Califo rn ia's First Farm Conference Voted Great Success

With an attendance of about 100, California's first Farm Building Conference, held under the auspic-es of the Sacramento Vattey Lumbermen's Club and the University of California, Division of Agricultural Engineering,-at the University Farm, Davis, on Saturday, September-21, can be described as most successful and very much worth while.

The idea of a farm building conference was first suggested by Max E. Cook, Farmitead Eng-ineer of the Caliiornia Redwood Association, and this first meeting was made possible by his efiorts and those of Professor H. B' Walker, head of the Division of Agricultural Engineering' University Farm, Davis, together with,the co-operation of the Sacramento Valley Lumbermen's Club.

Thd meeting proved that the retail lumbermen and the officials of the-Division have a mutual problem-that of developing better farm buildings, and it will no doubt be the foierunner of other and bigger conferences along similar lines in the future.

President Harry A. Lake, of the California Retail Lumbermen's Association, who traveled all the rvay from his home in Garden Grove 'to attend, stated in his speech that it is his intention to try to arrange a similar program {or the State Convention of retail lumbermen on November 7, 8 and 9 in San Francisco.

Among those lumbermen who traveled considerable distances to be present were the following: O. A. B-ak-e-r and Ralph DunCan. Merced Lumber Co., Merced; 'C. H. Grifien, ^Jr., Homer T. Hayward Lumber Co., Salinas; George l\{eissner, Valley Lumber Co., Lodi; Lester H' Elliot, Valley Lumber Co., Lodi; Warren S. Tillson, The Modesto Lumber Co., Modesto; and Frank F. Fisher, Fisher Bros. Lumber & Mill Co., Stockton.

The morning session was held in the Agricultural Engineering Auditorium. This opened promptly at 10 a. m'' wittr proiessor lI. B. Walker presiding. In his opening remarks. Professor Walker said that farm structures had to be designed to give service, and in speaking of materials said that lumber linds itself icleally to the construction of farm buildings as it permits easy alteration.

"Milking Barns for California," was the first subject. Prof. W. M. Regan, Animal Husbandry Division, dealt with the requirements for milking barns, and H. L. Belton, Farm Building Technician, spoke on the structural features, illustra[ing his talk with slides. Discussion followed, those takiig part being E. S. McBride, Davis Lttmber Co., Davis; Warren S. Tillson, Modesto; H. W. Ifaves, Friend & Terry Lumber Co., Sacramento; and Joe Holmes, Woodland Lumber Co., Woodland.

Prof. J. E. Dougherty, Poultry Husbandry Division, spoke on "Requirements for Poultry }fouses," and Mr. Belton talked on the structural features, again using lan- tern slides. In describing the University type of poultry house, Prof. Dougherty itressed the point that it is designed to use short lengths of lumber. In the discussion that followed Mr. Belton answered the questions of Harry A. Lake, George Meissner, and others.

J. D. Long, Junior Agricultural Engineer, A. E. Division, took as his subject, "Farm Structures Investigations at University Farm", covering in the course of his talk, hog houses, sheep equipment, poultry houses, adobe construction, fence posts and grain and forage storage.

Max E. Cook, Farmstead Engineer, California Redrvood Association, delivered an address on "Ready-Built Equipment for Farmers." This address is printed in full on another page of this issue.

Luncheon was served in the California Inn on the campus, when all present were guests of the Sacramento Valliy Lumbermen's Club. Ira E. Brink, president- of the ciub, presided, and immediately after lunch following a few remarks in which he expressed the appreciation of club members for the invitation to hold their meeting at Davis, introduced Dr. W. L. Ifoward, Director of the University Farm, who gave the address of welcome. Dr. Howard said the University Farm operated 1100 acres of land, with a staff of 150, and that the budget for the year ended June, 1928, was $1,115,000. He also said that 450 students from 15 states and 18 foreign countries were enrolled.

E. T. Robie, Northern vice-president of the California Retail Lumbermen's Association, responded on behalf of the club.

G. H. Hecke, Director of Agricdlture for the State of California, was the next speaker. Mr. Hecke in the short time at his disposal gave an outline of the work of his department, and particularly stressed the importance-of getting the co-operation of everybody in the State in fighting pests.

"Livestock Housing" was the topic of Dr. G. L. Hart, head of the Animal Husbandry Division'

Harry A. Lake, president of the California Retail Lumbermen'i Association, addressed the gathering on "The Lumbermen's Responsibility to Agriculture," and in the course of his talk urged lumbermen to help to sell memberships in County Farm Bureaus, stating that in his opinion if lumbermen all over the State had the proper idea of co-operation there would be immediate results noticed. Much more contact is needed, he said, between the farmer and the business man'

Professor Walker's talk on "Mutual Interests" concluded the speaking program. This meeting, he said, was in the natuie of an experiment to test out whether the

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