PEANUTS l8l 



kind of soil that is open and friable and that can 

 be kept so, provided there is lime and mineral 

 elements, will do for the crop. The objection to 

 the clay soil lies in the staining of the pods. So 

 far as yield and weight are concerned, the clay soils 

 have given extremely good results. In fact, the 

 peanuts on such soils are heavier than on sandy 

 soils. The clay soils being colder and less active, 

 do not permit as early planting as the sandy ones. 



It has been mentioned that peanut soils require 

 lime, and also phosphorus and potassium. Marl is 

 often used and so are oyster shells. However, com- 

 mon limestone answers every purpose on the 

 peanut farm. As a rule, 30 bushels of lime make 

 a good application to the acre. Frequent and small 

 applications are superior to infrequent and heavy 

 applications of lime. 



Anyone can prepare land for peanuts. Any 

 preparation that will get the soil to a good depth 

 of plow, and then thoroughly harrowed and pul- 

 verized to the depth of 4 or 5 inches, will provide 

 good preparation. A common practice is to break 

 the land with an ordinary turning plow as soon as 

 possible in the spring, and then follow with the 

 harrow and the roller until a suitable condition of 

 the land is obtained. About 2 bushels of nuts in 

 the pod are sufficient to furnish seed for an acre. 

 In opening the pod for planting purposes, care and 

 attention are necessary in order to avoid the break- 

 ing of the skin of the kernel, and also to select the 

 more perfect kernels as they are shelled. 



Harvesting Peanuts. After frost run the point 

 of a plow under the vines so as to cut the roots and 

 then lift the vines with the adhering pods out of the 

 soil and shake free from dirt. Lift out with a fork. 



