BOWLING NOTES

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11709, 22 December 1923, Page 5 (Supplement)

BOWLING NOTES

THE CENTRE TOURNAMENT MAKING AND LEVELLING OF GREENS

THE PENNANTS LADDER

DOMINION TOURNAMENT

SMOKER REPLACES CONVERSAZIONE. It is interesting to note that the bowlers who were anticipating beiDg ablo to attend a bowlers’ conversazione in Christchurch during tournament week are likely to bo disappointed. The tournament committee decided at a recent meeting to hold a smoke concert in place of the proposed conversazione.

ROTORUA TOURNAMENT

The entries for the first Rotorua bowling tournament are now closed, and a number of applications have already been received for the second one to be held shortly afterwards. These tournaments are becoming more popular every year, and it is expected that the entry this year will constitute a record. The number must, however, be limited by the greens available, and those desiring to participate should make an early application. For the first tournament Wellington teams have been entered by Major Davey, F. Marshall, and E. J. Hill.

CENTRE TOURNAMENT

FALLING-OFF IN ENTRIES. The entries for the Wellington Centre tournament closed with a total number of 56 teams. This is eight less than the number of entries for last year’s tournamant, and ten less than the entries for 1921. Included in the ontries is one team from Masterton, this being the only rink from ontside the centre. This team has for several seasons past been a patron of the , Wellington tournament, and has usually held a prominent position. The team, no doubt, hopes that its constant, effort will eventually be crowned with success. The reduction in the number of entries received is not to be wondered at. A glance round any one of the pavilions will show the large number of tournaments which are now being held locally and throughout the Dominion. The walls of the club houses are not sufficiently large to hold all the posters. This cannot be considered altogether a good thing, and it may be necessary to provide for some stricter regu+ lation of these matters. It does not seem altogether desirable that the controlling bodies should prohibit those who wish to run a tournament from doing so; but the authorities concerned should oertainly discourage an undue multiplicity of these events. No doubt in time a natural cure will be effected, as these tournaments which aro not well patronised will disappear.. THE SECTIONS DISCUSSED. The entries for the Wellington tournament have been divided into five sections, two being composed of ten teams and three of twelve teams each. This makes a comfortable tournament to handle, and also provides a good measure of healthy competition. No doubt those who are participating in the contest are endeavouring to compare the strength of the different sections. Looking over the draw, however, there does not appear to be any section particularly weak nor any with an undue number of prominont players. In all of them it will be found that there are at least three skips who have in tho past been successful and made names for themselves as good bowlers. In Section A, Powell (Wellington) has a strong team; while Thomson (Thorndon) was very prominent at the last tournament, and Tucker (Victoria) is always a player to be reckoned with. In Section B we find Porteous (Wellington), a winner of many tournaments; Sexton, of Newtown, with a strong team; and also Snadden, of Victoria, a very capablo player, and one difficult to beat. At tho head of the list of Section C is E. J. Hill (Wellington), whose game during the last few seasons has been equal to anything shown within the centre. Routley, of Kel r burn, has championships in his record; and Reid, of Lyall Bay, is a solid and courageous player. In Section D, Martin, of Hataitai, reached the semi-finals in last year’s tournament; and we also have Perry, of Masterton, and Gooder (Wellington), both of whom are generally found among tho section winners. Halliday, of Hataitai, is sure to have a strong team in Section E; so also is his olub mate, Feilding; and Churchward is a player with a great record in past pears; while Bracfcenridge, senior, who has qualified for the Veterans’ Match, is probably one of the best-known playors in the Dominion. With all these elements in each section a very keen and interesting tournament i|’ assured. There is always, too, the chance, and one that often comes off, that an unknown competitor may come to light and carry off palm against those with old-established records.

OUR CREENB

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THEM? AN ANSWER BY HARRY A. riRRIE. SCOTTISH EXPERT. I noticed in a recent issue of the “New Zealand Times” "A Bowler” commenting on green levelling (writes Mr Harry A. Pirrie, a Soott.ish export). I have only been a few months in the Dominion, : lid must, therefore, have a somewhat limited experience of the methods adopted, but ‘i seems that a good depth of fine sifted soil is believed to be the proper thing in laying down greens here, and to top-

uiess every year with soil. I have not, of course, yet been able to study the local climatic conditions, but I think a green formed and worked in this manner wilL not be a success, and will always be p source of trouble. By using soil in the bottom of a green a bed is made for worms—useful in pastoral land; but very objectionable in a bowling green. The annual top-dressing with soil provides further encouragement for worms. Further, under the influence of the prevailing dry winds, in the spring of the year the greens become almost as hard as concrete by raid season, exaggerated by undue heavy rolling. There can be no root action under these conditions, and in damp weather moss and fairy rings are produced, which in turn give out. and bare patches appear. Recourse is then made to the use of chemical manures. These provide a temporary stimulant, and the result is quickly seen by the nice velvet appearance produced. There is, however, no lasting' benefit Arom them, and the effect of constant use of chemical manures is to draw all the nourishment from the roots to the surface. I fear that these stimulating manures are used too frequently. The adoption of other methods to produce root growth is much belter, and chemicals should only be used in very small quantities under expert advice. Now, with respect to top-dressing, it is necessary, of course, that the grass should be shaved down as low* as possible, before operations are commenced*, in order that each part of the area should receive its due proportion The top-dressing should bo very slight and should disappear in a few days if there is any growth in the grass. As far as I am able to observe, after my few months residence here, 1 am inclined to think that if the same methods as those in use in Scotland and in England, had been adopted here in laying the foundation of the greens, there would be less difficulty in adjusting levels, and the greens would be more free from the sicknesses which are prevalent. The foundation is made by removing about 18 inches of the soil, all round the sides of the green, and to a depth of six inches in the centre, leaving the bottom crown shaped. Then Till up to the level of the centre with clinkers and fine ashes. On top of this Ihreo inches of sand are spread, and the levels token. The turf is then laid diagonally. I understand that there is a difficulty in obtaining suitable turf in New Zealand. In this case it would be better to have two parts sand, one part soil to a depth of three inches, in which grass seed could be sown. Top-dress ©very year with sand. It is always advisable to sprinkle a little slacked lime on top of the ashes, to destroy poisonous gasses should there be any. It will be ffctund' that by natural processes the sand would 6oon be turned into soil; but soil of a very different nature to that which under rolling resembles something almost as hard as a block of concrete. The adjustment of levels on such a green is simple. Any ascertained low places should be__raiaed up with .a straight pronged fork, and sand brushed in. After - the levels have been so adjusted the green might be top-dressed aIL over so that each part gets an equal share • in fact a green should never be

levelled with top-dressing. It should be levelled first, and then top-dressed, and by top-dressing with sand, all the defects can be adjusted quite simply with the fork. Such a procedure would* of course, bo impossible on the greens in Wellington. It has been found that a green laid on sand, retains the moisture at the roots, and may yet'b© quite dry on top. Where sand is buried under the turf it always retains moisture—not so with soil. Several public greens in England were laid down with soil, but were generally failures. Some twelve years ago sapd was adopted with great results; and, though my experience of conditions here is necessarily limited. I feel sure that if these methods had been adopted in Wellington in laying down the greens

very much better results would have been obtained. NEW ZEALAND BEATS NEW SOUTH WALES. "New Zealand, with smaller population, can boast of 15,000 bowlers against 5000 in New South Wales/* So said Mr Wall in his latest speech on the prospects of the game in New South Wales. An endeavour is to be made to wake up the prospective bowlers of that State from their slumbers.

SENIOR PENNANTS SECTION A. Wins. Losses. Victoria 0 Lyall Bay 1 Wellington 1 Karori 1 2 Seatoun 3 Island Bay 3 SECTION B. Wins. Losses. Newtown 3 0 Hutt 3 i Petonft 1 Central 3 Thorndon 3 Johneon'ville 0 4 JUNIOR PENNANT SECTION A. Wins. Losses. Johnson ville 3 1 Central 1 Thorndon 2 2 Kelburn 2 Victoria 2 1 3 SECTION B. Wins. Losses. Brail Bay ... 2 1 Seatoun 2 1 Newtown 1 3 Island Bay 1 2 Karori 1 3