BOWLING.

Taihape Daily Times, 31 July 1919, Page 7

BOWLING.

! One of the best authorities on the Subject in Australia has the following fto say on the ‘treatment of greens. E “Hardly ‘any caretaker or member of :1 l green committee knows anything about ] soils, grasses, or fertilisers, hence they l’ trust to luck and to experience. Couch {grass is our mzainstay. It hates lime i and loves salt. Hence no greens l should be top dressed with lime in the ‘soil, unless one wants to get a mass [of clover and trefoils. Nitrates of ‘soda, or of potash, are the requisites, lproperly adjusted and properly ap- ‘ plied. Sulphate of amnionia is useful, but it acts like Wliisky on a nran §—being :1 stimulant, and not at real §ferti'l'iser. Greens should. never be :3top. dressed before the first week in October, and the later the better, since | couch makes no start: until the ground .; ‘is fairly w:lrm'. Early t»op'-;dl'essing only means that the ground is ‘nl-ucle ‘ colder and the growth of couch retardled, whilst useless weeds and grasses are encouraged. All top—dressing soil ~ should be ‘cured’ or ‘sweetened’ by ex-

posurc to the sunlight and air for six or eight months whilst curing. Moreover, there is no advantage in having it too stiif or clayey. A little seaside sand, about one part in six, may be added prior to top-dressing, and well mixed. Before the top-dressing is put on the green (say, ab'ollt three days previously) sa. fairly weak solufién of sulphate of ammonia should be ap~ plied to the rinks. This will seald the weeds, and may brown oif the couch‘. but it has 3 wonderful effect. of S’[«‘.ll"f--ing the couch ahead of weed life.