THE PERFECT GREEN

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19379, 31 December 1932, Page 14

THE PERFECT GREEN

BRITISH GOLF RESEARCH Excellent Work Done Growing weeds in order to discover the best way of destroying* them may reem to the ordinary man a waste of time, but those responsible for the upkeep of golf courses, bowling greens, and lawn tennis courts regard it as an important part of the work done at a research station controlled by the British Golf Unions Joint Advisory Committee (says a writer in the “Manchester Guardian”). Several years ago the representatives of the English, Scottish. Irish and Welsh golf unions realised that much money would continue to be wasted on the maintenance of courses unless scientific minds were applied to the cultivation of suitable grasses and the extermination of weeds and insects, and a search for a suitable place for experiments ended at Bingley, in Yorkshire, where the local council, which had become owner of St. Ives Manor House and the surrounding park, accepted the committee as tenant. Part of the house where the Ferrancl family lived for several hundred years is now used as laboratories and offices, and close by several acres of land, divided into about 800 sections, are used for experiments which, even when they are described by R. B. Dawson, who is the director of the station, leave the lay mind in a state of bewilderment coupled with admiration. To visitors he will explain how on different parts of the land, divided into sections of a few square yards each, various sorts of grass are sown, and how carefully records are kept of the varying weights of seeds used, of the length of time between the sowing and the appearance of grass, and of the

widely different results that follow the numerous kinds of fertilisers that are available.

The experimental ground has some resemblance to a huge draughtboard. Each smafi section differs from its neighbour, and one has only to walk along the narrow footpaths to realise the value of the work done. The paths are of rough native grass and weeds, but on each side of them are squares of fine grass, some of it suitable for fairways, and some of a texture and coldur that would make magnificent greens. Not all the squares are good, for it has been proved beyond doubt that some fertilisers encourage the growth of weeds. The section at one end of a plot may have a faultless surface, while that at the other end contains many plantains or other w r eeds. The officials at St. Ives now know almost exactly what the result will be of using various weights of fertilisers, or of mixing several fertilisers in varying proportions.

British Grass Best. It will please supporters of the “Buy British” movement to know that our own grasses are better than the German, American or New Zealand types usually supplied when seed is bought. Generally they are of a finer texture and a more pleasing colour, but greens committees who determine to have nothing but the best will have to exercise patience, for seeds of the best British types cannot be bought. The work at Bingley, however, is going to alter that. On one side of the experimental ground is a miniature putting green which would make the heart of the worst putter in the land rejoice. The grass on it is known as velvet bent, and the colour a beautiful green. It is kept in that condition as a proof of what can be done by scientific treatment. Not far away the same sort of grass looks entirely different because there it is being grown for propagation. As the seasons pass the seedling patch will become larger, and the Research Board hope that in a few years they will be able to put velvet bent seed on the market. Other British varieties more suitable for fairways are going through a similar pro- | cess, and soon golf clubs will not only be able to learn from Bingley what type of British grass is most suitable for their land, be it seaside, moor, or park, but will find the necessary seed on the market. And if at any time

they are troubled by weeds or prolonged drought the records at Bingley will supply the remedies.

Advice For All. The research officials are not giving all their time to the requirements of golf courses Cricket, bowling, croquet, football, polo, and lawn tennis clubs have asked for guidance, and small bowling greens and lawn tennis courts have been or are being laid down for testing various sorts of foundations and the wearing qualities of different grasses. Higher up the hill is the Bingley golf course, which came into existence about the same time as the research station. The coincidence gave the research officials a valuable opportunity for putting some of their ideas into practice, and the i condition of the course bears witness | to their efficiency in the preliminary work and in maintenance. Still higher up the hill is a small experimental ground on moorland surrounded by heather. On untreated soil there seed is wasted, but even a small quantity of lime makes a difference, and tests are showing what amount,of lime is necessary to produce a good fairway. In another direction are several more acres used for propagating purposes. The grass there is sown in narrow lines, and the uninitiated would say at first glance that someone has blundered badly. On the greater portion of the land the weeds are so numerous and strong that little grass is visible, but the officials have not become disheartened. They regard the weeds as valuable, and a corner of the field shows that they are right, for there a strip sprayed with a ! weed-killer was clear of the intruders ; within a week of the spraying, and

amid all the rotted weeds the grass flourishes finely.

In the old hall there is more evidence of excellent organisation. There is a laboratory where fertilisers, lawn sands, fungicides and vermicides, composts, and other materials are analysed and where the effect of cutting and manuring on the yield and chemical composition of grasses under different fertilising systems has been investigated. And in connection with this it is a curious fact that a weekly cut produces a greater amount of grass than three cuttings made in the same time. In the office there are minute records of all the work done on each of the hundreds of plots in the park and of the varying results, and there are stacks of files in which are details about the numerous links which officials have inspected and of inquiries which clubs have made by letter.

Last year nearly 8000 letters were sent from the St. Ives station, and every post brings its new inquiries accompanied by lumps of turf or soil which require treatment for some sort of ailment. Some of the inquiries come from abroad, and others from private subscribers, of whom many have had advice on the maintenance of their lawns. Since 1929, when the

station was formed, assistance has been given to 970 clubs, and this year 225 personal inspections have been made in places as far apart as Newquay and Dornoch, as well as in Ireland. The work is increasing tremendously, but it is all done so systematically and well that soon no sportsman will have an excuse for his fail-

ures except his own errors of judgment or lack of control over his muscles.

American Walking Title: John Knackstedt, of the GermanAmerican A.C., New York, won the national A.A.U. seven-mile walk at Lewisohn Stadium on November 5, upsetting Bill Chisholm, of Los Angeles, the defending champion, who had hitch-hiked his way from the coast to compete in this event. Knackstedt won by thirty yards in 54.50 2-5. Morris Davis, also of New York, was third.

Dog Racing at Stamford Bridge: London is likely to have an eighth licensed greyhound racecourse in the near future—at Stamford Bridge. Affiliation to the National Greyhound Racing Society—the first step towards securing a license from the N.G.R. Club—has been granted to Stamford Bridge Stadium, Ltd., the directors of which include representatives of some of the existing London licensed tracks.