BOWLING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19333, 20 November 1924, Page 5

BOWLING.

By Jack.

Bowlers on Saturday were favoured with ideal weather conditions for tho inter-club games, and the greens consequently were keen and in their best condition. The Dunedin Club did well in winning five sections out of six. Jn nearly every instance the games wore closely contested, instance the games wore closely contested, no more than seven points separating the winners and losers in live sections. Dunedin mot their old rivals in two sections, and honours were easy at the close of hostilities, Dunedin having the advantage in one section to the extent of five points and Caledonian winning tho other by a single point. The most notable scores on the Dunedin side were Stephens's 23 to Amtnian's 9 and Hogg’s 24 to Cavanagh’s 13. Caledonian’s most successful skips were Emslie (23 to KtewaiTs 14) and Farrell (20 to Johnson's 12). Dunedin's two sections which met Bnlmaccwen each finished with a winning margin of six points. For Dunedin Harraway put on 28 to Morrison’s 10. 'but this was evened up by M'Donald (B.J scoring 23 to Nelson's 10. Dunedin also defeated St. Clair in twc. •sections. St. Kilda added two points to their total by defeating C'avorsham in three sections and West Ilarbour in one. Harris (fit. K.) scored 25 to Mnllenger’s (W.H.) 12. ft is a coincidence (hat Harris, who has skipped a winning rink in each of tho three games played this season, has scored 25 points in each game. North-Fast Valley sustained their first reverse this season in Saturday’s game, going down in two sections to Kaituna and defeating Port Chalmers in tho other. Tho winning margin in each instance was very small. West Harbour defeated Roslyn comfortably in ono section, and secured a onepoint win. Mornington finished ono Up and ono down against Pt. Glair, and easily accounted for Otago in one section, thus securing tho maximum points. Otago also met Green Island in two sections, winning ono and losing one. and defeated Leith -by a substantial margin. Roslyn lost in each of their four sections .—one to West Harbour, ono to Kaikorai. and two to Taieri. Taieri went down to Caledonian in ono section, but scored a two-point win. Caledonian had to bo content with one point. They suffered defeat at the hands of Anderson’s Bay, Campbell’s 29 to Henaghnn’s 13 being the principal factor m Caledonian's downfall. Up to tho present. Caledonian appear to have been without the services of several of their more experienced players, including Tv. Foster and C. Tillio. Kaituna added another two points to their total by defeating North-East Valley in two sections and Kaikorai in one section. Fletcher had a big win over Rigby (N.E.V.) —33 points to 13. On the seventh head tho Kaituna skip led 7—6, 21 —8 on the fourteenth, and 33—13 on the twentyfirst. Rhodes (N.E.V.) defeated Stevenson by 30 to 15. He led on the seventh head 7—3, on (he fourteenth Stevenson was ono up, but Rhodes finished with a - score of 20 to 13. Tonkin and J, Sanders had an interesting game. Tonkin led B—68 —6 on the seventh end, 18—-14 on the fourteenth, and 25 —18 on the twenty-first. Owen (N.E.V.) carried ■ too many guns for Gale. Ho led by four points on the seventh head, eight points on the fourteenttq and he maintained this lead to tho finish. T. Sanders quickly established a lead against Wright (N.E.V.), and finished with a margin of seven points in his favour. Shepherd (K.) and Snecstou (Valley) played a verjp closely contested game, tho result being in doubt until the final bowl was played, which left the Kaituna skip two up. Mornington placed another two points to their credit at the expense of St. Clair and Otago—one section each. Smith (Mornington) proved too good for Smith (St. Clair), scoring 25 to the latter’s 12. Barclay (Mornington) made a fine recovery in his game against Howarth (St. Clair). Ho had scored only two shots at the afternoon tea adjournment to hia opponent’s 12. From then on Howarth scored only six to Barclay's 19. Tho result was a win for Barclay by 21 to 18. Against Otago, Whelan (Mornington), who was behind for a number of heads, crept up, and drew with Falconer. Holgat.e and Perry fMovnington) hud easy wins of 12 and 10 respectively The following table shows the results of Saturday's inter-club games, together with the total banner ponds scored by each club-

* Balmacewen will play one section against Out ram on November 29. At a meeting last week of representatives of clubs interested in instituting mid-week games the following entries were received. — St. Clair and St. Kilda, three rinks each; Otago, Roslyn, N.E. Valley, Balmacewen. Anderson’s Bay, and Kaikorai. two rinks each; and Morningtor and Kaituna, one rink each; —mnkiftg a total of 20 rinks. It was decided to play the first gome on Wednesday, November 26, and a round will then bo played each week. Messrs Tamblyn (St. Kilda), Robson (Otago), and Thos. Smith (St. Clair) were appointed an executive to carry out the necessary arrangements. Regret was expressed at the unfortunate and sudden illness of Mr J. James, who was the prime mover in connection with these mid-week games, and it was hoped that he would soon be sufficiently restored to health to take part in the games. A large entry for the Dunedin Centres doubles tournament, to be hold at Christmas, is anticipated. Entries close about the middle of December. TREATMENT OF GREENS. Sir,— ln vindication of a promise made by me on ■ ctober 23 I now wish to give some notes regarding the above question, and would appreciate your assistance in that direction. The following notes will perhaps servo as a guide to green supervisors and greenkeepers in maintaining a high state ol efficiency in connection with their greens. The supervisor should make a careful examination of the green immediately on clo-sing down. If it is found that the green is full of weeds, moss, or bare places, it is a foregone conclusion that, the green cannot be reconditioned by fertiliser alone, and it should be treated as follows:—Have the soil tested for lime, and if it is found to he deficient, dress it with finely ground carbonate of lime at the rate of I,lb per square yard. Before doing so, however, proceed as follows: Remove its many weeds as possible 'by treating them individually with weed killer according to circumstances. Cut the grass as closely as possible, and if it contains any coarse or benty grasses with procumbent stems, brush it severely with a stiff broom in order to rouse them or lift them with a rake, and then out again. Apply the carbonate of lime in the proportion mentioned, and note here that it must be finely ground. If 50 per cent, passes a 100-mcsh screen, the fineness of grinding will be sufficient. Rake the turf severely, 'but with judgment, in order to remove any dead herbage, moss, etc., work in the lime, and open up the surface without doing unnecessary damage to the existing turf, hut it must be remembered that turf will stand a lot of punishment, and unless the scarifying is well done the best results w-ill not be obtained. Now dress the green with fertiliser, giving it Iho full rate of two ounces per square yard mixed with twice its weight of sifted soil, and again work in with the rake. The sowing of the seed and top-dressing can (hen bo carried out as usual. 'The green should be sown witii seed selected to suit it, and remember to aim at a uniform turf. If a particular grass is usually sown continue doing so. but do not sow a mixture. Opinions on this point are many and varied, hut I think the main effort should be to get the turf as dense as possible, and a mixture of grasses, to a very large degree, seems to strike against that principle. The amount for resowing the green will be from 20 to 251 b, and the seed should bo sown Ihickly whore the turf is poor and thin and thinly where it is fair fo good, If is not a very easy matter to sow a sma 11 q uantity of seed evenly, and if is a wise practice to divide the seed into two portions, sowing half over the whole surface one way and the remainder the other way. This method will give a much more even distribution. The sowing

of seed is inclined to bring the small bird nuisance into prominence, and it is better to moisten the seed with a little turps and mix with red lead. FERTILISING. This is a subject of paramount importance in the welfare of a green, and is a subject which is hardly understood. Much damage can bo done through the indiscriminate use of artificial manures, and it is essential that ground supervisors and greenkeepers should know something of the nature and needs of tho soil, something of the demands made upon it by the turf, and something of the fertiliser to be used. The value of a fertiliser docs not depend on its total percentage of nitrogen, phosphate of lime, etc., "out upon the percentage of those constituents which the growing turf can utilise. That is the question which must bo considered, what foods to supply, when to apply them, and whether they should bo in the soluble or insoluble form. There are a good many substances that contain a high percentage of one or oilier fertilising constituents, but the constituents are in such an inert form that they afford little or no nourishment to the turf. They analyse well, but are bad fertilisers. Tho plant, asks for food, and is given not exactly a stone but something nearly as hard The truth of (he foregoing is striking proof of the wisdom of using manures which are mixed in suitable proportions. While it is abundantly clear that the use of manures pays a club handsomely, yet itr is certain that in not a few cases the results come far short of what they might be. Too many clubs use fertilisers without any regard to the special needs of theii greens, often buying unsuitable mixtures, using ilargo or small quantities and using them impartially. That such unscientific use of fertilisers Ims proved profitable is some indication of what they would do if_ used more intelligently and carefully. It is not necessary to deal with all the elementary substances which are more or less essential to plant life, and a short reference to the three essential plant foods—nitrogen, phosphoric acid, ana potash—will serve. Upon (he presence of an adequate supply and availability of each depends the necessary and full development of all plants. Plants will absorb only definite proportions of the plant foods according to the special requirements of each variety of plants, and no excess 'of any one constituent will make up for a deficiency of one of the others. That is known as the “ law om minimum,” and while end) plant food element is certainly a necessity and all combine variously together in the organic structure of the plant, it has been found that the three essential plant foods each exert some particular influence, thus — Nitrogen lias a particular influence on the development of leaf and stem, a most essential preliminary to the essential or successful growth of any plant, for so much nourishment is obtained through its leaves. Owing to the important function of leaf development and the instability of nitrogen compounds in the soil, nitrogen may be considered most essential or rather important all tho different plant foods. The want of nitrogen becomes apparent by an insufficient and stunted growth, as well ns by a sickly coloured ad scanty foliage. Phosphoric Acid: Tho influence of this plant food is most pronounced in imparting general vigour to plants, particularly in the early stages of growth. Though present in plants usually only in small amounts, its influence is sa great that in every system of manuring il should be employed, especially as most soils are deficient in this ingredient. It stimulates tho early root development. Potash; Tho special function of potash seems to bo in the formation of sugars, starch, etc. It also adds substance in loaf development, thus adding to the influence of nitrogen It promotes the growth of all leguminous plants, and its use, on that account, is generally opposed on bowling greens. Phosphates and nitrogen are sufficient to promote an oven and satisfactory growth to grasses on a green. The most suitable fertilisers should be selected from those containing nitrogen alone, phosphate of lime alone, and those containing nitrogen and phosphate of lime, and the selection is made as is found necessary. Tlie fertilisers recommended for bowling green use are as follows: Nitrogen alone: (1) Nitrate of soda, (2) sulphate of ammonia, (3) dried blood. Nitrogen and phosphate: (1) bone dust, (2) blood and bone. Phosphate of lime: Superphosphate. Nitrate of Soda.—This is always used ns a top-dressing, and, as a rule, it should not be applied until the grass is sufficiently well provided with n root system to permit of the fertiliser being absorbed. If applied too ciirljv’ there is great risk of loss. For the same reason several small dressings arc more economical than the same weight applied at once. Sulphate of Ammonia.—The nitrogen content of this fertiliser is much higher than in nitrate of soda. Owing to its greater concentration in nitrogen, less total dressings than with nitrate are imploycd. In practice Jcwt is taken as equivalent to lewt of nitrate. The utilisation of suiphnte of ammonia by plants has to be preceded by its nitrification, Its does not act as such a powerful stimulant to plant growth as nitrate of soda, but in suitable soils affords a steadier and more sustained supply of nitrogen. I'or this reason, anof also because it suffers much less loss by being washed out in the drainage water, it can, with economy, be applied in relatively larger dressings at a time. Due regard must be paid to (he demands which it makes upon (ho soil for lime, in order to allow of its nitrification. j Comparative Merits of Nitrate of- Soda and Sulphate of Ammonia.—Nitrate of soda is quicker in its action, being already capable of yielding its nitrogen to the turf. Sulphate of ammonia must first undergo nitrification in the soil before it can be utilised to any by the turf. For this purpose or process it is necessary that some basic material (generally carbonate of lime) be present in order to combine with the sulphuric acid of the sulphate (the sulphate of lime is carried out in the drainage water) to assist in nitrification by forming nitrate of lime. For these reasons sulphate of ammonia can only be applied successfully to a soil containing a sufficiency of carbonate of lime. Nitrate of soda is easily washed into the subsoil by rain, and in wet seasons a considerable amount is lost. Sulphate of ammonia, though equally soluble in water, is not washed out by rain to any appreciable extent, but. is held by the humus. For this reason sulphate of ammonia is most useful to shallow-rooted plants, while nitrate of soda tends to encourage deep rooting. Sulphate of ammonia is therefore preferable in wet seasons. Nitrification can only take place in the presence of sufficient moisture, so that in dry seasons sulphate of ammonia is not so suitable aa nitrate of soda. Both of these fertilisers will only yield the best results when the soil is abundantly supplied with plant food. Nitrate of soda, by repeated applications, has a strong deflocculating effect on clay, and thus injures the physical properties of some soils. Sulphate of ammonia, by repeated applications, tends to induce an acid or peaty character in the surface soil, which is injurious, unless lime be used to correct it. Dried Blood.—This fertiliser contains its nitrogen in an insoluble form, and must undergo a change before absorption. It is therefore best applied in autumn. Applications of strong nitrogenous manures should lie avoided, as they have a softening effect on the grass. Bhosphatic Manures. —These fertilisers differ Irom nitrate or lime in one important aspect —that they are retained tenaciously by the soil and are thus in little danger of suffering loss by drainage. They can bo applied before the grass requires them, but it must be remembered that comparatively fresh applications are far more effective than residues from drainage applied to the soil some time before. In the latter case some of the phosphates are reverted, and pass into combination with the iron and alumina of the soil, and which do not readily yield them up again to the plants’ roots.' Superphosphates.—There is no phosphatic manure which is quicker in action than superphosphate. Whenever it is necessary to supply tho grass with a rapid supply of phosphoric acid to help it over a period which is critical and unfavourable for growth, say, during drought, superphosphate is tlie most suitable fertiliser to use. Insoluble phosphates, such as bonedust and blood and bone, should be finely divided, and in any ca-se are slow in action. Both can be purchased in a fairly lino state of division. This is very necessary, as both have to undergo a change in tho soil before tho plant food which they contain becomes available. Tho more finely divided they are the quicker in action they will be. Mineral phosphates are of little use, and are too slow in action to be of service in the maintenance of a howling green. Having made reference to the best forms of fertiliser to use, supervisors will naturally ask, “What is tho most suitable way to feed turf?” To get the best results' from all fertilisers the policy of a little and often, as opposed to one heavy dose, should bo adopted. It is infinitely' better to use fertiliser right through the season than to depend on the autumn dressing. The green should be examined frequently, and if a rink or part of it looks tho least bit off colour, and wo see that very often during periods of hot, dry weather, it should immediately

be given a light dusting of fertiliser mixed with a quantity of fine sand and followed up, if- necessary, with a second or third dressing at intervals of a fortnight or three weeks. There is no particular argument in favour of leaving greens to their own devices for months on end and then giving them one big feed in the spring or autumn as the case may be, and as thik system of a little and often calls for little trouble, with nothing in the way of extra material, it has a very strong recommendation. A full-sized bowling green dressed at the full rate will require 2cwt of fertiliser. In fertilising a green I have no hesitation in advising clubs to food durng the autumn, winter, and spring with suitable fertilisers. I advocate tnis form of treatment only after careful study of the conditions under which the grass on a green has to thrive. The principle of one liberal dressing appears to mo to be fundamentally wrong, as it must follow that if the grass is to be kept in good heart it must bo fed accordingly. Supervisors and greenkeopers do not realise the enormous drain on_the plant foo-d of a green by constant mowing. This drain is severe, and if not replaced the finer grasses get completely starved out and destroyed. The composition of the turf is to a very large extent controlled by the system of manuring and the constant mowings remove much material which the grass has derived from the soil, consequently manures are just as essential for grass as anything else. If the soil is poor and neglected 'in any way the bettor grasses do not thrive and the rough grasses which can make use of the coarser food get the upper hand. Thera is an enormous amount of truth in the assertion that greens are mostly spoiled through the want of giving proper compensation to the grass plants that are being given “barbarous treatment” through tne season. The reasons of my suggestions will therefore be apparent, and the mixtures suggested as as follows: — No. 1 , Autumn Dressing.—Bone dusr 481 b; superphosphate, 481 b; dried blood, 161 b; total, 1121 b. This to be mixed with twice its weight of soil. No. 2, Winter Dressing.—Blood and bone, 241 b; sulphate of ammonia, 81b: superphosphate, 801 b; total, 1121 b. This to be mixed with twice its weight of fine sand. No. 3, Spring Dressing.—Sulphate of dmmonia, 281 b; fine sand, 841 b; total, 1121 b. No. 1 mixture contains nitrogen in the insoluble form, while portion of it phosphate of lime is soluble. No. 2 mixture contains its nitrogen in the form of half soluble and half Insoluble, while all the phosphate of lime with' the exception of about 4 per cent, is soluble. No. 3 mixture contains nitrogen- only, which is totally solubleThe application of these mixtures is to be made as occasion demands it. If the green makes a good recovery it may only Vie necessary to dress in winter with perhaps half the dressing used in (he autumn. This system of fertilising will yield plant food gradually, tud the first effect will be felt in the rooting system. The spring mixture, besides giving a delightful colour to (he green, will stimulate the grass, and at the same time keep back those undesirable broad-leaved weeds which are so persistent in bowling greens. If I may be permitted, I would just life*, to offer a little advice to green supervisors in recovering their greens. That advice may bo given in a-word.: “Keep your mower off the green in the winter.” Never so long ns this practice is permitted will you make a successful recovery, as tho best means of doing so are being unconsciously pushed aside. The fiiet mowing should, without hesitation, be made with a scythe, and that in the hands of a man who can use it. The scythe will cut clean and low, will keep out coarse growth, and help to eradicate clovers. Muddy Greens. —An average green oil, a medium to heavy soil, If untreated, may contain up to 1000 worms to n square yard, or the incredible number of 4,000,000 to the acre. The worms work and breed in (he soil, only stopping when the ground is frozen, conseqiiendy they cover the turf with their filthy noxious casts, which soils the grass, blunts the mowing machine, makes the surface soft and muddy, gives off that unpleasant earthy odour, and makes first-class seed beds for tho plantains, dandelions, and weeds in general. Many are under the impression that because worms are natural to the soil they must be beneficial tc the turf, but is this so? The more one studios turf tho. more apparent it becomes that worms are its worst enemy, and that when they are conspicuous by their absence the turf is line in quality, clean and bright in colour, Arm underfoot, and more or less free from weeds, whereas where they abound the turf is coarse, dull in colour, soft and miicuTy underfoot, smells evilly, and always contains weeds in abundance and wears out very quickly. It follows, therefore, that worms must be exterminated before a green can be worked up to a high state of efficiency and look its best all the. year round. Most clubs have their own particular method of treating, and unless information is requested 1 do not propose dealing with the methods in vogue. It will, of course, be understood that it i* not possible to deal with ail the various points which go to make a good green in a letter of this sort. If, however, there is any point, on which one is not quite clear or if I can give further information with reference to this subject I shall ba happy to do so. I would also appreciate any criticisms of my letter, because I think good honest criticism will do a certain amount of good. My sole purpose in writing is to assist supervisors in any way possible, and any inquiries will bo replied to at the earliest moment. I thank you, Sir, for the opportunity in giving my views, and also for your assistance in bringing these views before the bowling community.—l am, etc., Brown Top. Dunedin, November 11.

Banner Clubs. Wins. Losses. Points. Anderson's Ray ... 2 — 2 Btihnarewan* ... — 3 — Caledonian ... 2 2 5 Cavorsham — 3 2 Dunedin ... 5 1 5 Fairfield ... 1 — 2 Cireen Island ... ... 1 1 4 Knikorai ... 2 1 4 Kahuna ... ... ... 3 1 5 Leith ... — 1 — Mornington ... 2 1 4 N.K. Valley ... ... 1 2 4 Otago ... 2 2 1 Outram* ... — — 2 Port Chalmers ... — 2 1 Roslvn St. Clair 1 . 4 5 2 2 St. Kilda ... 4 — 5 Taieri ... 2 1 6 West Harbour ... 1 1 4