The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1920-03-12

peanuts haven't been so great as
from cotton before the weevil infes-
! tation, but we have not become very
efficient in the production Of peanuts
yet. At the present time peanuts
pay us much better than cotton un'
der weevil conditions" Farmers
here are in much better financial con-
dition than ever and would continue
to plant peanuts if weevils were not
here"
2. Do peanuts require as much Ia
Dor as cotton?
! A. No. Different farmers who have
had experience with both estimate
from half as much to the same
amount.
| 3. Are peanuts a sure crop!
A. Yes. They are safer than cot
ton il given as careful attention.
A. What kind Of soil is best for
peanuts?
A. Peanuts can be grown under
wide range of soil conditions. The
best soil is we'll drained sandy loan
with a reasonable amount Of humus
and plenty Of lime. The heavier soils
| will make good yields Of nuts, II they
! have plenty Of humus and are friabls,
but they are not so easily cultivated
and they may stain the nuts. This
makes the nuts less saleable but does
not injure them for home use.
S. What kind and amount Of fer
tilizer should be used for peanuts?
A. For the Coastal Plains section
Of South Carolina We recommend an
8-3-3 fertilizer. Tho amount Will de-
pend on the kind Of soil. Five to
eight hundred pounds will pay best
on the average. On soils that are
rich In organic matter an S-1-3 fsrtili'
zer will probably pay best. In the
Piedmont section s-2-3 will give
good results.
6. Is lime necessary for peanuts!
A. Soils that are acid need lime.
These are usually the soils that are
poorly drained or have been poorly
| drained in the past If your soil
needs lime, apply 1000 pounds OF
burnt lime or 1000 pounds Of ground
limestone per acre.
7. When should peanuts be plant
ed?
A. The best time to plant is when
tho soil becomes thoroughly warm in
the spring. They may be planted
as late as July the 18th. This means
they can be planted after crop OF
oats is harvested.
8. What distance should be given
them?
A. The Spanish variety should be
planted in rows 80 to 36 inches apart
and about inches between plants.
For the large varieties more distance
Is better.
9. What variety is best to use?
A. The White Spanish is best for
milling and for grazing. The Vir-
ginia Bunch, Red Tennessee and Va
lensia are good for home consumption
and peanut stands.
10. How much seed are required
to plant an acre?
A. OF the Spanish variety one
peck shelled or one and one-half to
two pecks unshelled. The Virginia
Bunch requires about one and one
half pecks shelled.
IL. How should they be cultivat-
ed?
A. Cultivation should begin imme-
diately after the plants are well up
and should be continued until they
| begin to "peg" or form pods. After
this they should not he disturbed
Never let peanuts get grassy or
weedy. They should have frequent
shallow cultivation. The soil should
be moved gradually toward the
plants to afford loose earth. for the
pegs" to penetrate.
II. Is it necessary to cover Elos-
SONS with soil?
A. No. The pegs" will find thair
way into the soil if they receive the
proper cultivation. Covering the
blossoms prevents pollination.
I 13. Are there machines for plant
ing, harvesting and picking peanuts?
A. Yes. There are several ma
| chimes which do these various opera
tlons with reasonable success. More
| information will be given on this
point in our bulletin which is to come
out soon
! II. 1t there a certain market for
peanuts next year?
/ A. We feel very sure there will be
-..e oil mills of this state claim
they will need 100000 tons to keep
running all the year.
FG" reformation about where the
seed may be secured write the Agroa,
omy Division Of Clemson College.