The Marietta journal. (Marietta, Ga.) 1918-1944, 1922-04-13
PEANUTS MAKE
GOOD SUBSTITUTE
CROP FOR COTTON


am hstitrte for cotton in the boil
81 III infested sections of the State.
peanuts have been used as a sub
4+nte crop for cotton over nearly
s $50 part of the South, where the
e.T il ueevil damage has been serious
gUll snccess of the crop has been
lnG ND Some years the farmers
E la, nleased with the returns and on
w. e,o, years they have been disap-
oyH;n+oi In southwest Georgia, pea
p l5+s largely replaced cotton when the
MI IUopvil first came and are still
p oa,,,n extensively there. The aver
sn ro Weld has been about one-third
af TON per acre and the prices have
voried from forty to one hundred
and twenty dollars per ton.
Machinery Needed
Peanuts can be produced with the
same equipment found on nearly ev-
orv cotton farm. A planter, weeder
ond picker need to be added for
growing them we'll and properly pre-
9aring them for market. A picker
will serve a whole community IN most
sections. Just as grain thresher
does, Some cotton planters have adj
iustments for planting peanuts.
Labor Required
Peanuts require less work than
cotton. The preparation of the Land
and planting are about the same for
each crop, but in cultivation peanuts
need only two-thirds to three-fourths
as much as cotton and for harvest
about half as much. One hoeing is
usually needed, but it can be elimi-
mated by careful and thorough Gull
tivation Planting can be done over
period of six weeks, but the har-
yesting needs to be done promptly,
as the crop natures. The period re
curing the most work is during har-
vest, which comes in the hottest days
Of August and early September.
Soils
Peanuts need loose soils. In the
Piedmont section the gray lands map
ped as Cecil and Appling sandy loans
are probably the best suited, as
whole Tight clay lands are not so
good because Of the difficulty of har-
vesting when the soil is dry. Wet
lands are not satisfactory.
Fertilizers
Some people growing peanuts for
the first time are under the impress
sion that no fertilizer is needed in
the production of the crop. In the
sections that have grown peanuts to
sell for some time, it is recognized
that peanuts are hard on the land."i
and need some fertilization. If grown
without fertilization and the nuts
and vines both removed, the land
will be left in poor shape for the
next crop.
The following formulas are sug-
gested
For good Ioamy lands-acid phos-
phate
For Light gray lands-12-0-2.
For thin soils-10-2-2.
Lime is reported very beneficial to
peanuts in other states but has not
been used much in Georgia. In the
fIedmont section it will probably not
snow the returns that an equal am
cunt OF money invested in acid phos-
phate would.
Inc White Spanish variety is best
adapted for our market and soil con-
o o:ti inns variety can be planted
gy4ef shelled or in the pod. If
seeAed, only two and a half gallons
VI Seeq are needed per acre, if in the
poo' ABOUT two bushels. Good fresh
'"l l'IHe SheiIed peanuts are salts
factory as seed, but old nuts partly
~"ehCu ana broken are to be avoid
w. seed should not be shelled until
SHORT time before they are to be
- GOOD uniform seed are ne
desirable . ''''''s' .ioii 10
North Carolina or Gunner" nea-
I 5U.N are suited well for hog grazing
. DuC are inferior to the Spanish for
'"eIIIng or for crushing.
Preparing the Land
ror n"nu Tor peanuts is usually pre-
B"Ieu as for cotton to be planted on
ne level. 1t should be free of trash
" "nu 'eJtied enough to make a good
r nIeu PED. Peanuts should not be
G 5;a on a high bed nor have much
is ' 1nfoWn to them at any stage. 1t
% wen to run a harrow or weeder
WIG Aaho Just before planting.
H. Planting
onl me rows are laid off and fertilizer
tba as IN planting cotton, EXCEPT
and Low to"s should be closer together
bottaCne FERTILIZER mixed with the soil
Po,,,a man is necessary with cotton.
visoJ TWO or three feet wide are ad-
fo',. Ihe nuts should be planted
rI 10 SIX inches in the row To
n m%@e large yield of Spanish pea
noo ,SS' a large number of plants are
go r'Ieo per acre. Where unsbelled
b oru Is used soaking in water several
gern ,% before planting will hasten
tn Cultivation
flar = cultivation of peanuts is sim
FrI 70 that of cotton. except very
ni,". art should be thrown to the
p.}'tS A weeder is valnabIo ~ +bo