50 ARACHIS HYPOG^A (pEA-NUT) 



Cui.Ti NATION. — The soils best suited to the growth of 

 the pea-nut are Hght soils which allow the ovary to develop 

 easily and so give a normal fructification.. 



It is impossible to give a specific composition for soils 

 in which to grow pea-nuts, for there are a number of other 

 factors to be considered in the growth of this plant. Light 

 soils, well manured, or rich in humus, will be the best in 

 view of the plant's particular fruiting and of its nature as 

 one of the Leguminosas. 



At the same time, we may remark that soils rich in 

 phosphoric acid and potash and containing a fairly high 

 percentage of lime will suit this crop very well. 



Growers should be warned of the need of applying 

 manure with a lime base to soils deficient in lime. The 

 greater the amount of assimilable nutritive matter the larger 

 will be the crop of pea-nut. 



In laterite soils the yields are good, provided the arable 

 layer is suflficiently thick. In alluvial soils this plant thrives 

 vigorously on account of the organic matter present, but 

 it is possible that the quality of the crop may not be equal 

 to that of crops grown in laterite soils, which are most 

 widespread in volcanic and tropical countries. Briefly, 

 although the pea-nut prefers a loam or silico-calcareous 

 soil, containing enough organic matter to prevent excessive 

 dryness, it will do well in any soil, provided it is nor too 

 dry, except compact clays and moist earths. 



Although the pea-nut rec|uires a certain amount of 

 moisture, an excess of water is detrimental to growth ; and 

 if the plant is to escape attack by various cryptogams the 

 soil should be able to drain easily. 



The cultivation of the pea-nut may be considered from 

 two jDoints of view — as a main crop or as a catch crop. 



In the first case expenses will be much higher, and 

 whether the crop will be profitable or not will depend on 

 local conditions of labour, land, transport, &c. In the 

 second case, it is always worth while to have the land used 

 either for the sake of the crop or for green manure, because 



