Full TGIF Record # 222732
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Material Type:Book
Monographic Author(s):McNaughton, E. J.
Monograph Title:Turf Production and Maintenance, [1934].
Publishing Information:Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Imperial Chemical Industries Limited (Malaya)
# of Pages:44
Collation:44 pp.
Language:English
References:Unknown
Note:Pictures
Tables
Annotation from Turfgrass History and Literature: Lawns, Sports, and Golf, by James B Beard, Harriet J. Beard and James C Beard:"A truly rare, pioneering booklet on the construction, establishment, and culture of turfgrasses for golf courses, lawns, tennis courts, and sports fields. It is the first turfgrass book published in southeast Asia and the second in the southern hemisphere. The book is oriented to warm-season turfgrasses and tropical conditions in the Malaysia and Singapore region. In 1934, E.J. McNaughton advocated the use of explosives for the following purpose:

Hard Pan

Where a 'hard pan' underlies an area selected for a recreation ground, as sometimes occurs under Malayan conditions, it must be broken by means of a crowbar or pickaxe, or by explosives. The latter method is inexpensive besides being expeditious and effective. Gelignite, which has a horizontal rending effect is the best explosive for the purpose. The size of charge and depth and spacing to adopt are matters for trial, since the effect varies so much in each soil. It is not desired to blow out a hole, but
merely to 'heave' the soil surface, breaking the 'pan.' Preliminary trial could be made with half-sticks of 7/8 inch Gelignite cartridges with No. 6 detonators and black safety fuse. A suitable depth would be 2 ft. to 2 1/2 ft., but much would depend on the depth of the pan. The hole prepared to receive the charge should be made with a crowbar and be as close a fit as possible. The half cartridge with detonator and 3 ft. of fuse should then be set into the hole and carefully tamped with a wooden rod. Should the first explosion blow out a hole, increase the depth to 3 ft. or alternatively use one-third of a cartridge. Charges could be spread about 10 ft. to 15 ft. apart; but this distance is best determined after observation of the effect of the first explosion. Cost would be about 7 to 10 cents per charge allowing for 3 ft. of fuse.

White ants cause considerable damage to fine grass by eating the young shoots through at the bases, producing scattered bare patches in
'stepping-stone' arrangement over the greens. The upper tunnels of these grass-eating termites are not continuous, but come to the surface at intervals where the pests have feeding grounds, with the result that ordinary fumigation methods have proved unsatisfactory. Until recently all control measures tried have met with failure, or at most very indifferent success; but Mr. Robertson of Singapore Golf Club, after prolonged trials, has at last discovered a method which, although laborious, appears to yield excellent results.

The entire surface of the infected green is probed with a crowbar at 18 inch centres and to a depth of about 2 ft. Each hole is eased open to a width of about 2 inches by moving the crowbar and the mouths of the holes are then plugged with pads of loose grass. The idea of this procedure is to discover deep- seated termite galleries. If a white ant tunnel has been broken by a crowbar hole, the termites soon commence to repair the damage, under cover of
darkness, and removal of the grass plugs and examination of holes several hours later will immediately reveal whether a gallery has been struck or not. Into each infected hole, about a cigarette tinful of carbon bisulphide is then poured and ignited. The explosive action propels flames and fumes along the tunnels destroying all life. Where termite galleries have been discovered and treated in this way, extermination of the colony is certain. The central colonies are almost invariably situated within the confines of the green, usually about 2 ft. below the green surface or in the surrounding bunkers and banks, a few yards only away from the scene of activities, with the result that the fumigant readily reaches the main nest, penetrating every gallery and destroying royalties, brood and adult termites.

Grass-eating termites, once established play hovac with a green, and no effort should be spared to eradicate the pest. As many as 2000 separate colonies have been discovered
in one season on the greens of a single badly-infested golf course." p. 285-286
Beard Section Heading:Bibliography of books/monographs on turfgrass culture
Beard Rarity Statement:Truly rare
Beard Special Note:Identified by James B Beard in Turfgrass History and Literature: Lawns, Sports, and Golf (2014) as being old and rare based on his experience.
ASA/CSSA/SSSA Citation (Crop Science-Like - may be incomplete):
McNaughton, E. J. [1934]. Turf Production and Maintenance. 44 pp. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Imperial Chemical Industries Limited (Malaya).
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