Green Keepers’ Conference

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 28, 3 February 1937, Page 9 (Supplement)

Green Keepers’ Conference

ANNUAL CONFERENCE IN PALMERSTON NORTH Greenkeeperw from all parts of New Zealand are in conference in Palmerston North at present studying the progress that has been made with greenkeeping research during the past 32 month?. the delegates were welcomed by Mr. A. tteifert, chairman of the Green? Research Committee, who commented on the large attendance, members having come to the conference at considerable inconvenience. He realised, however, that the knowledge they would gain would amply compensate them for the trouble and expense they had gone to. Mr. Seifert mentioned that they wonld 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 bv the experts for discussion and pointed out the value of co-oper-ative 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 essential 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. The chairman's address was followed in the morning by an inspection of the experimental plots on the Hokowhitu golfcourse, explained by Mr W. M. Horton, and a lecture by Mr E. A. Naddeu 11.D.A. In the afternoon Dr. H. 1L AUan, systematic botanist of the Plant Research Station, spoke on grasses for sports ground and Mr N. R. I'oy B-Sc., peed analyst, Department of Agriculture, on seed selection, purity end germination. To-day Mr K. M. Brien, Diploma Agriculture, Mycological Department, Plant Research Bureau, will lecture ou fungi, fairy-ring and other turf diseases; Mr W. Cottier, M.S.c., 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. In the afternoon there will be the annual, golf competitions, following in the evening by a lecture by A. Beal, secretary of the Golf Greenkeepers! Association who will read a paper on machinery and its upkeep; Mr F. Hazelden, head greenkeeper, Akarana gulf course, who will read a paper on coring greens and mechanical treatment; and Mr A. H. Ihle, head greenkeeper, Belmont Golf Course, Wanganui, who will read a paper on fertilising putting gTecns without a water supply. Tomorrow Mr J. Galloway, head greenkeeper, Titirangi Golf Course, will read a ppper on spraying OneblUlga' weed with arsenic pentoxide; Mr T. Easterbrook, Shirley Golf Course, will read a paper on watering greens and fairways; Mr H. Gough, head greenkeeper, St. Andrews Golf Course, will read a paper on applying fertiliser and weed killers with a spray jet on the hose line; and Mr W. M. Horton, Field Advisory Officer and Supervisor of Research, will lecture on the application of the science of greenkeeping practice. Yesterday when Mr. E. A. Madden lectured on various manurial treatments, ho pointed ont 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 tlie production of clean turf desirable for fairways and putting greens. The 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 fesene as a combination with Government certified brown top and point ed out that the plots where Chewing fescue blended with other grasses were certainly outstanding. It is pleasing to know that New Zealand-grown seed is far better than any imported seed for lawns and putting greens and that Australia, England and America place very high value on New Zealand seed. Mr. Madden handled the subject in a most able manner and the visitors spent fc most enjoyable morning. . In the afternoon Dr. H. H. Allan gave fcn adclrfess on the agrostis genus. He dealt with the technical side of these bofani"al species in a manner that £otif<l be easily underrtood, at the same time describing the points of identification from a botanist ? s viewpoint. He outHncd briefly the methods of describing plants from the foundation established by Linnaire as far back as 1759. Delegates were conducted over the seed analysing station by Mr. N. R. Foy end bad an opportunity of seeing the staff at work checking up many samples of send for purity and germination. A visit was later paid to the Palmerston North Bowling Club, where Mr. \V. M. H orton explained how the green had j been dug up and laid Cown from bare ground in May last year. It is now in excellent order and many bowlers were engaged in games on the green. It was opened for play five 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 club who are to be congratulated for the splendid condition of ANNUAL MEETING. When the„ annual meeting was held last evening, the chairman (Mr. A. Seifert; announced that the New Zealand Golf Council had recognised the >alue of the research work by deciding to make an extra grant so that now Mr. Horton would be able to travel MK>ul more tlmu ho liud been able to do in the past. The wor* that had been done coukl only bo made appreciative t/y Mr. liortun getting in direct perrpnal touch with the various golf ciul.B uiid the donation would allow of that. It was decided to write to the Golf