GREENKEEPING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 54, 3 February 1937, Page 2

GREENKEEPING

ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE. LECTURES AND DEMONSTRATIONS. Representing the leading golf clubs throughout New Zealand, about 30 greenkeepers opened the fifth annual conference of their association, yesterday', in Palmerston North, with a study of greenkeeping research during the past year. A welcome was extended to the delegates by Mr A. Seifert, president of the association and chairman of the Greens Research Committee, who commented upon the representative attendance. While the distance and time had made matters difficult for some of the delegates to attend the conference, he was sure that the knowledge they would gain would amply compensate them for the trouble and expense they had gone to. Mr Seifert mentioned that they would get more benefit from the present conference than from those of past years, because the longer the research activities extended the greater was their worth. He explained that a splendid range of subjects had been drawn up by the experts for discussion, and pointed out the value of cooperative work. Individual effort could not count for much. Greenkeeping in these days was the work of experts, and much more was required of them than in the past. It was consequently essentia) that they should study their activities. Mr Seifert referred with regret to the death of Mr J. Smart (Hutt Club) who was one of the foundation members of the association. Members stood in silence as a mark of respect. INSPECTION OF PLOTS.

The chairman’s address was followed in the morning by an inspection of the experimental plots on the Hokowhitu golf course, which were explained by Mr W. M. Horton, and a lecture by Mr E. A. Madden, H.D.A. In the afternoon Dr. H. H. Allan, systematic botanist, of the Plant Research Station, spoke on grasses for sports ground, and Mr N. It. Foy. B.Sc., seed analyst, Department of Agriculture, on seed selection, purity and germination. Arrangements were made for Mr It. M. Brien, Diploma Agriculture, Mycological Department, Plant Research Bureau, to lecture to-day on fungi fairy-ring and other turf diseases; Mr W. Cottier, M.Sc., entomological department, Plant Research Bureau, on grass grub, porina and earthworms; and Mr B. W. Doak, M.Sc., chemist, Plant Research Bureau, on nitrogenous manures and their action in the soil. For the afternoon the annual gif competitions had been arranged, followed in the evening by a lecture by Air A. Beil, secretary oi the Greenkeepers’ Association, who will read a paper on machinery and its upkeep; Mr F. Hazeklene, head greenkeeper; Akarana golf course, who will read a paper on coring greens and mechanical treatment; and Air A. B. Ihle, head greenkeeper, Belmont Gob Coarse, Wanganui, who will read a paper on fertilising putting greens without a water supply. To-morrow Air J. Galloway, head greenkeeper, Titirangi Golf Course, will read a paper on spraying One.hunga weed with arsenic pentoxide ; Air T. Easterbrook, Shirley golf course, will read a paper on watering greens and fairways; Mr H. Gough, head greenkeeper, St. Andrew’s golf course, will read a paper on applying fertiliser and weed killers with a spray jet on the hose line; and Afr W. M. Horton field advisory officer and 6upervrsor’of research, will lecture on the application of the science of greenkeeping practice. “METHODS OF TREATMENT.

In the course of his lecture yesterday. on various manurial treatments, Mr Madden pointed out the merits or otherwise of the many different kinds of fertilisers, incidentally instructing greenkeepers in the methods of treatment in a manner that could be appreciated and understood. An interesting feature of the lecture was the action of nitrogenous fertilisers on the production of clean turt desirable for fairways and putting greens. I be point that struck visitors most was the almost perfect turf in a large plot of some 400 square yards produced under modern methods without hand weeding. Mr Madden emphasised the merits of Chewing’s fescue as a combination with Government certified brown top, and pointed out that the plots "here Chewing’s fescue blended with other grasses were certainly outstanding. It was pleasing to know that New Zealand grown seed is far better than any imported seed for lawns and putting greens and that Australia, land and America place a very high value on New Zealand seed. Mr Madden handled the subject in a most able manner and the visitors spent a most enjoyable morning. In the afternoon, Dr. Allan gave an address on the agrostis genus. He dealt with the technical side of these botanical species in a manner that could be easily understood, at the same time describing the points of identification from a botanist s viewpoint. He outlined briefly the methods of describing plants from the foundation established by Linnaire as far back as 1750. , Delegates were conducted over the seed analysing station of Mr N. It. l'oy and had an opportunity of seeing the staff at work checking many samples of seed for purity and germination A visit was later paid to the 1 almerston North Bowling _ Club, where Mr W. M. Horton explained how the green had been dug up and laid down from bare ground in May last year. It is now in excellent order and many howlers were engaged in games on the green. It was opened for play hve months from the time it was sown. The work of restoring the green was supervised by the research officer and carried out by the members of the chib who are to lie congratulated for the splendid condition of their green. * GROWTH OF ASSOCIATION. The growth in strength of the Greenkeepers’ Association was indicated at the annual meeting, last night when representatives of clubs from throughout the Dominion were present. Mr A. Seifert presided over an attendance of more than 25 members The chairman reported that pleasing news was to hand to the effect that an increased grant had been made by the New Zealand Golf Council in order to further research work. This endeavour was no doubt of great service to golfers, and the full value of the work could be secured only by the increased grant, which would enable Mr W. M. Horton, the advisory officer, to travel further afield and come into closer contact with other clubs in order that their peculiar difficulties could he better studied. The fifth annual report of the association recorded with regret tile death of a foundation member, Mr J. Smart. Seven members had resigned, while ten had been elected, the membership now standing at 46, with the future pointing to a further increase. The finances were in a healthy .state, the audited balance-sheet showing a credit of £39 ss, which, with the addition of late subscriptions, now stood at £43. Not a great deal of greenkeeping educational literature had been received during the year, but the English Research Board had sent its jouri nals. Several clubs had utilised the

association’s services when filling vacancies on tlieir staffs. The outstanding feature of the year was the appointment of Mr Horton as advisory officer. The association owed a debt of gratitude to the Golf Council for making this selection, as Mr Horton was not only a “live wire,” but was proving in a practical manner to clubs and greenkeepers the value of research works. Thanks were due to the president (Mr Seifert) and others who had furthered the interests of the association.

In moving the adoption of the report, Mr A. H. Ihle said he considered that, for the short time the association had been in operation, its position was most satisfactory. The credit balance indicated that the secretary had been working along the right lines. The chairman added his congratulations, stating they were wise in keeping their finances in a healthy condition. The steady growth of the association was most encouraging. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: —President, Mr A. Taeifert; vice-presidents, Messrs IV. M. Horton (Palmerston North), F. W. Hobbs (Christchurch), M. H. Godby (Christchurch), G. H. Holford (Auckland), G. O. Sutton (Wellington), A. D. S. Duncan (Masterton), H. B. Lusk (Auckland), B. F. Keiller (Palmerston North), H. W. Cooke (Auckland), H. Thropp (Christchurch), F. C. Fryer (Hastings), S. Eaton (Dannevirke), H. K. Adamson (Wellington), W. A. Kiely (Wellington) and Dr. Appleby (Bay of Plenty) ; chairman of .executive, Mr T. Easterbrook (Christchurch) ; executive committee, Messrs T. M. Milligan (Heretaunga), J. Gallowav (Titirangi), J. Harvey (Invercargill) and G. Ryde (Rotorua); bon. auditor, H. Simmons (Invercargill); secretary and treasurer, Mr A. Bill (Lower Hutt). The chairman referred to the fine work Mr Horton had done to, organise the conference for the secretary; its success was due largely to the work he had done in this direction.

The secretary was voted an honorarium of five guineas. Mr Horton referred to the interest members were taking in the research work. Any knowledge that could be gained in the improvement of the greens and fairways must tend tp increase the popularity of the game, and thus the Golf Council would be fully recouped for the financial assistance it was giving to further work, he said. There were still some of the major clubs who were not prepared to assist their greenkeepers to attend the annual conferences, while smaller clubs could not afford the expense. However, the benefits to be derived would continue to become more widely recognised, and the early work of the association members would become justified.