The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1920-03-19
PEANUTS AS A CASH CROP
Soils Fertilizers, Varieties, Cultlva,
tlon, Harvstlng.

Clemson College, Dec. 16.-With
the boil weevil present in South Caro-
lima, a great many farmers are look
ing about for some cash crop to take
The place of cotton. Perhaps no other
crop is attracting so much attention
as the peanut. Our supply Of bulle-
tins on peanuts has been exhausted,
says Prof. C. P. Blackwell, agrono-
mist, but we are preparing another
bulletin which will soon be ready for
distribution. We are giving below the
answers to the questions we are most
frequently asked:
l. It the peanut profitable cash
crop?
A. Yes, if given the proper atten.
ton, it compares favorably with cot
ton. l recently asked a number OF
farmers Of Georgia and Alabama this
question, and here are some of their
answers: "The peanut has the best
future to it of any crop we know
Bankers and business men in peanut
territory will testify in favor of pea
nuts" Banks are more willing to
lend money to the poor farmer and
tenant who is willing to grow good
crop Of peanuts" Cash returns from
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 sure crop!
A. Yes. They are safer than cot.
ton if given as careful attention.
4. What kind Of soil is best for
peanuts?
A. Peanuts can be grown under a
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, if they
have plenty Of hur,us and arc friable,
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
! s-3-3 fertilizer. The 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-2-3 fertili.
zer will probably pay best. In the
Piedmont section 92-3 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. II 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
the soil becomes thoroughly warm in
the spring. They may be planted
as late as July the 18th. This means
they can be planted after a crop Of
pats is harvested.
8. What distance should be given
them?
A. The Spanish variety should be
planted in rows 30 to 36 inches apart
and about 6 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
Iensia 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 an6 one-half to
two pecks unshelled. The Virginia
Bunch requires about one and one
half pecks shelled.
H. How should they be cultivat-
ed?
A. Cultivation should begin immc
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
H. h.