442 



PEAS, BEANS, VETCHES, PEANUTS 



prostrate type, and also much easier to harvest, as the pods are 

 clustered about the base of the plant, while in the Virginia Runner 

 type the pods are scattered along the prostrate stem. In both 

 varieties the pods are large, and the weight of a bushel is about 

 twenty-two pounds. 



North Carolina is a variety very similar to the Virginia Runner, 

 but both the plant and the pod are somewhat smaller. 



Spanish is a small-podded variety, with upright, bushy vines 

 (Fig. 190). Spanish is the best variety to grow for forage on 

 account of the upright vine, and is generally most productive in 

 pods. It is probably the vest variety to grow for shelled peanuts, 

 but for peanuts roasted and sold in the pod, the large shelled 

 varieties, such as Virginia, are preferred. 



Tennesse Red is a small-podded variety similar to the Spanish, 

 but the pods are longer and sometimes contain five or six peas. 

 This is considered a very good variety to grow for stock feeding. 



Composition of Peanuts. The peanut, like most leguminous 

 plants, is characterized by being very rich in protein matter. Pea- 

 nuts are also extremely rich in oil, being exceeded in this respect 

 by very few plants. The following table gives the composition of 

 peanuts in comparison with some other standard products : 



Composition of Peanuts and Other Products 



Climatic Requirements. Peanuts, being a tropical plant, re- 

 quire a long growing season free from frost. The earlier varieties 

 require from 100 to 120 days without frost, while the larger varie- 

 ties, such as Virginia, require a month longer. The peanut is 

 favored by bright, sunshiny weather and comparatively light rain- 

 fall during the growing season. 



