The log cabin Democrat., 1909-03-02
3 FARMING IN 5 THE SOUTH
PEANUT CULTURE.
Varieties-Soii-Tim of Planting Cultivation-Harves arvesting-Yield-
 Preparation for Market

The Louisiana State Board of Agri- culture and Immigration and the Elk pertinent Station has issued the fol lowing on peanut culture, prepared by w. R. Dodson, Director, Agricultural Experiment Stations:
 In view of the frequent inquiries re- garding the cultivation of peanuts, the following condensed statement has been prepared giving the most perti- nent facts secured from the Louisiana Experiment Stations and other experi- ment stations in the South:
 Varieties-The large peanuts usual ly seen at the confectioneries are the Virginia" or Tennessee" red" or white" varieties The Virginia or Tennessee red is more popular on the market and these seem to be better suited to Louisiana conditions than the two white varieties. The Spanish" peanut has a smaller pea and has more erect habit of growth, and the peas adhere to the vines with greater tenacity in the harvest than is char acteristic with the other varieties. The Spanish peanut is, therefore, easier to harvest for forage or market than the other varieties The Spanish variety is not quite as rich in oil as some of the large varieties. The socalled Mammoth" varieties are not desira- ble so far as the indications of the eX- periments at the Louisiana Stations go. The yields are small and many of the pods are not we'll filled. The Spanish is generally preferred for for age and possibly for other purposes. on account of less labor involved in harvesting
 Soil-Almost any well drained soil in Louisiana will produce a fair crop of peanuts. The sandy soil with moderate amount of humus is prefer red. Stiff soils frequently produce good crops, but it is difficult to harvest the pea satisfactorily and free it from dirt Red soils, containing large quantity of iron, color the pods and injure the market qualities Soils containing large amount of stable manure or de composing vegetable matter are liable to produce excessive vines and small yield of peanuts
 Time of Planting-Peanuts shoulc not be planted until all danger oi frost has passed They may be plant ed as late as the middle of June and good crop made
 Preparation of the Soil-Prepare the soil as for ordinary staple crops. A clean culture is desirable, land that is comparatively free of weed and grass seeds is to be preferred
 Planting-Very slight ridges shou'C be prepared in ordinary soils, in the more sandy soils, the fiat row should be used The rows may be arranged from two and half to three feet apart The closer rows have ~-1 found to give the largest yields. rhe hills in the row should be from s.A inches to a foot and a half apart. Us ually the short distance Is used with the small varieties and the poor land
  large varieties and the richer land. Generally two peas are planted to the hill Tn early planting cover some what deeper It is the general prac- tice to shell the peas before plant ing. Good results are secured by sim ply breaking the pods, but they do not come up as quickly when planted this way as when shelled before planting Planting the whole pods delays germi' nation and generally prevents securing first-class stand. It will require from one to two bushels of peas in the hull to plant an acre.
 Cultivation-Freque shallow cul- tivation up to the time that the vines begin to bloom gives the most satisfac' tory results. No special precautions are necessary In the cultivation of the crop. After the blooms begin to ap- pear the vines should be disturbed as little as possible, though the middles may still be cultivated lightly with any implement most convenient.
 Harvesting g-Harvesting should be | gin as soon as a large per cent Of the peas have matured. If the work is delayed and unfavorable weather pre- vails there will be greater loss from the germination of the peas as they mature than will be compensated fol by the maturity of the later formed peas. The common method of har vesting is to off-bar the row with z turnplow Then lift out each hill sep arately with a ground fork. shaking the bunch to release the adherine dirt Two or three rows are punched together and curing is very much af ter the order commonly followed 1T windrowing hay. When a considera 1 hla cr0n Is nr0dncad they are shock