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A sugar beet harvester developed at Davis and tested in dry, peat-loam soil at Clarksburg, October 16, 1947, gave 93.7% root recovery and only 6.8% dirt pickup.

In March, California livestock men faced possible loss of even their breeding herds and flocks through drouth-forced sales to the butcher or to producers in more favorable feeding areas. Through representatives of three of their associations they asked the Agricultural Extension Service for data on available livestock feed.

Following is a progress report of a coiiperative study of the environmental factors influencing the development, production and health of animals in warm climates which was initiated in 1946 by the University of California, College of Agriculture and the USDA Bureau of Plant Industry, Soils, and Agricultural Engineering. The study is underway at the Meloland Field Station in the Imperial Valley.

The development of permanent pasture in certain areas of the state has been accompanied by a somewhat obscure disease affecting the young stock grazing on pastures, “up to the hocks in feed, but starving to death.” Based on investigational work in England on a comparable condition there is a probability that the element molybdenum may be an important factor in causing the disease.

Prunes are an excellent subject for studies on the relations between controlled soil-moisture conditions and sizes of fruit.

For additional information concerning irrigation and water requirements of crops consult your local farm advisor.

Rootstocks made from cuttings, rather than propagated by seed, are coming into favor with many growers in Sonoma County.

The principal hazard of Klamath weed is its displacement of desirable forage plants, though much has been said concerning its moderate toxic effects.

Sheep form an important part of California agriculture. Thousands of acres of the state's grazing land can be utilized best by sheep. Since sheep fit well into grain farming rotation to restore soil fertility, they can be used profitably on the worn out grain land which has been over-farmed in California.

The root-rotting fungus—Ophiobolus graminis—thrives on' wheat and barley but not on oats or rye.

Atlas 46 mentioned in the above article was developed by F. N. Briggs, Professor of Agronomy and Agronomist in the Experiment Station, Davis, and o.C. Riddle, then Assistant Professor of Agronomy, Davis.