470 SOUTHERN FIELD CROPS 



wider than 2 feet and as the distance between plants was 

 increased above 6 inches. 



451. Seed. To plant an acre of either Spanish or 

 running peanuts rather thickly, requires about two bushels 

 of unhulled nuts, or about half a bushel of hulled peanuts. 



The seed intended for planting should be harvested 

 before the plants are killed by frost and so stacked and 

 stored as to avoid heating. Varieties having large pods 

 require the shelling of the seed peas, but shelling is not 

 necessary with the Spanish variety. The latter is usually 



FIG. 202. A PEANUT "POPPER." 

 A device for shelling peanuts. 



simply broken, each piece being planted with the inclosing 

 shell. In this case, some growers find it advantageous to 

 soak the Spanish peanuts for a few hours before planting, so 

 as to hasten germination. Shelling affords a more nearly 

 perfect stand and more rapid germination, thus giving 

 the crop an opportunity to begin growth before grass and 

 weeds start. 



Shelling of seed peanuts should usually be performed 

 by hand, since the use of machines for this purpose some- 

 times breaks the thin coat surrounding the nuts. Any 

 injury to this thin layer is apt to interfere with germina- 



