NEW DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL NUTRITION

F. W. Woll has been called from the University of Wisconsin to head the new Department of Animal Nutrition. Professor Woll since 1895 has been in charge of the state feed and fertilizer inspection service of the University of Wisconsin. He graduated from the Royal Frederick's University at Christiania, Norway, in 1883. He has done valuable experimental work in regard to the feeding of dairy cattle, silage, sugar-beet culture, etc. His systematization of the rules for the testing of dairy cows is in use throughout the country, and he is author of a standard book on the subject. His work has been of much value in developing the use of accurate records of dairy-cow production, and the consequent elimination of "the cow who does not earn her board.''

DRAINAGE INVESTIGATIONS

Co-operative experiments in regard to drainage problems for agricultural lands in California are being carried on by the University of California Experiment Station in co-operation with the Office of Experiment Stations of the United States Department of Agriculture, under an agreement ratified by the Regents on October 14, 1913. A government drainage engineer, Walter W. Weir, is in charge of the first field work, his whole time being given to the investigations. This first experiment is the draining of 160 acres in the Kearney Vineyard near Fresno by ditches and pumping. The particular problems to be attacked are methods of reclaiming water-logged, alkaline, swamp, and overflowed lands, including tidal marshes, to determine what principles should govern the design and construction of drainage works, and wherein present practice may be improved. Data will be collected relative to the proper arrangement, depth, size, and spacing of drains, with examinations of both surface and sub-surface conditions of soil, soil water, and alkali that may affect the drainage problem and the planning and construction of experimental drainage systems. This co-operative work will include, also, conference with the land and agricultural interests affected, the giving of addresses, and the publication of material so that the public may be educated as to the benefits of drainage and encouraged to organize for cooperative drainage work. Professor C. F. Shaw, who is in charge of the University's soil survey of California, now in progress, will be the University representative particularly concerned with this drainage work.

CATTLE-FEEDING EXPERIMENTS

Extensive experiments to determine the most profitable way to feed cattle in California for market are being carried on by the Animal Husbandry Division, in co-operation with two of the largest live-stock companies of the Pacific Coast. At the Bloom. field ranch of Miller and Lux, at Gilroy, four carloads of steers are being fed with sugar-beet pulp as the base ration, with different amounts and with different combinations of alfalfa, barley, and rye-grass hay. At the Western Meat Company's feeding station at Lovelock, Nevada, where thousands of head of beef cattle are fattened annually, grain is being fed in connection with alfalfa. To six lots of steers, averaging 225 head each, corn, barley, cottonseed meal, dry beet-pulp, and Sperry feed are being fed in comparison with a feeding of alfalfa only. It is seldom that an institution has participated in experimental cattle-feeding on so extensive a scale.

AGRICULTURE CLUBS

The students of the College of Agriculture are aiding in the organization of agriculture clubs in various California high schools. The plan is that these local high school agriculture clubs shall hold frequent meetings, open to the whole community, where successful farmers and other agricultural experts, including members of the University faculty, will discuss particular farm problems; that these clubs shall make trips to neighboring orchards, vineyards, and ranches; that agricultural contests shall be held appropriate to the community, for instance, for prizes for the persons who raise the most Lima beans on a given area of land, or produce the best apples, etc. These clubs will all co-operate with the Agriculture Club at the University.

POPULAR EDUCATION IN AGRICULTURE

By the end of November 1085 students had enrolled for the correspondence courses inaugurated this year by the Agricultural Department in alfalfa, poultry husbandry, walnut culture, citrus fruits, grape growing, and onion raising. More than twenty other agriculture courses are to be given by correspondence.

Two new methods of University Extension in Agriculture which are being developed by the University are School District Agricultural Conferences and Movable Schools. In the Imperial Valley, for instance, the residents of every school district are being gathered together in their respective school houses for agricultural conferences with representatives of the University. At these meetings the farmers are shown how to immunize swine against

hog cholera, how to test cows as to whether or not they have tuberculosis, or whether or not the individual animal's milk production is sufficient to be profitable. The first of the movable schools is to be held at Modesto, where a large number of farmers have enrolled for five consecutive days of teaching by representatives of the University.

SOME AGRICULTURAL MATTERS

The seventeen animals from the University Farm exhibited at the recent Portland Exposition won twenty-four premiums, including five championships, seven first premiums, ten second premiums, and two third premiums. Sixteen out of the seventeen animals received premiums.

The "Fern Ridge" herd of choice Guernsey cattle, maintained by J. H. Mackenzie of San Francisco on his ranch at Yuba City, has been acquired by the University. This herd was brought together from some of the best Guernsey herds in America.

Professor Hubert E. Van Norman, Dean of the University Farm School, has been re-elected President of the National Dairy Show, a great yearly event held in Chicago as a national undertaking.

A conference of the California Swinebreeders' Association was held at the University Farm on November 7 to discuss means of improving the breeds of swine raised in California. It is estimated that several hundred thousand dollars per annum are being saved to the people of California by the work which the University of California is now doing in producing and distributing a serum to immunize swine against hog cholera.

The California Pharmaceutical Association has petitioned the Regents to undertake the experimental growing of medicinal plants. The Association pleads that this could be made an industry of great value to California that no adequate provision has been made as yet for the encouragement of such an industry, and that the University is an agency especially well fitted to carry on experimental work with medicinal plants.

The Students of the Department of Landscape Gardening are lending aid to various communities throughout California in making plans for the beautification of public school grounds, park sites, etc.

SOME UNDERGRADUATE MATTERS

There has been much student discussion throughout the year on the question of the present organization of student government. A project under discussion has been the increase in size of the Executive Committee of the Associated Students, or the

creation of some auxiliary body, including alumni and undergraduate members, to handle matters involving intercollegiate relations, relations to visiting athletic teams, etc.

Another subject under discussion has been the question as to whether the Graduate Manager of the Associated Students, who is in charge of all the financial affairs of the student body, should be elected by the entire student body or should be appointed by the Executive Committee. The weight of best-informed student opinion has seemed to favor a change from an elective to an appointive system.

The Senior class has adopted an amendment to its constitution providing that a majority shall be necessary for election to an office, and that if a candidate fails to secure a majority, another election must be held to determine between the two highest candidates.

The twenty-fourth annual Intercollegiate Debate between California and Stanford, held in San Francisco on November 22, was won by Stanford. Stanford supported the exclusion from the United States of all unskilled labor of the Slavic, Hellenic, and Italic races of southern and southeastern Europe.

The winners of the Bonnheim Prizes for students of the Upper Division for an essay on an ethical theme this year, the question of the architect's duty to his art and to society-were as follows Margaret Alltucker, '14; W. G. Marvin, '14; E. P. Kayser, '15, and A. M. Herrick, '15.

Margaret Alltucker, '14, won on December 3 the $100 Bonnheim Prize in the Upper Division Bonnheim Discussion.

The third meeting of the University Parliament was held December 6. The subject of American intervention in Mexico was discussed pro and con by Milton Marks, '14; Thomas H. Reed, Associate Professor of Government; Miss Deborah Dyer, '14; T. G. Chamberlain, '15; Elizabeth Baker, '14; A. W. Drury, '14, and J. R. Douglas, '14. A straw vote of those present favored by five to one the upholding of President Wilson's policy. The Parliament, as explained to the gathering by Professor Lincoln Hutchinson, chairman of the evening, is not a debating society, but an assembly where any members of the University may present their views upon the public questions under discussion. Several sessions are to be held each year.

For the second half of 1913-14 the Daily Californian will be edited by Joseph H. Quire, '14, as successor to Ralph M. Eaton, '14. The editor of the Occident for the current year is Roswell G. Ham, '14, and the editor of Pelican is Norman L. McLaren, '14. The managing editors are, for the Californian, Harry L.

Dunn, '15; the Occident, Sidney Coe Howard, '15; and Pelican, Frederick S. Faust, '15.

On "Junior Day" the Junior class presented as its Junior Farce "Jeanette's Way," by Sidney Coe Howard, '15, and Frederick Faust, '15, and "Pledging Pep," by Miss Thoda Cockroft, '15, as the Junior Curtain-raiser.

Helen M. Cornelius, '14, was adjudged winner in the competition for the 1914 Partheneia, while honorable mention was given to Alma Ames, '14, and Monica Flannery, '15. This will be the third yearly production of a dramatic masque by the women students, in an oak grove on the campus.

The English Club plans hereafter to produce one indoor play each year, in addition to the fall and spring plays produced in the Greek Theater. This third play is to be written by a student, and its choice is to be by competition.

The 1450 University Cadets spent two half-days during the term in practice marches, attacks, and battle maneuvers, of a character more extensive than is feasible in the hour of drill twice a week. The newly-organized cavalry troop was a feature of the occasion.

Oliver M. Washburn, Dean of the Lower Division, has arranged with the Berkeley Fire Chief to inspect any fraternity-house or student club-house whose members desire it in order to recommend improvement in the matter of fire protection.

An interfraternity conference has been established, with representatives from all the fraternities and house-clubs on the campus. Stanford won the annual California-Stanford Rugby game, played on the Stanford Field on November 8, by a score of 13 to 8.

C. F. Glennery, '15, catcher on the baseball team, has been appointed custodian of the Stanford axe for 1914, to succeed Joseph Conklin.

Charles Stephenson, a Harvard rowing man, has been engaged as coach and trainer for the 1914 crew season. The Amador having sunk, new training quarters have now been leased on the Estuary.

H. W. Fleming, '14, is to be football captain for 1914, as successor to Sterling B. Peart.

Alpha Delta Phi won, on December 3, the interfraternity baseball championship.

The Class of 1914 made a profit of $1502.59 on the 1914 annual, the Blue and Gold. The class voted $300 each to the editor and to the manager, and of the $902.59 remaining, a portion is to be devoted to a memorial to the class somewhere on the campus, in some such form as a fountain or marble seat.