Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-03-01
Making Large and Profitable
Peanut Crop

J. NJ, Girard, Ga, writes: l
wish little information on the
subject of peanut raising. MY
land is a sandy, light soil with
clay subsoil about twelve inches
below the surface. What grade
and quantity of fertilizer would
YOU recommend? Do you advise
the use of a twO-horse walking
oultivator instead Of single
rioWs?
Peanuts can be grown in all parts
of Georgia with considerable success.
Where the large pOdded sorts are
grown with the idea of their being
sold by street vendors, it is best TO
plant the peanuts on our light, san
der soils. When this is done, the
pods are a brighter and better color.
AS you doubtless know, the red lands
Of Georgia, which contain a good
deal Of iron, tend to stain the pods.
This does not interfere in any re-
spect with the quality of the nuts,
but they do not present the attrac-
tive appearance of a White-hu1led Va
riety when placed on sale.
The best peanut to grow in so far
as you are concerned is probably
the small white Spanish. This nut
is rich in oil. and it is also a fine va
riety from which to make candy Of
the peanut brittle type. b.,
On sandy land where peanuts have
not been grown, we would use for
mula containing l per cent nitrogen.
10 per cent phosphoric acid, and 4
per cent potash. On heavier soils.
/ per cent nitrogen, s per cent phos-
phoric' acid, and 3 pei cert potash
may answer quite we'll. The mini
mum amount of fertilizer to use is
300 pounds. In most instances, we
think it would be better to apply 800
pounds. AS the peanut is a legume,
you may wonder why it is advisable
to use any nitrogen. This is simply
to give the crop good, quick start.
The fertilizer is best put under the
drill row, though broadcasting may
be practiced with good results. The
fertilizer may be put down when
the seed are planted or a few days
before.
We think as a rule peanuts can
be planted in the pod with satlsfac-
ton. 1t takes more seed, but the
work of planting is lessened consid-
erably by this process. 1t IS desl-
rable' whenever possible TO use some
calcium in association with peanuts.
To this end, you should make an
application of at least 1000 pounds
Of crushed, raw, lime rock per acre.
More can often be used with adVan-
tage. The lime rock may be put on
at any time after the land has been
properly prepared and made ready
for planting. Scatter it over the
surface of the ground and harrow
it in. You may distribute it with
a drill, If you have an implement
Of this kind available. The use Of
lime tends to lessen the number of
pops in the peanut crop very mate
rally. A pop of course is a pod
which does not contain a seed. After
the peanuts are planted, and this
should be done as soon as the ground
has warmed up and the weather has
settled, cultivate lightly and keep
free of weeds and trash. AS soon
as the peanuts grow and tend to
peg. down, cultivation, if conducted
at all, should be so directed as not
to disturb the vines. For the early
cultivation Of the peanut crop, a
two-horse cultivator may be used
Later on, a one-horse cultiVator
should be used for the reason sug-
cested above. TWO-hOrse cultiVatorS
are made by all large manufacturing
concerns. We think there is little
to choose between them if the price