PEANUT 471 



tion. In the hand shelling of peanuts the work may be 

 hastened and the fingers spared by the use of a simple 

 device known as the " popper." This is a thin piece of 

 white oak or other suitable material bent into the shape 

 of a pair of tongs (Fig. 202). While the seed peas are 

 being shelled, defective seed should be separated and 

 rejected. 



452. Breeding. No form of plant-breeding has been 

 generally applied to the peanut. However, since the selec- 

 tion of seed from the best plants largely increased the 

 yield of other crops, a similar increase is to be expected 

 by the process of saving seed from the best single plants 

 of peanuts (Fig. 203). 



453. Time of planting. - The time of planting varies 

 greatly with the latitude. In Virginia the greater part 

 of the crop is planted in May, and this is the preferred 

 month for planting the running varieties throughout most 

 parts of the cotton-belt. However, these varieties are 

 often planted in April in the southern part of the United 

 States. The Spanish peanut requires less than four 

 months for maturing a crop. Hence, this kind can be 

 planted at any date desired after cotton comes up, and 

 up to the first of July. Even later plantings of this va- 

 riety are sometimes made, but at the sacrifice of yield. 

 Spanish peanuts can be planted after any of the small 

 grains are harvested ; but unless the season be especially 

 favorable, maximum yields are not to be expected where 

 grain stubble is plowed under in June, because of the 

 tendency of such fields to dry out or otherwise get into 

 poor mechanical condition. 



454. Tillage. After planting and before the plants 



