The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1911-03-02

Ter, except the Virginia peanut
which seems to be sectional il
habit, and requires more lime
than most of our cotton belt con
tains; hence I would not advise
the boil weevil section to attempt
the Virginia peanut, only on linn
tied trial for experimental pur-
poses. The Spanish pea will do
well on any suitable cotton soil,
except new land, which is too
trashy and stiff, Land inclined to
break in clods causes much loss
at harvest time. The peas for
planting should be shelled by
hand and be in readiness by plant
ing time. It takes some time to
shell enough to plant a given acre
age, hence this work should be
done during the winter. They
should be planted with a peanut
planter. Some manufacturers
claim their planters will plant
anything, but a peanut planter is
made to plant peanuts and is best
adapted for that purpose. 1t
should be set to drop the kernels
4 to 6 inches apart in the drill,
and the rows should be 80 to Sc
inches apart. There should be a
thorough preparation of the soil
as for cotton. Peanuts, being a
legume, should have only a small
per cent of nitrogen, and more
phosphoric acid than potash. Fall
or winter dressing of lime helps,
but is not always necessary, de-
pnding ON the conditions of the
land. Stag often gives big yields.
Peanuts should never be plant
ed following peanuts, as they do
not succeed well the second year.
There is a scientific method of
culture in growing peanuts which
will almost entirely dispense with
the hoe.
One method is as follows
Break the land early and leave
until just before planting time,
unless it be comes foul. Rebreak
and, if the land is inclined to be
rough, borrow thoroughly. Run
off the rows 80 to Sc inches apart
with cotton pillow, sweeps or small
wings may Or may not be used
Run the planter in this furrow
and plant. Follow planter with
single pillow or wheel cultivator,
making a list on top of planted
peas as if preparing to plant cot
ton. AS soon as the peanuts have
sprouted about one inch, or a lit
tie more, take a cutaway harrow
and u diagonally and across
the rows until the field is level. In
a short while the peanuts will be
showing from end to end Of the
row. Watch carefully for small
grass, and put the weeder to work
just as you did the cutaway har-
row, doing the work thoroughly.
Now take Planet Jr cultivator
and run twice between the rows,
putting some dirt to the peas.
Side with cotton pillow and split
the middles. Plant peas deep and
thus protect them from crows and
other destructive birds. This also
is advisable, as the Spanish peas
cluster around the main root
stem, and the deep planting gives
them a larger tap root to grow
on. Where this method is not used,
and the planter is used as with
cotton, the hand-hoeing is neces-
sary as with cotton, and culture
the same as with cotton. It is not
necessary, as some presume to
hoe dirt on top of vines to make
them produce. I'm blowing or cul-
tivating it is customary to put
more dirt to peanuts than cot
ton to freshen the ground and
cover grass, which saves hoe labor
Peanut plants, even if covered
entirely, will come through again,
but this retards the growth Of
vine. Many cover them up, grass
and all to prevent hoeing, but it
is improper and shortens both the
yield of nuts and vines. We will
presume this crop laid-by, an old
saying till now.
The vines will begin to turn
somewhat a yellow cast, spotted
as if matured. Pull up a bunch
here and there, and if about all
the peas are grown and shell
thickened they are ready to gath
er. Get two mules and hitch to a
turning pillow that will admit of
the wing being taken off. This
pillow should have a long shank
Or standard, so the beam will
clear over all vines, and it will