The Wilmington morning star., 1940-04-01
Lime GREAT HELP
T0PEANUT CROPS
Fourteen Peanut = Producing
Counties Increase Orders
For Limestone

Peanuts are lime-loving plants.
The IA major peanut-producing
counties in North Carolina ordered
only 1909 tons of ground agricul.
tural limestone through the AAA
grant-of-aid program during the en-.
tire 1889 season. Already this year,
with the Triple-A limestone orders
to continue through October 81,
the same IA peanut counties have
ordered $3.50 tons of the grant.of.
aid lime.
DR.. E. r. Collins, agronomist of
State college, sees this as an en-
~couraging sign for future peanut
crops in the state. Although fine.
l%y-ground limestone or oyster shell
is preferable for peanuts, since it
is readily available during the
growing season applied, DR.. Collins
thinks that the type of wet lime
distributed through the AAA pro.
gram will be reasonably effective.
Eight of the IA major peanut
counties did not order any grant
of-aid lime last year. They are,
with the amounts ordered already
this year: Pitt, 1904 tons; Bruins
wick, S22 tons; Chowan, 619; Hert.
ford, 1872: Gates, 402; Martin, 337;
Onslow, 224: and Halifax, 1855.
Four of the other six peanut
counties are already ahead of their
total orders in 1889. They are, with
the tonnage applied for the 1910
listed first and the 1889 tonnage
last: Perquimans 1799-34S; Bladen,
1.27o-454; Edgecombe, 1,1o5-e22;
and Washington, 822-157. North.
ampton county ordered 357 tons
last year, and only 152 tons thus
far in 1910, and BERTHE took 1853
tons in 1889 and has applied for
SIS tons in 1910.
| Should Test Soil
"The acidity of soil used for pea
nuts should be kept above &C." DR..
Collins says. eff there is any doubt
as to the acidity Of the soil, sam.
pies should be sent to the agron-
omy department at State college
in Raleigh, where the soil will be
tested and recommendations will be
made. County farm agents of the
extension service will be glad to
help farmers take samples Of their
soil and prepare the samples for
shipment to the college laboratory"
Turning to other phases of pea
nut production, DR.. Collins said
that a well-drained sandy soil is
best suited to peanuts; poorly
drained SOU soils, OF very infer
tile soils are not desirable. Pea
nuts should be grown in rotation
and never on the same land more
than once in three or four years.
The rotation should include at
least two green manur crops, one
of which should be a winter cover
crop.
The agronomist recommends that
peanuts be planted in North Caro-
lima from May 1 to May Is. Ear
lier planting dates are not advis-
able because of the danger Of the
seed rotting from cold weather." he
advised. TRY to plant when the
soil is fairly dry, if possible. A
uniform and comparatively thick
stand is necessary for maximum
yields and better stands and easier
cultivation are usually obtained by
planting On a slight ridge.
Runner varieties should be
planted in three-foot rows, II
inches apart with two seed to the
hill. Rows may be closer together
for the bunch varieties, such as 80
to So inches, and eight inches
apart in the row, with two seed
to the hill. Frequent shallow cul-
tivations are beneficial. Cultivate
so as not to injure the pegs, and
cease %cultivating when the plants
spread over the middle of the row."
Fertilizer Recommendations
Proper fertilization Of peanuts de-
Ponds almost entirely upon the ma
ture Of the soil, the agronomist
stated. Continuing, he recommends
200 to $50 pounds of a 1926 fer
tilizer if the soil is low in organic
matter. On naturally fertile soils,
or following crops that have been
heavily fortified, the amount of
fertilizer may be reduced, the nitro.
gen omitted, or the fertilizer left
off entirely.
Where potash deficiency is known
to exist, Dr. shown by deficiency
symptoms Or cotton leaves, the pot.
ash may be increased in the fer
%tilizer, or a side dressing Of Is to
100 pounds of muriate of potash,