The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-01-19

requires about as much for groundpsas as
for crop of cotton.
Everything being in readiness, proceed
about the middle Of May-say from the
10th to the 20th-to lay the ground off in
rows three feet apart, putting the fertilizer
in the furrow. Then ridge over by running
the pillow once each side, and level down to
about three inches above the general sur
face. Open light furrow on the ridge in
any way most convenient, and at spaces Of
twenty inches drop two beans in place,
and cover to the depth of On inch and q
half.
In about ten days the young plants will
be making their appearance, and at the
earliest moment all the missing hills should
be replanted.
As soon as the grass begins to show, the
working should commence. The cultiva-
ton at first is similar to that of corn. First
run the plow IA light one) with the bar
next to the row, and follow Immediately
with hoes, dressing out with the utmost
care, and handwriting when necessary.
After suitable interval, which may be
Judged of by the reappearance Of the grass,
nut in the plows again-this time throwing
the dirt to the row. Follow on with the
hoes, eafthine in but not covering the vines,
which will now be spreading over The beds.
The last working is given by running q
single furTow in the middle between the
rows. affording earth to finish off the beds
with the hoes. At the same time, all the
weeds and tufts Of grass that were over
looked at the previous working must be re-
moved by hand.
The crop is now laid by in clearly con-
dition. The harvesting is usually done in
October. With ree-proDged hoe hand
takes row, loosenihg the vines by strokes
at proper intervals, and another follows,
raising the vines and shaking off the dirt,
and then laying them on the ridge. They
remain in this state couple Of days, when
they are in good order to be stacked. To
do this in safe manner, stakes should be
provided about FIVE feet long, sharpened at
both ends. With fence-rails to serve as o
foundation. Lay two5f these rails side by
side, with supports underneath to promote
free ventilation. Then insert the stakes in
the ground between the rails,-say three
stakes for every pair Of rails-and around
these build the stacks, Gaping off with 8
sheaf of straw. The diameter of the stack
is measured by the spread of single vine
In the dry month of October the vines
are not long in curing, and in about ter
days they are in fit condition to be re-
moved to the barn preparatory to picking
If practicable, get the whole crop under
shelter before commencing this operation
AN expert hand will pick near four bushels
a day, but fair average is about two bush
els. After being picked, the peas should bt
spread on the floor, to be thoroughly cureC
and sorted before sending to market.
The most saleable article is that in which
the pods are brightest and best filled. Thos'
who take extra pains go to the trouble
washing the. and of carefully rejectin!
every imperfect pod. The presence o
"pops" even in small number injuriousl,
affects the sale.
By taking the necessary pains. under tn
conditions heretofore stated, it should b.
in the power of every cultivator to pro
duce number one article, though not, per
haps, fancy" one. But practically
from want CT proper attention it is be
lIeved, there are as many grades In pea
nuts as in tobacco, and go we suppose i
will always be.
The product Of this crop ranges from
thirty to hundred bushels per acre. SIEVE
raj cases of the latter yield have come t
the knowledge of the writer as havin
been realized the past season. 1t is est
mated that fair average is about fift
bushels; and this ought to make the Gro
fully as profitable as cotton or tobacco
And when it is, Furthermore, considered tha
the cultivation is as easy, or nearly so, Q
that of corn, its proportionate value
much greater. And then, with sutficier
house-ro the planter has the whol
winter and spring to prepare for market.
The peanut is generally regarded as
very exhaustipg crop, and it is thought tn
same land should not be planted oftene
than once in three years. But it CO
scarcely be more exhausting than cottol
which is planted on the same ground year
in succession for an indefinite period.
similar course might be pursued in the cas-
of peanuts with equally good results-th'
is to say, by returning the vines to tn
land, and giving yearly application
fertilizers. The vines are exceedingly nj
tritious, being equal to the best clover ha
for cattle. Horses are no less fond Of then
but the sand is injurious to their teeti
Let the vines, then, be restored to the sol
with the annual addition of some manur
and it may be kept in productive sta
through course of years, besides alway
having clean land.
The cost Of preparing the land in Il
manner recommended, with the subsequel
culture, is estimated to be about forty do
lars per acre. But the lining, once don
will not require to be repeated for year!
and this is perhaps the heaviest item in Il
catalogue of expenditures.
The peanut crop is one that has grow
UP since the war. From very small pr
portions, with scarcely more than LOCI
demand, it has reached hundreds Of thol
sands Of bushels. and now supplies ver
important article of trade in the marke
of Petersburg and Norfolk. 1t is fast tal
ing the place of all other nuts, and orde
for them come from the North, the NORTH
west, and the West. The crop of last yet
is thought to be three times greater tha
that of the preceding year, and like rat
of increase will probably hold good for
least the ensuing year. 1t is believed thu
it may be cultivated to advantage througl
out tidewater Virginia; though there q
many coils even in this region not adapte
to it. But on nearly every large farm spot
if not fields, may be selected possessing a
the requisites for insuring good success.
The average price thus far during Il
present season has been about Sl.60-tl
extremes for merchantable article beil
ST. so and 1920. From these data any OF
may calculate how far he can safely We
ture in making the peanut leading crop.
Peanuts are taken to market in ba
holding about three bushels, and are SO
by weight-a clean, bright article alwa
commanding the best price. As in cott'
and tobacco, much depends on the fancy