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

Page 29 text:

kxxxx Division of Botany ORK in the Bot- any Department is organized along various lines, including the study of Agricultural Botany, Plant Diseases, Weeds and Weed Control, Plant Propagation, Orna- mental Gardening. The study of Agricultural Bot- any, taking up the struct- ure and life processes of plants, germination and purity seed tests, study of fungi and bacteria, plant breeding,etc., is prelimin- ary to such subjects as Horticulture, Agronomy, Olericulture, and has 'an indirect bearing upon courses in Dairy and Ani- mal Husbandry. Consid- erable stress is placed up- on the practical bearing PROF. A. M. WOODMAN of botany upon these sub- jects. Especial emphasis is placed upon the study of plant physiology, since it is important that the young farmer know something about the life habits and functions of plants. Abundant opportunity is given on the Farm of studying at first-hand the botanical characteristics of plants and trees of economic importance, many types of obnoxious weeds, diseases attacking field crops, fruits, grains, and vegetables. Frequent field trips are made, supplemented by work in the laboratory. The student is trained to develop his powers of 0bservati0n-to think for himself. Seeds of weeds are collected for laboratory study; notes and observations made in the field are trans- ferred to a weed chart. A small greenhouse and several lathhouses afford facilities for plant propagation work, and for growing ornamental plants of economic im- portance. Plant propagation consists of practice in sowing flower seeds, making cuttings, transplanting seedlings and rooted cuttings, the growing of some commercial flower. The course in Ornamental Gardening includes the study of trees, shrubs, and plants suitable for ornamenting the home grounds, and the making of simple designs. 25

Page 28 text:

Division of Entomology HOUGH this subject I may not be Chosen as a major by many of us, we should all under- stand that particular branch of entomology that pertains to the study of the subject we are most interested in. It was quoted once that a man should know something about everything and everything about some- thing. So it is we should strive to learn everything about our particular ma- jor and something about the different phases relat- ing to it. Would the or- chardist be successful if he did not understand the life-history of an insect so that he could better control it? The sheep raiser must know the hab- its of the ticks and other pests, so that he may dip economically. The agron- omist must understand the grasshoppers life, the alfalfa weevilis cycle and others if he is to profit from his labor. V So we find entomology connected with all the forms:Oii farming, and if we are to be successful farmers we must consider the lifegzof insects. The Entomology Department is endeavoring to give the student the fundamentals connected with systematic study of insects and their control. The rudiments necessary for a thorough understanding in the life cycle of insects will often be declared iidryii by those learning to differentiate between them, for these preliminary facts must be mastered before we are able to progress to the specialized study of those insects that we are to meet in our future work. So it is we find that the Entomology Department has a subject to teach that may be tedious and tidry until we have advanced to the point where we study those things that are most interesting to us, We are hoping to see a more extensive course in Entomology establlshed here next semester, though at present this department like others, .is handicapped for instructors and resources. , Thls semester a course is being given in the economic study of the common Insects found on the California farms. Some of the students who had this work before are now workin on s ecial ' to their future location. g p problems relative PROF. E. R. de ONG 24 .......-t-.....-...w.ms.. ...

Page 30 text:

Division of Olericulture CTIVITIES 0f the Di- A Vision of Olericul- ture during the past year have been devoted almost entirely to instruc- tional work. Nearly all the work on the twenty- five acres, planted for the production of vegetables and vegetable seed crops, has been done by the stud- ents enrolled in the regu- lar courses of instruction. The work in the Practice Course, offered for the Farm School students, has been planned so that it is not necessary to arrange a definite schedule, and the student may devote any time he desires durn ing the week to this work, Many students have taken advantage of this, and have completed the work required in this Practice Course during the time which was previously PROF. D. H. CAREY wasted. The Division is constantly attempting to improve the varieties of many vegetables by selecting the most desirable plants from which to grow seed to produce the following crop. We now have improved varie- ties of cauliflower, beet, carrot, onion and celery. Several varieties of potatoes have been planted during the last year. The seed potatoes planted for these trials were obtained from various places in the State, and each place having a different altitude and climatic condition. Most favorable reports have been received of the certified seed potatoes dis- tributed by this Division during January, 1921, to growers in twelve different counties in the State. Almost every grower reported a yield larger than from other seed potatoes planted in the same district, and several requests have been received this year for another supply. This Division conducted a Potato Growersi Conference on October 4th. 5th and 6th, which was attended by potato growers from ten different counties of the State. Much interest was shown at various meetings where lantern slides, prepared by this Division, were exhibited. These slides show various methods of growing and harvesting vegetables. This D1v1si0n has prepared for distribution brief outlines describing the method of production as practiced in California of the following crops: Celery, pea, sweet potato, rhubarb, and melon. ' 26