University of California Davis - El Rodeo Yearbook (Davis, CA)

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. N o !NN 7.? - , KN N , .mmxmtxxximxxxxwmmx WWMWWW Division of Agronomy HE leading activities of this Division are teaching and re- search. The principal Extension activity con- sists in the production and distribution of pure seed. This season this Division has distributed throughout the State over eight hundred sacks of barley, wheat and oat seed. Applications have exceeded many times this amount, but in order to accomplish the greatest good the allotments were limited and preference given applicants who would plant on clean fal- low and agree to dispose of the crop for seed. One of the greatest steps for- ward in the development of a new grain sorghum has been accomplished by this Division. This va- riety is known as Yolo White. In tests it has PROF- 5- W- HENDRV proven to be more productive than Milo or other grain sorghums, but its greatest feature is its dwarf nature, uniformity and erect head, qualities which are adapted to machine heading. These qualities no doubt will stimulate the production of grain sorghum in California. Seed for several thousand acres have already been distributed. Sunflowers 0f the mammoth western variety were grown last season as a silage crop for the first time at the University Farm, and feeding tests with dairy cows are now under way. The sunflowers yielded from twenty to twenty-four tons green weight per acre. The sunflowers grew to a height of from ten to eleven feet, but were so coarse and woody that it was necessary to cut each stock separately by hand. They are hardier than sorghum, and may be profitably grown On poor soils and mountain elevations or in cool coast climates where sorghums cannot be grown. An elaborate series of cobperative experiments with the Bureau of Plant Industry, U. S. D. A., on cereal diseases is now in the third year of progress. All of the cereal investigational work of the U. S. D. A. has been transferred to Davis, and an elaborate cereal nursery planted. Provision has been made for a new seed cleaning plant, and modern seed cleaning machines will be installed. This will enable the Division to maintain and carry out a more effective program of building up and maintaining to a high standard the seed stocks of the State. 19

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MathematicsSzSurveying HE.time spent on I Mathematics here is short. One semester is given to each of Mathe- matics 01 tFarm Arith- metici, Mathematics 02 tAlgebrai, Mathematics 03 tGeometryi ,Mathemat- ics 04 tComputation and Physics. Mathematics 05 tChain Surveying and Levelingi, and Mathemat- ics 06 tmore Leveling and Transit Surveyingi. The Farm Arithmetic is a brief review of frac- tions, decimals and per- centage and their applica- tions to simple farm prob- 1ems,such as figuring percentages of food ele- ments and various farm products, rations and nu- - tritive rations, soil moist- ure, standardization of milk and other creamery problems, field crop val- ues, and building mate- PROF. C. M. TITUS rials, etc. In Algebra the students study the fundamental operations and the solution of simple equations, special stress being put on the handling of such formulas as are used in farm machinery. 1n Geometry the definitions of the more common geometrical terms, fundamental principles taxioms, postulates, eth and the simpler and more practical theorems are taught, stress being laid on area theorems. The first half of Mathematics 04 is given to logarithmic computa- tions and the application of Algebra and Geometry to problems in land areas, figuring building materials and capacities of silos, tanks and reservoirs, hay stacks and concrete foundations, etc., and other problems which are not covered in Mathematics 01. The Physics part of the course deals with the principles of simple machines, mechanics of liquids as applied to pumps and siphons, work and power problems and the laws of motion and a very elementary treatment of electricity and 111agnetism leading up to the principle of the dynamo and motor. Mathematics 05 teaches the simplest methods of Chain surveying, including the measuring and mapping of irregular areas, and practice in profile and contour leveling and mapping such as are needed in laying out roadways and ditches and in checking land for irrigation. Mathematics 06 takes up cross-sectioning 0f ditches, roadways and problems 1n transit work, including the stadia method of topography. 18 k , h. -.A4,-G:.3,rt..d - -3...

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P 24912 a of pride that the stud- ents majoring in Poul- try Husbandry look back upon the work of the Di- vision during the past year. In spite of the country-wide business de- pression, the poultry hus- bandry of our State has forged ahead angl made a healthy growth during the past twelve months. The Poultry Plant has been augmented dur- ing the past year by the erection of several new houses for the stock. These comprise a laying house 100x16 feet, de- signed by the Division to meet California condi- tions, and having a capa- city of 750 to 1000 hens. There are five pens each 20X16 feet. The floors are so constructed that the house may be hosed pnop. J. E. DAUGHERTY out freely, this being a great advantage from a disease combating and labor saving Viewpoint. This house includes many other innovations too numerous to mentlon here, and merits a Visit of inspection from poultry raisers. The brood- ing equipment has been doubled. The Division now boasts a modern brooder house 160 feet long, comprising the continuous and colony sys- tems of brooding, and With a sufficient variety of brooding equipment and heaters to furnish extended instruction of great practical value. A new 50-foot rabbit house has been erected Which draws considerable at- tention, as the Division also conducts research in rabbit keeping problems. The staff of the Division has been strengthened by the addition of Mr. S. S. Gossnian, Who came to us from the South Dakota Agricultural College last July. ' In addition to resident instruction and research at the University Farm, poultry pathological work is carried on at Berkeley and Petaluma. Two Extension poultry experts spend their entire time carrying aid directly to the poultryman WhO cannot come to the college, and each Fall is offered an extensive six weeks poultry course for adult pros- pective poultry keepers Who must gain enough knowledge in a limited time to enable them to safely embark in the work. The success of many former Short Course men now in the poultry business testify to the great value of this work. IT is With a just feeling 20