Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-02-25
Culture ofthe Peanut

Culture OF the Peanut
A citizen of Petersburg, Va, briefly
states in the Country Gentleman the
principal conditions for the successful cul-
ture of the peanut as follows:
SoL-Select clean Iand-such, for in
stance, as was in corn last year. Break
up with a one-horse pillow, say three to
four inches deep, not deeper. A grey,
sandy soil is preferred, but any light soil
will do The color of the pods takes af-
ter the color of the soil, and the brighter
the product the higher the price it brings
in the market.
PREPARATToN.-SuppOsing the land to
have been plowed as recommended, then
when the season for planting-say as
as soon the ground gets warm enough to
promote speedy termination, which is
about the 18th of May in this climate
lay off with pillow of the same size in
rows three feet apart, running both ways
in the furrow. If the land has not pre-
viously been lined, Stacked lime at the
rate of twenty bushels to the acre, OF a
peck to every seventy running yards,
should be strewed along the furrOw. If
the land is in good heart, no manure is
necessary; if thin, deposit good sprink-
ling in the furrow. Our planters mostly
use commercial manures, either guanO or
the superphOsphates, at the rate of 200
pounds to the acre. After this, the fur
rows are to be ridgCd, and the height of
the bed reduced to about three inches
above the surface. Limeis indispensable
to the growth of peanuts. Any good soil
will produce a fine growth of vines, but
it requires the presence of cslcareOus
matter to enable the pods to fill with
sound, plump beans. The imperfect pods
are know among planters and dealers by
the name of pops"
When ready to plant, mark of the
rows, and drop the seed at distances of
eighteen inches, two beans in place
and cover not more than an inch and a
half deep. In about two weeks the young
plants will be making their appearance,
and it is important to get good early
stand, the missing places should be re-
planted as early as possible. The young
plants bear transplanting very well, and
some planters put an extra quantity of
seed in every fourth or fifth row with
this view.
CULTIvATIoN.-When the grass begins
to show, light plOw should be run on
each side of the row, throwing the earth
from the plants. This operation is to be
followed at once by the hoe, thoroughly
cleaning out the grass. As sOOR as the
grass makes its appearance again, work
with a cultivator or shovel pillow, still fOl-
lowing with the hoe. Should the season
be wet, it may be necessary to use the
cultiyator once more, and also the hoe
By This time the vines will have extended
halt way across the rows, and begin to
show blossoms. The last working is to
run a mould-board in the middle between
the rows, TO afford loose earth to be
drawn up to the vines by the hoe, but in
no case are the vines to be covered, and
their position is to be disturbed as little as
possible. In a short time thereafter the
vines will spread over the whole surface,
and Tepress every other growth, unless it
! may be by some chance weeds, which
Should be removed by hand.
HARVESTING. -The time for gathering
| tie crop is on the occasion of frOst-say
tie 10th of October. Vines intended for
seed should not be exposed to severe frost
lcfore digging, or frosty weather while
curing. Select an open spell of weather,
and with a prOnged hoe loosen the vines
along the row, and let hands follow to
! pull them up and shake off the earth, leav-
ing them on the ground to dry. In two
or three days, if the weather is good, they
| viii be dry enough to be shocked. For
this purpose provide stakes seven feet
long, made sharp at both ends; then lay
;wO fence rails on the ground to serve as
foundation, but with supports under
meath to afford free circulation Of air.
The stakes being driven in the ground be-
tween the rails, the stacks are built up
around them, and finished off by cap Of
straw to cast the rain. The diameter OF
The stack should not exceed the spread of
% single vine. After two weeks of favor
able weather the picking may be COM
menced, rejecting all the imperfect pods.
The final curing should take place in the
barn, frequently stirring the bulk to pre-.
vent heating. When ready for market,
the different grades should be classified,
as the planter does his cotton or tobacco.
Some peanut growers wash their best
samples, causing them to look clean anC
bright. These sell for an extra price
The washing is done by putting the pods
- in hamper, and stirring them briskly
, with the hand while the water is being
f poured on them, and then spreading on
floor to dry.
SEED-The greatest care must be exer
D cised in the selection of seed. II tn