1950-51

RECREATION GROUNDS
683.
yard, to make sure that the worms are working near the surface.
If the preparation does not touch them, its purpose fails. The best:
time to destroy worms is during September and October, and again
from March to-May.
N'lowrah Meal and proprietary compounds in which it is used
contain about
2
per cent. of nitrogen which gradually becomes;
available in the soil so that it has a very slight manurial effect.
Lead arsenate powder .has been much used in this country in
recent years, largely as a result of research work carried out at the
St. Ives Research Station. It is applied at
2
ozs. per sq. yd., usually
in autumn, and does not require watering in, nor is a mild, muggy
period essential.
ROLLING AND SPIKING
Rolling operations improve the contact between the roots and
soil, allowing the grass plants to feed more easily. If done judiciously
it helps to maintain `a uniform surface.
No turf should be rolled when it is in a saturated condition,
or the surface will become " hide-bound," thus completely ex-
cluding air from the soil, producing sour conditions, unhealthy root
action, and encouragement of moss.
The best time to roll is when the, ground has sufficient moisture
in it to allow the roller to take effect to a depth of several inches.
The direction of rolling should, of course, be varied from time
to time.
It cannot be too strongly emphasised that rolling is often carried
out simply to " face up " a section of a sports ground. It looks
well, but this section of the ground probably becomes " hide-
bound," especially if moisture is squeezed up from below. This
must be prevented at all costs. The only exception is that it is more
or less unavoidable in the preparation of cricket wickets.
If the ground unavoidably gets into a " hide-bound " condition
as the result of rolling op.erations over a prolonged period, it will
benefit greatly if adequately spike rolled, using a horse- or tractor-
drawn spiking unit, where the spikes penetrate to a depth of
several inches. Small areas can be benefited greatly by hand-
piercing,'using a straight-pronged piercing fork or graip, or by means
of one of the hand machines now on the market for the purpose.
Many excellent results have been obtained on bowling greens
and putting greens with the tubular fork.
MANURING
Turf is similar to every other living object and requires feeding.
Every ground, therefore, should have a compost heap, formed of
well-rotted manure and good soil. Other ingredients, such as sand,
charcoal, etc., may be subsequently added as required by the local
soil.
When top dressing, apply compost frequently and sparingly.
If the compost is properly screened before being put on the
ground, it is quite unnecessary to put the ground out of play.
When the promotion of quick growth is essential, artificial manures
in addition to compost will be advantageous.