...if cool and moist slightly higher rates could be used, up to lbs. per acre...if April generally is dry and warm about 3A'8 should be adequate for one treat- ment... be sure there is moisture in the soil the day of treat- ment in any ease. Cure for Dutch Elm? Recently there have been numerous articles and much publicity about "sure-cures" for Dutch Elm disease...one advises the use of zinc coated nails driven into the tree...which would act as a blight preventative...the others have to do with materials injected into the tree. At recent conferences and in correspondence with responsible people at the Universities who have studied this problem for some time now the general consensus of opinion and fact is that at the present time there is no known proven control or preventative for the Dutch Elm Disease. Sanitation to reduce the number of bark "beetles which transmit the fungus, and spraying to protect healthy trees from being innocu- lated with the fungus by the beetles are helpful. This is a DORMANT spray before the buds break...which is quite different from the ONE TO CONTROL the Elm Leaf Beetle in JUNE...don't confuse the two spray treatments.. .A JUNlTgPRAY WON'T HELP WITH DUTCH ELM DISEASE. Spraying alone is not a guarantee for adequate control...a program of sanitation does a great deal to limit beetle populations in a given area...this involves the removal and burning of all diseased trees and any material capable of breeding the elm bark beetle carriers of the fungus that causes the disease. We wish to stress that even though these treatments are not 100$ effective, they are the best treatments available at this time...if any new Msure-cures" are placed on the market soon, be sure to check them out with your Agricultural Experiment Station before you "buy" it. A Couple of Spring Thoughts now... Check drainage and seepage areas and mark them for correction Don't begin to Irrigate early in the season...give the grass roots a chance to dig for water...once you start irrigating you usually must continue...grasses may turn off color but they don't die in Spring for the lack of water. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** "Doing little things well is a step toward doing big things better." « * Eastern Turfletter USGA GREEN SECTION Dr. Jaases Watson Research Division Toro Manufacturing Company 82nd & Lindale Minneapolist Minn. B U LK S. U. R A TE P O S T A GE PAW P E R M IT N O. 3 66 N EW B R U N S W I C K. N. J.