PEANUT. 201 



In general, the level or flat culture will be found 

 better in light sandy soil. Under this form of cultiva- 

 tion the soil does not dry out as much as in hill cul- 

 ture. A second plowing and weeding is given within 

 ten days or two weeks after the first ; this is gauged 

 more by the necessity of the case than by the time 

 elapsing. The ground must be mellow and free from 

 weeds. After the second plowing, the hoe and the 

 fingers have to be used considerably ; the hills have 

 begun to spread so that it is difficult to plow up to the 

 plants. Care must be taken not to disturb them as 

 they are preparing to produce flower buds, and any 

 interference is liable to be detrimental to the yield. 

 All grass and weeds coming up in the hill have to be 

 pulled out by hand. The third and fourth plowings 

 have to be carried on with still greater care than the 

 second ; the weedings at these times need more care 

 also, on account of the crop setting at that time. After 

 this, shallow cultivation may be kept up until the vines 

 meet across the row. If the land is quite level, the 

 cultivation should be carried on so that when the sea- 

 son is over the rows will stand on slight mounds, then 

 the trough between them will carry off the water dur- 

 ing a rainy season and keep the crop dry. After a 

 field is well established there is little danger from 

 drought. 



HARVESTING. 



About two months after the last plowing the earlier 

 nuts begin to ripen ; if the season is dry the vines may 

 be left in the field until the greater portion of the crop 

 is ripe, as there is little danger from frost in our sec- 

 tion ; but in Virginia the crop has to be harvested be- 

 fore the frost falls, as the nuts and vines are both se- 

 verely damaged by it. During a rainy fall it is neces- 



