QUESTIONS 447 



have been left. They are now regularly cultivated in many places as 

 feed for hogs, the animals being turned into the field to harvest the 

 crop for themselves. Hogs fatten readily on peanuts, but should be 

 corn-fed for some time before slaughter, as an exclusive diet of pea- 

 nuts produces a rather soft quality of meat. 



Peanut vines make an excellent quality of hay. As a hay crop 

 peanuts should be planted somewhat thicker than common. The 

 vines are cut with a mowing machine and cured like any other hay. 

 A yield varying from one to two tons per acre, cured hay, is 

 expected. Spanish peanuts are the favorite variety to grow for hay 

 crop. Peanut straw, if the vines are well cured, makes a very fair 

 stock feed, and is usually utilized for this purpose. 



Insects and Diseases. Peanuts are quite free from insect 

 enemies. A small aphis sometimes works on the roots of the plant, 

 but is not considered a very serious pest. The principal injury 

 comes from insects that attack the peanut in storage ; however, they 

 can only attack those peanuts where the pods have been cracked, and 

 their control is only a problem of storing sound peanuts. The only 

 disease of importance is known as leaf spot and produces small brown 

 spots on the leaves ; however, it only gives trouble during very wet 

 periods or on low, wet land. It is never known to give trouble under 

 other conditions. The disease can be controlled by spraying with 

 Bordeaux mixture. 



LABORATORY EXERCISES 



PEANUTS 



1. If green plants or preserved material is available, make drawings of 

 a stem, showing a blossom, " peg" and pod. 



2. Determine the relative size by weight, and per cent of hull, in all the 

 standard varieties you can secure. 



3. Plant a few peanuts and make weekly observations on growth dur- 

 ing the summer. 



QUESTIONS 



1. Tell the origin and history of the cow pea. 



2. How are they classified ? 



3. What are the best known varieties? 



4. Give the soil and climatic adaptations. 



5. What are the principal cultural methods? 



6. Give time of sowing and amount of seed. 



