Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-03-23
CULTIVATION OF THE PEANUT

The cultivation OF the peanut is COM
parstiveIy simple matter. The seed bed
should be finely pulveriEed to a depth OF
az least five inches. Rake UP the land
in the spring soon as i'm proper
physical condition TO work and then haf-
row and roll or use a smoothing board
so as to obtain a level surface Keep
the land free OF weeds until planting
time by occasional stirring. This viii tend
10 increase the supply Of moisture in the
soil. hberate plant food. and insure a.
vigorous growth Of the crop as soon as
germination takes place
The Importance OF selecting the seed
with care can not be emphasized too
strongly. The wonderful results obtained
in the Improvement Of corn and various
other crops indicate how much may yet
be accomplished IL the practice OF seed
selection is extended to the peanut The
SEED should be selected from prolific
plants and should be carefully housed to
prevent its exposure TO unfavorable
weather conditions. Only we'll developed
and perfectly matured seed should be
planted. and il Is very important that the
seed be selected before the plants have
been injured by frost. They should be al
lowed 10 thoroughly cure in the open air.
and should then be stored I'm sacks i'm a
dry. airy loft where they will neither
heat nor collect moisture About two
bushels OF seed in the pod should be al
lowed for each acre OF land The time
Of planting depends largely on weather
conditions Most of the crop is planted
from the first OF April TO June. but plant
ing may be done any time after danger
of killing frost Is past The seed is usu-
ally sown in drills. especially on land
that has been well handled the previous
year and is comparatively free from
weeds. The rows. as a rule. are to IL
feet apart, and the kernels are placed
from Is TO IS inches in the drill. depend
ing on the fertility OF the land Planting
Is now generally done with an implement
somewhat on the order OF a cotton plant
er. In fact. machinery Is fast suppressed
ing hand labor in the cultivation OF the
crop which is an advantage in many re-
spects. since the work can be done more
PERFECTLY. quickly and economically by ma
chinery.
The peanut crop is sensitive to the in
reference of weeds. and the land should
therefore be kept sCrupulOusly clean. 1t
Is important that the work be done early
in the season. since the runners must
not be disturbed after they form and
spread. As a rule. the pods are laid by
the middle Of July or the first OF August.
and hence cultivation ceases about that
time. II is all the more important there
fore. that land intended for this crop
should be thoroughly freed Of weeds and
cultivated by means OF surface-working
implements with sufficient efficiency and
thoroughness TO keep the ground mellow
and free from trash up until the time
when cultivation ceases.
As TO the method Of planting in the
low lands. rice cultivation may sometimes
prove the most desirable. but as a rule
the peanut should not be planted on a
bed. This statement Is made advisedly.
and as the result Of both observation and
experimental investigation.
Harvesting
Peanuts must be harvested before frost
falls as Il injuries both the vines and the
kernels. The crop is generally harvest
ed by means OF a plow without a mold
board and which has a swordlike cutting
rare attached TO the side. The knife
passes under the row without injuring
the nuts and cuts the roots. Men follow
ing behind the pillow with pitchfOrks
shake the nuts free from the soil and pile
them IN windrows. Other laborers follow
and stack them around poles seven feet
high which are set al convenient places
In the field Care is taken TO see that
the vines do not come I'm contact with
the soil. and the nuts are placed on the
outside Of the shocks After the shock
has been completed IL Is capped carefully
with straw or grass 10 shed the water
during rainy weather. After curing in