IRRIGATION FARMING. 



the water from running around the stalks. Quick growth 

 will prevent this and also act as a guard against the invasion 

 of worms in the ears. The common rule is not to irrigate 

 corn until the leaves appear wilted in the morning. 

 Though the leaves may curl during the day, as long as 

 they come out bright and fresh in the morning it is best 

 not to supply more water. Corn roots lie near the sur- 

 face, so deep irrigation is not necessary. The water 

 should be run through the rows quickly and turned off. 

 As soon as in a condition to work, the surface should be 

 cultivated to prevent rapid evaporation. 



Peanuts. These require a warm, sandy soil. They 

 are planted in rows two and one-half feet apart and four- 

 teen inches in the rows. The nuts are shelled and 

 planted two or three in a hill. Cultivation is about the 

 same as for potatoes. The Spanish nuts grow upright, 

 similar to potato vines, while the large Virginia nuts 

 have vines running upon the ground, similar to sweet 

 potatoes. The upright vines should be hilled slightly 

 with a small garden plow, while the others require flat 

 cultivation. They will need to be irrigated about once, 

 every ten days and kept clean of weeds until they com- 

 mence to bloom, when they will need to be kept pretty 

 well hilled up ; and if. the vines grow upwards, too much 

 to take root, it would be well to put a shovelful of soil 

 in the center of each vine, that is, on top of the center, 

 so as to hold it down to the ground. The peanut does 

 not need to have its blossoms covered, as many people 

 suppose. The crop can be allowed to remain in the 

 ground until the first hard frost without injury. There 

 are different varieties, but the most profitable is the 

 Virginia nut. They are both red and white, and the 

 latter is the nut to grow for profit. The Spanish nut 

 is very prolific and the best for eating. It is very 

 small and never sold on the market except for confec- 

 ti<;ner's use* 



