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

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a n M. Iv E Division of Soils CTIVITIES of this Division are large- ly confined to in- struction work, and we: are now readjusting our work so that in the future our activities Will be much broader. During the past year we have offered three courses of instruction to Farm School students, With a total enrollment of 225. A large part Of the practice work of these courses was given in the various fields of the Uni- versity Farm. Our Extension work has largely been in an- swering correspondence from farmers, as well as prospective farmers, With respect to soil conditions and crop possibilities of various sections of the State. PROF. ALFRED SMITH A large map has recently been completed, showing in great detail the soil conditions of the 1000 acres owned or leased by the State of California at Davis. A part of each Summer is spent by members of this Division, Which is a part of the' Division of Soil Technology, College of Agriculture, University of California, in making soil survey in various parts of this State. Beginning next August this Division Will offer two courses to Uni- versity students at Davis, namely, Soil Technology 1, and Soil Tech- nology 2 tGeneral Geologyy '

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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

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Division of Chemistry ORK in the Chem- istry Division of the Farm the past year consisted of two courses of instruction. The first, or elementary, course was designed to meet the needs of Farm School students Who have had no previous training in chemistry. Itincludes a study of the elementary principles of chemistry, with special emphasis on the commoner elements and compounds and their relation to agriculture. Water as a Chemical com- pound is studied, and its absolute necessity in plant and animal growth and development, as well as its relation to soil for- mation and fertility, is stressed. The chemical composition of the atmos- phere and its relation to agriculture as the source a of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen for plant and animal life is brought out. The chemistry of soils, commercial fertilizers, farm manures, animal feeding and nutrition, spray materials, and dairy products are some of the other phases of agriculture touched upon in an elementary way. The second course in chemistry for Farm School students is also a years course, and is planned for those Who have had High School Chemistry or its equivalent. This course takes up in more detail some of the phases covered in the elementary course. The relation of soil fertility and climatic conditions to the worlds food supply are con- sidered along with discussions of the future sources of commercial fer- tilizers. In this connection atmospheric nitrogen and the methods of fixation and the possible sources of potash in the United States are particularly noted. The laboratory work in this course includes, among other things the qualitative analysis of the common feed stuffs, fertilizers and spra3; materials. and the detection of alkali in soils and irrigation waters The work .in both courses, While of an elementary nature is intended to emphas1ze the intimate relation and dependence of agriculture as well as all other industries, upon chemistry, and to point out to ,the student the reasons for many of the o eration on the farm. p S and methods 0f procedure PROF. J. F. TORREY 22