The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1920-01-29
PEANUTS FOR Cash.
Soils, Fertilizers, Varieties, Cultiva-
tiOn, Harvesting.

lima, a great many farmers are LOOK.
inx about for some cash crop TO take
the place os cotton. Perhaps no other
crop is attracting so much attention
as the peanut. Our supply OF bulls-
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:
J. Il the peanut a profitable cash
crop?
A. Yes. il given the proper atten-
ton. it compares favorably with cot
ton. recently asked number OF
farmers Of Georgia and Alabama thts
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 a good
crop OF peanuts" Cash returns from
peanuts haven't been so great az
from cotton before the weevil infes-
tation. but we have not become very
efficien: in the production Of peanuts
vet. At the present time peanuts
pay us much better than cotton ul.
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"
.. Do peanuts require as much -
Dor as cstton?
A. No. Different farmers VINO have
had experience with both estimate
from half as much to the same
amount.
). Are peanuts sure crop?
A. Yes. They are safer than cst-
ton II given as careful attention.
1. What kind Of soil is best for
peanuts?
A. Peanuts can be grown under .
wide range Of soil conditions. The
best soil IL . we'll drained sandy loam
with a reasonable amount Of humus
and plenty of lime. The heavier soils
will make good yields Of nuts, If 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.
5. 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-s 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
YieA in organic matter an s-2-3 fsrtili.
Ter will probably pay best. In the
Pisdmsnt section s-2-3 will give
good results.
9. 10 lime necessary fer 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 nms or 2,0eo pounds OF ground
limestone per acre.
I. When should peanuts bs plant
Cd!
A. The best time to plant IL when
tAe soil becomes thoroughly warm in
The spring. They may be planted
~ late as July the 18th. This means
they can be planted after q crop of
oats is harvested.
8. What distance should bs given
them,
A. The Spanish variety should be
planted in rows 80 to IS inches apart
and about 6 inches between plants.
For the large varieties more distance
IL better.
8. what variety Is best to use!
A. The White Spanish is best for
milling and fer grazing. The Vir-
sinia Bunch, Red Tennessee and Va
lensia are good for home consumption
and peanut stands.
10. How much seed are required
TO plant an acrs7
A. or the Spanish variety one
peck shellsd or one and one-half to
two pecks unshelled. The Virginia
Bunch requires about one and one
half rsGks shelled.
II. How should they be culuvat..
I'd?
A. Cultivation should begin imme-
iiately after the plants are we'll up
and should be continued until they
begin to peg" or form pods. After
This thay should not be disturbed.
Never let peanuts get grassy or
wsedy They should have frequent
shallow cultivation. The soil should
De moved gradually toward the
plants to afford loose earth for the,
pegs" to penetrate.