236 Subtropical Vegetable-Gardening 



PEANUT 



The peanut is becoming one of the staple products of 

 nearly all subtropical regions. The trade with the United 

 States amounts to millions of dollars annually. The small- 

 podded kinds are grown in most warm countries. The 

 kernels are regarded as valuable food for man and the lower 

 animals, and as forming a more nearly complete food than 

 any other single crop raised. The oil has been much 

 used instead of olive oil, and is nearly colorless, with a 

 slight odor that is not unpleasant, and a taste resembling 

 that of olive oil. It is used in soap-making, and can 

 also be employed for lubricating and for burning. One 

 bushel of unhulled peanuts yields about a gallon of oil. 

 The residue, after expressing the oil, makes a good 

 oil-cake for stock, and also a good fertilizer; but it 

 is too valuable to use for the latter purpose. Pigs fatten 

 rapidly when turned into a peanut field, and peanut 

 hay or straw is a useful stock feed. Besides this, mil- 

 lions of pounds are converted into confections or eaten as 

 "nuts." 



Soil and preparation. 



Peanuts require a light-colored sandy soil, well drained 

 but not dry. Loamy soils containing clay and lime pro- 

 duce heavier nuts and greater yields than more sandy 

 soils. A warm location is preferred. The preparation of 

 the field is similar to that for the usual field crops, except 

 that it should be more thorough. Deep 'plowing is essen- 

 tial in localities where drought is likely to occur during 

 the growing season. 



