, 1892-07-09

The quantity to be applied is governed by the
depth of the soil and the amount Of vegetable
matter it contains. The application is in
creased with the greater depth of the soil
and the same rule is applicable as to the great
er or less proportion of vegetable matter. 1t
is, therefore, impossible to give any rule that
could be universally applied. A safe plan is,
in the beginning to make small applications,
to be increased or diminished as the require
ments of the soil are ascertained. | have no
doubt but that any Intelligent farmer. with
the aid Of this meagre information, would be
able the second season to fertiIize properly.
Too much care cannot be exercised in the
selection Of seed. THIS is an all-important
matter. As the crop is from three and one
half to five months maturing, ii is Imperative
that you have reasonable assurance thar the
seed selected will germinate, thus minimizing
the possibility OF replantlng. The latter should
be avoided entirely if possible, as the result
usually is that the replanted nuts do not con-
tribute to the salable supply, but produce
what are termed pops and "Saps" or in
other words, nuts that are practically worth
less. This. Of course, is due to insufficient time
for maturing. Therefore, to make assurance
doubly sure, ample time should be given be-
fore the planting season arrives for the testing
Of seed. 1t is not cxAggerating the import
anee Of the seed-test to say that failure is in
vited, and accepts the invitation thus profer-
ed, in niue out Of every ten attempts, in cases
where it is but indiferently done or omitted.
1t is my opinion, endorsed by hundreds of
peanut planters, that the best and simplest
methods for testing the seed is given by b.
w. Jones, of Virginia, which / quote in full
Take a dozen or two kernels that appear to
be in quality a fair average Of the whole lot of
seed ON hand, place them in a tumbler
with some dampened cotton or a piece of
sponge, and set the tumbler in a warm place
where the heat is uniform and high enough to
start the germ III a few days. In q day or two
if the seeds are good, they Will begin to swell
and the embryo viii soon begin to grow. Thus,
according to the number Of seeds that have
terminated out Of the number tested, the plan
ter can calculate the probable percentage of
good seed.
But the planter must not rest satisfied
with ono trial. As soon as the out-of-
door temperature will admit Of it, he should
try quite q number Of the seeds in the open
ground. Selecting a warm, sunny spot, he
should plant from fifty to one hundred kernels
and shelter the place. as much as possible from
the cold winds.lf these germinate well the seed
may be relied upon as being good"
Great care should be taken not to disturb
the kernel furthec than to remove the outer
hull. This labour may ne performed by chill
dren, who are usually delighted at the pros
pect Of doing something useful, especially
when the opportunity is thus afforded Of gra-
tifying a taste that is universal for this deli
cious nut. Tn time Of pr eparation Of seed is
important only in couside ration of sufficient
time being allowed for their thorough test
Two or three weeks will be ample time for
that purpose. Should they have been prepar-
ed during leisure hours IN the winter, espe-
cial care must then be taken that they do
not cheat thereby running their terminating
quality. They should be put in a cool place,
where it would be possible for q circulation of
air to pass under as we'll as over them. In
view Of the constant watchfulness that is re-
quired, when prepared 50 long in advance of
planting season, it would be advisable to post
pone this part Of preliminary work until time
for experiments will have arrived.
The seed bed must be as near perfection as
labour and skill can make it. No other crop
requires so much care III the preparation Of
the soil. The land must be entirely free from
obstruction, so the small, delicate stems that
bear the peas will meet no resistance in push
inc their way through the earth. 1t ia I'M
necessary to suggest that it is of the utmost,imss
%portance that the soil be thoroughly sharrowed
before planting. 1t would be well to pillow
deep, early in the spring, and again with a
light pillow just hefoie planting. BY this me.
thod the soil attainS a fine filth and saves la.