438 PEAS, BEANS, VETCHES, PEANUTS 



sembles somewhat the horse bean, and is thought by some to be the 

 wild form. It is cultivated only to a limited extent. 



Narrow-leaved vetch and purple vetch are similar to common 

 vetch in their general characters. Both these vetches are little 

 known, but are probably just as valuable as common vetch and 

 adapted to about the same climate and soil conditions. They have 

 given excellent results on the Pacific Coast. 



Ervil or bitter vetch has long been cultivated in Europe and 

 Asia. It is similar in habit to common vetch, and succeeds well in 

 the South and on the Pacific Coast. 



Woolly pod vetch is very similar in habits and character to 

 hairy vetch, but is earlier maturing. 



Vetch-like Plants. Several species of the genus Laihyrus are 

 cultivated in a limited way in Europe, and all have been found to 

 grow well on the Pacific Coast. The Tangier pea is a tall growing 

 annual, with beautiful flowers, frequently grown as an ornamental. 

 The Ochrus is similar in habit, but has a peculiar foliage of flattened 

 petioles and only a few true leaflets. The culture of both is similar 

 to that of spring vetch. 



PEANUT 



The peanut (Arachis hypogea) belongs to the great group of 

 plants known as legumes. It is one of the Papilionacece and is more 

 closely related to the peas than any other legume. It could be more 

 properly called ground pea than a peanut. 



Origin and History of Peanuts. It is generally believed that 

 cultivated peanuts had their origin in South America, probably 

 Brazil, although there is some evidence that there may have also 

 been forms in Africa. It is generally believed, however, that the 

 cultivated peanut was introduced from South America to Europe. 

 Peanut culture began much earlier in the Old World, especially 

 north Africa and India, than it did in the United States. Previous 

 to the Civil War peanuts were cultivated in a small way in the South, 

 principally in one district of Virginia. Since 1870, however, their 

 culture has developed very rapidly, and almost doubled from the 

 period 1899-1909. 



