58 THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 
Commencing from San Francisco, the lecturer showed 
the magnificent Greek Theatre of the University of Cali- 
fornia, beautifully situated amongst tall eucalypts on the 
highlands of Bakeley, overlooking San Francisco Bay. 
California, with a population one-third greater than New 
South Wales, has about 12,000 students in its several Uni- 
versities. So strong is the desire for University educa- 
tion in America that many students, frequently one-third 
in Agricultural Colleges, earn enough to pay their way ; 
whilst many more earn part of their expenses. It is a 
common thing, and one that earns respect rather than dis- 
credit, for students to earn money by domestic duties, 
farm work, agencies, ete., both for the University or Col- 
lege, or outside employers. 
Reference was made to the great railroad systems, 
which contain one-half of the world’s mileage. 
In many ways we can take example from them, pa1- 
ticularly in regard to uniform gauges, low grades, large 
engines, trucks, and trains, covered trucks, bulk-handling: 
of grain, pre-cooling and refrigerating systems for perish~ 
ables, express freight trains, steel passenger cars, and 
‘‘vailroads before settlement.’’ 
Some features of the irrigation systems of Utah were 
shown. The world owes a great debt to the Mormon peo~ 
ple, who laid the foundation of modern irrigation systems, 
aud who started the great movement that is slowly wip-~ 
ing the word desert off the map of the world. Three dan~ 
gers have made themselves apparent in the irrigation o£ 
arid areas in Utah and elsewhere, namely, (1) the water- 
logging of low valley land by excessive irrigation on 
higher levels; (2) the accumulation of alkali in the sur- 
face soil, destroying plant growth; and (3) settlement be- 
yond the capacity of the water supply available. 
Reference was made to the excellent Agricultural Col- 
leges which are maintained by Federal endowment aud 
State subsidy, and pictures were shown of those of Utah 
at Wisconsin. The latter is particularly interesting to 
Australians, for there is still to be found Prof. Babeoek, 
whose free gift to the world of his invention, the Bab- 
cock Milk Test, has made possible the great co-operative 
dairy industry of Australia. Wisconsin is considered one 
of the most advanced and highly-developed States, a very 
interesting fact when it is realised that the State is prac- 
tically controlled by its University. Even legislation 
must receive its approval before becoming law. The poSi-~ 
tion of education in America is further shown in the el@c-~ 
tion of Prof. Woodrow Wilson to the Presidency. 
