PREPARATION OF THE LAND 443 



Soils for Peanuts. Peanuts thrive on almost any soil type, 

 ranging from light, sandy soil to clays. The light, sandy soils, 

 however, are generally preferred for two reasons: It is easier to 

 keep the surface in a mellow condition under the vines, and also 

 the pods have a brighter and a cleaner appearance. The color of 

 the pod, however, is only important in the case of peanuts to be sold 

 on the market, but of no consequence where they are grown for 

 stock feed or to be shelled. Good drainage is also necessary. 



Fertilizers and Manures. It is generally considered quite 

 important to have sufficient lime present in the soil so there is no 

 acidity. While the vines grow very well on a slightly acid soil, they 

 do not usually set so good a crop of pods. The amount of lime 

 required will vary from 500 to 1000 pounds per acre. It is best 

 applied some weeks before planting. In natural limestone soils, 

 of course no lime is required. 



The most important mineral fertilizer for peanuts is phosphate, 

 while potash is probably next in importance. Only a small quantity 

 of nitrogen is needed, since the peanut is a legume and acquires its 

 nitrogen supply from the air. A good peanut fertilizer should con- 

 tain two or three per cent, available nitrogen, eight to ten per cent, 

 phosphate, and about six per cent, potash. This is generally applied 

 at the rate of 300 to 500 pounds per acre. Farmyard manures and 

 green manures are not considered as important for the peanut crop 

 as for many other crops. In fact, it is not considered desirable to 

 add stable manure to land the same year the peanuts are grown, as it 

 has a tendency to produce an overgrowth of tops and poorly filled 

 pods. It is better to apply the stable manure to some previous crop. 



Preparation of the Land. It is important in growing peanuts 

 to have the land free from weeds and weed seeds, as it is difficult 

 to cultivate them closely, owing to their viny nature. Generally 

 peanuts should follow a crop which has been given clean culture, 

 such as corn or cotton. 



In preparing the land, it should be first well plowed and fitted. 

 It is the general custom then to open up furrows where the peanut 

 rows are to go, and apply fertilizer in these rows. The fertilizer is 

 then covered with a back furrow. Before planting the ridges are 

 worked down with harrows or weeders until almost level. The 



