PEA-NUT. 545 



single season ; and, when designed for planting, should be 

 preserved unbroken in the pod, or shell. 



Soil and Cultivation. The Pea-nut succeeds best in a 

 warm, light, loamy soil. This should be deeply ploughed 

 and well pulverized, and afterwards laid out in slightly raised 

 ridges two feet apart. As the plants require the whole sea- 

 son for their perfection, the seed should be planted as early 

 in spring as the weather becomes suitable. Drop nine inches 

 apart in the drills, and cover an inch and a half or two 

 inches deep. Weeding must be performed early in the sea- 

 son ; as, after the blossoming of the plants, they are greatly 

 injured if disturbed by the hoe, or if weeds are removed 

 about the roots. 



It is rather tropical in its character, and cannot be cul- 

 tivated with success either in the Northern or Middle 

 States. 



" The seeds are sometimes dibbled in rows, so as to leave 

 the plants a foot apart each way. As soon as the flowers 

 appear, the vines are earthed up from time to time, so as to 

 keep them chiefly within the ground. When cultivated alone, 

 and there is sufficient moisture, the yield of nuts is from sixty 

 to seventy-five bushels to the acre. If allowed to grow with- 

 out earthing up, the vines will yield half a ton of hay to the 

 acre. They are killed by the first frost, when the nuts will 

 be mature, and ready for use." 



Varieties. 



A comparatively small, smooth, and regularly African 



Pea-nut, 

 formed sort. Shell thin, usually enclosing two 



kernels. 



Similar to the African. The pods, however, "Wilmington 



Pea-nut, 

 are longer, and the shell is thicker and paler. CAROLINA. 



They rarely contain less than two, and often enclose three, 

 46* 



