Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-06-11
AN UNAPPRECIATED CROP

production is fresh in the memory OF all
md shows the possibilities OF a diversi-
Ted and successful agricultural practice
h the southeastern states. Now that a
breaksway from cotton has been made
there should be no hesitancy on the part
u the farmer 10 undertake the cultiva-
ion OF other crops which have as great
IN economic value. II properly utilized
ks corn can possibly have This state
tnent should not be construed to mean
that less attention or effort should be
bald to the cultivation OF corn. but that
the farmer, in widening the scope OF his
operations. should include such crops as
the peanut. thes virtues OF which, for
tnany purposes. have never been prop
erly realized up to this time.
While many million bushels OF peanuts
are raised every year in the south. the
cultivation OF the crop Is confined largely
10 four states. and principally TO two
hamely. Virginia and North Carolina In
these states II has been raised almost
exclusively for commercial purposes,
Ind while this side OF the business
should be emphasized and expanded for
economic reasons. the purpose OF this
paper is 20 direct attention more spe-
eincally TO the cultivation and utiliza-
ton OF the crop for the production OF
bOrk. and the maintenance. OF cattle,
horses and mules. While peanuts have
been utilized as a grazing crop for hogs
for many years. the area devoted 20
This purpose has been remarkably small,
and in only sporadic instances has the
trop heen used as a source of food for
beef and dairy cattle. and horses and
mules. II every farmer in the south viii
this year plant FIVE to 10 acres TO pea
nuts. he win make an investment des-
tined TO bring him as large a return as
tan be secured from the cultivation of
any other crop raised on his land. This
hay seem like a wide assertion. and no
doubt there are many 70 call Il in ques-
hon. but in the long run an investigation
would reveal the fact that this conclusion
has been reached after a careful exami-
hation into existing conditions II corn
has added an arm OF Independence TO the
southern farmer which he formerly did
not possess. peanuts may be made 10
add one OF equal power and importance.
Why hesitate. therefore. TO grow this
crop on your farm during the present
year?
The wide adaptabidty OF this crop for
cultivation is shown by the fact that
Il not only thrives on the coastal plain.
which Is practically at sea level. but at
elevations approximating $500 feet.
Naturally. the crop makes a larger yield
and does better in a rather loose soil
and where there is a comparatively large
rainfall. but good yields have been oh
tanned in sections where the rainfall has
been as low as Il inches Its cultiva-
ton. especially for grazing purposes. is
not a difficult undertaking. OF all the
varieties used at the present time. the
Spanish peanut IS easier TO plant. cult
vate and handle than any other sort
Experience has shown that II is also the
best to grow for purposes OF hay pro-
duction or grazing down by hogs. This
variety Is used largely in the manufac-
ture OF salted peanuts and peanut brit
tie For those interested in the culti-
walton OF nuts, TO be eaten form the
hand. the Tennessee and the Virginia
viii be found among the --- varieties
Tor ,-.-s purpose
In this connection IL should be stated
that there are few crops which viii
stand drought better than the peanut
In the dry season OF 1911. when rain
failed 10 fall in many sections for a
period OF six TO ten weeks. the peanut
crop was not destroyed. II is true. II
stood still. but as soon ar rain came
vigorous crop ensued. and the yields
obtained were quite surprising, varying
from % to 100 bushels per acre. accord
Ing TO soil and climatic conditions. and
the amount and character Of fertilizer
used under the crop The Spanish pea
nut viii generally mature in any eli
mate where there is 30 days between
frosts- Some OF the larger sorts require
from 40 70 so days longer. Naturally
one should be careful in the choice Of
seed Securing IL as near to the loca-
tion where the peanuts are to be Guilt
waited as possible is good practice. In
other words. 70 take seed from the
southeastern states TO a location 1000
feet above sea level would probably be
disastrous. as the nuts would likely not
mature before frost fell These figures
indicate that peanuts may often be
planted in the southern states after a
fall crop sown has been removed from
the land in the spring. They may be
used thus as soil builders. and as a
second crop TO cover the land during
the warmest part OF the summer. and
provide a profitable return from the soil
IN the early autumn. The fact that
this is a legume and gathers its nitro
gen chiefly from the air renders IL one
OF the mast suitable crops for building
I'D our thin, sandy lands. and IL is
surprising that its cultivation should
nave been so restricted in sections
where these conditions prevail.
The cultivation OF the peanut is COM
paratively easy: II viii grow on any
character OF soil adapted TO the Guilt
walton OF corn or cotton The land
should be prepared much the same as
for these crops or for Irish potatoes.
The stirring Of the soil 70 a good depth
and the preparation OF a clean seed bed
are important mat -ers. Crab grass Is
one Of the great enemies Of the pea
nut: therefore bringing IL on land aft
er another crop. or after clean cultiva-
ton. is good practice. Peanuts may be
pIanted in rows from two 20 three and