572 THE farmers' handbook. 



To sow an acre, 27 to 35 lb. of unshelled nuts, or 8 to 10 lb. of shelled 

 nuts, are required. The quantity depends chiefly on the variety, the distance 

 apart in the rows, and the width of the drills. 



The method adopted in small areas is to mark out the ground in drills 

 with a hand plough, drop the seed by hand, and cover with the plough or 

 rake. On extensive areas, where the peanut crop has taken a permanent 

 place in the rotation of the farm, and is, perhaps, the chief source of revenue, 

 the use of machines becomes necessary. The land is marked out in drills, as 

 for maize, but not so deeply, using an ordinary plough or one of the special 

 drill ploughs on the market. The distance apart of the drills will depend 

 upon districts and on varieties. In typical districts, drills 3 feet apart and 

 seeds every 18 to 24 inches in the drills is sufficient for the strong-growing 

 varieties. 



•The seed should be covered to a depth of 1] inches in sandy soil and 1 inch 

 in heavier soil if it is in a fine moist condition. Slightly deeper covering 

 will be necessary if the soil is inclined to be dry at the surface. 



After-cultivation. 



Cultivation between the rows must be thorough and frequent, from the 

 time the plants appear above ground until the blossom falls and the nuts 

 begin to form or " peg," as it is termed. The land must be kept scrupulously 

 clean, and under no circumstances must the weeds be allowed to grow 

 unchecked ; they will not be difficult to control if the soil has been properly 

 prepared at the outset. 



To conserve the moisture during the dry summer months, the cultivator 

 must be employed after every rain of any magnitude to restore the mulch and 

 prevent evaporation. 



Harvesting. 



If the season has been favourable and the cultivation thorough, the vines 

 in two to three months from sowing will have met between the rows, and the 

 whole field will have the appearance of a mass of dark green foliage. Later 

 on, it gradually assumes a yellowish appearance — a sure indication that the 

 pods are reaching maturity and that the time of harvesting is approaching. 

 Under normal conditions the maturity of the plant ranges from 120 to 

 1 70 days. After the lifting implements have gone through the crop, the 

 vines are pitchforked into windrows, where they are left for a few hours to 

 wilt; then stacked until cured, which may take from 15 to 25 days, and 

 finally the nuts are picked from the vines and marketed. 



Summary. 



The factors which would seem to indicate that the peanut industry could 

 be placed on a profitable basis in this State may be summarised as follows : — 



1. rp here are large areas of suitable land. 



2. The climatic conditions are favourable. 



3. There is an extensive market for nuts of good quality for roasting and 



confectionery, and for nuts of second quality for oil manufacture. 



4. Large quantities of edible and crude peanut oil are imported annually 



which could be produced locally. 



