UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION

DIVISION OF GENETICS
BERKELEY 4, CALIFORNIA

February 22, 1958

Dear Joshua:

I have just finished the budget for 1959-60, which in itself
is not such a difficult chore, but it is one that does not go well with
interruptions, of which there have been more than usual of late, Now it
is possible to do some of the things I should have been doing long since,
including ou? {letter of February 6.

Agricultural Biochemistry is apparently not going to fold up
entirely on the campus. As far as I can piece out the whole picture
at this time it is something of this order: (1) Barker and Hassid will
transfer to Biochemistry (Snell's Department) but will retain their
ll-month's appointment via the Agricultural Experiment Station with
Agricultural Biochemistry as the device. Snell himself may also obtain
an ll-month's appointment in the same way. Furthermore, the latest
thinking is that Esther would be more appropriately located here
(2) Stumpf, et al will go to Davis when Soils and Plant Nutrition
building is completed.

Since Barker and Hassid will not move out of the Virus
Laboratory-Bicchemistry building, they will still be pressed for space,
The pressure will not be relieved until a new building is constructed
for they. Three to five years is the time estimate and both are to
be located on Heazst near Oxford where the present greenhouses are,
We are due to move our structures to the Oxford Tract where we will
have more modern greenhouse and field laboratory facilities but of
course very much less field space. The present virus laboratory will
be turned over to Chemistry. Calvin's group will occupy a good share
of it. The game of muscial chairs foes on. Biochemistry-V irus
(Virus will probably become an academic department) will get a new
building faster if the Public Health people come through with a grant.

Departments of Genetics are precarious things particularly
in the absence of practical applications in plant and animal breeding.
In order to preserve the integrity of the science, we feel that it is
essential to have a solid core of theoretical genetics. Solidity of the
core depends upon # well-rounded covering of the various areas, a
condition that we do not have at present and one that we hope that you
will remedy. However, locus is also a very important element in
establishing and maintaining the core. The fact that Stern, a theoretical
geneticist, is in the Department of Zoology weakens the core in spite
of all good will and considerable effort on his part.

One reason the forestry building appealed so much to us was
that the whole department would be on a single floor. Naturally, we
hope to cooperate with related departments and we feel that the
cooperation will be much more fruitful and pleasant if we can operate
from a solid base.
Lederberg <2
Feb. 22, 1958

In view of the experience of those in the Virus-Bacteriology
set up in the past, there is no question that a laboratory of your
own is a prerequisite to happy relations with colleagues eleewhere
on the campus. I believe that wo can work out a satisfactory laboratory
although it will take time and considerable patience. At this stage
time and effort spent in clearing up fundamentals are well worth it.
Do not feel that you are adding to my burdens -- chairmen are
expendable. More important, however, I believe that we should explore
every possibility so that the ultimate solution is mutually satisfactory.

I have not heard from Browne recently; yesterday I could not reach
him by phone. I shall let you know as soon as he has something worth
discussing.

Regéxds to Esther,

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