The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-01-09
AGRICULTURE To
BE TAUGHT BY THE
ROBERTS SCHOOL
BOARD OF PUBLICINsTRUCTION
WILL INSTALL LABORATORY
AND OTHER EQUIPMENTS
HIGHLY APPRECIATED.

The Board Of Public instruction of
Escambda County has installed a
laboratory In the Roberts Junior High
School and has changed the course of
study from the Latin or classical
course TO the scientific. and agricul-
tural courses. This school was form
erly known as the Prof. J. NJ. Tate
school and has made wonderful
change in the plan of instruction.
The idea is to eliminate Latin en-
tirely and introduce purely scien-
tific course, introducing general
science, botony, zoology, biology, do
megtic science, advanced physiology.
The higher grades will be taught
physics chemistry, special branches
Of agriculture. Preparations have
been made in supplying standard
soil tester, which the boys viii learn
to handle by the direction Of the
teacher, and win be able to give the
correct analysis of soil on scientific
basis. After giving the analysis they
will in turn give the requirements In
fertilizers to build the soil up to
the proper point Of plant production.
They will be able TO determine the
exact amount of acids, carbonates or
lime. and hunus in the soil and the
right tonnage per acre to apply.
1t seems to be a sad mistake in
the farmers to apply too little or too
much lime to their land and many
times lime is applied when it is not
needed. Sometimes farmers plow
under green manuring crops that
we're not necessary for the maintain
ence of good standard Of plant food.
Nearly all the land in this part Of
the state has sufficient acids and
potash, and all is needed is to apply
fertilizer that has the correct plant
food to liberate the potash already in
the land.
Every farmer In the Gonzalez Rob
erts school district may send the
school small sample of their soil,
about three inches from the top of
the ground, and the school will give
them, after few days OF trial, a COM
plete analysis Of the soil and the
proper direction for doctoring the
land f needed.
The trustees Of Roberts school
have endeavored to make the school
meet the needs Of the pupil of today.
The boy who can test the soil that
he Ia depending on for his living and
give the proper analysis knows what
to do IN case Of fertilizers before he
plants his crop and then knows how
to take care of the crop after It is
started, is worth more to the COM
nnunity and 60 himself than six boys
who read and translate the numerous
chapters of Caesar or other Latin Sc
lections.
Since the Roberts school has been
under the direction Of Prof. r. r.
Riley there has been rife club or
ganized and doing good practice, both
on the target range and on the yard
at drill. Some of the boys have
scored eighty out Of 100. This Is good
for beginners.
This school win be run not only for
Roberts district No. 5, but the county
board has planned to have pupils
from different parts of the county
attend this school for the benefit of
an agricultural education. This is to
be the only school of it's kind in Es-
Gambia county and so far in West
Florida, and can boast Of the only
high school IN the state Of Florida
that has rife club and requires mill
tary practice, along with other useful
branches.
Microscopic examinations, milk
testing, seed testing, seed selection,
drawing, pruning, grating, insect
both useful and harmful, will be
some of the interesting Lessons to go
along with the mathematics, English
and history.
Soil testing will be done for outside
residents for the payment Of q small
fee which win be very little in COM
parison with the hundreds of dollars
saved in useless and extravagant
methods of fertilizers.