Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1884-05-24
Peanut Raising.

The bulk Of fhe peanut crop is raised
in the South, Tennessee and Virginia
furnishing the larger proportion,
though large quantities are raised in
other States. On the right kind of soil
and good cultivation they are a profit
able crop. Good light soil, with hard
pan or clay subsoil, is the best land for
them. About the first Of May, after
danger from frost b pest, 10 the best
time to plant. Break the land ven With
a turning pillow, and harrow fine. Some
plant in hills, the rows three feet apart
each way; others plant in drills, the
rows three feet apart, and the peanuts,
or, az they are often termed, guber peas,
eighteen inches apart. If the work of
cultivating is all 10 be done with the
pillow or eultivator, planting in hills is
the best plan as the cnltivating can b?
done both ways and the vines kept
much cleaner with less tronblc. When
planted in drills on wecdy land hand
hoeing may be necessary to keep down
the weeds. Ordinariaily they 10 no!
REQUIRE more than three workings, as
the vineswill soon cover the ground and
keep down the weeds as well as render
ing further cuitivating inpracticable.
Some plant the peas, while Others break
the hull AMI only plant the kernels, Oh
meat. If this rs done care must be taken
not to break the hull or husk as it in
jures the vitality. Breaking the shell
and planting only the cernel causes the
plant 70 gcrminate quicker, but they
will readily come up If planted whole,
Plant two in each hill and cover with
the hoe, stepping OH the hill so as to
firm the soil.
The moles are very destructive among
them and the cultivation should begir
as soon as possible, running the pillow
among them and keeping the surface
stirred and loose which will cause the
moles to work deeper and do less dam
age to the crop.
There are two kind OF peanuts-tht
! red and the white. The red generally
sells the best in market.
Three pecks in the shell will readily
plant an acre. When planted in hills
one hushel viii usually plant an acre
and n half When the last cultivation
is given ali The spikeletsshonld be Gov
cred as each one if it touches the GROUND
and is covered will make a pea. In {
loose mellow soil, they are harvesie Ell b,
simply pulling up the vines; but If the
soil is packed they will have 10 be du,
or plowed out and the peas gathered up
If the weather is dry, 80 that they cal
be thoroughly dried out, YOU can leave
/ on the vine until this is done and stor'
away to be picked of in the future. TIT
vines make very good roughness.
| If harvested when the soil is vet. 81
that the dirt sticks to the peas, the.
have to be picked off and washed
When picked before thoroughly drie'
they must be either washed clean au'
dried or iaid upon sraffolds and drie'
well before storing away, as they vii
mould very readily if stored before thor
onghly drying out.
Generai;y they Yell very well, some
times as high as fifty bushels per acre
and are considered profitable crop 4
they occupy the ground only .'hor
time ] should have said that the cul
tivation must he done early, ~ tn
vines grow very rapidly and will s0ol
cover the ground 80 as 10 render TIN
work iinpracticable. Generally two cu'
tivations is all that is necessary an
these must be given early. Keep a
clean az possible 30 as to give them tn
best chance to grow.-South and West