444 PEAS, BEANS, VETCHES, PEANUTS 



peanuts are then planted about two inches deep in these ridges, 

 directly over the fertilizer. The planting is generally done by 

 machinery, though where grown on a small scale, hand planting is 

 still practised. In some cases, especially on poor soil, late in the 

 season, the ridges are not prepared, but the planting is done on 

 level land. 



Distance to Plant. The Bunch varieties, such as the Virginia 

 Bunch or Spanish Peanuts, are usually planted in rows from 

 twenty-eight to thirty inches apart, but the larger varieties are 

 planted about thirty-six inches apart. With the smaller varieties 

 the plants are usually spaced six or eight inches in the row, or for 

 the larger varieties, twelve inches apart. The planting of all varie- 

 ties is closer together on poor soil than on rich soil. The amount of 

 seed required is about two bushels per acre when planted in the pod, 

 or about half a bushel per acre of shelled peas. Shelled peas are 

 usually preferred, as they germinate quicker and more uniformly. 

 The smaller varieties, such as Spanish, are very commonly planted 

 in the pod, but the larger varieties, such as Virginia, are usually 

 shelled. The shelled seed is usually dropped much more uniformly 

 by machinery than when planted in pods. 



Time of Planting. Peanuts, being rather sensitive to frost and 

 cold soil, should not be planted until warm weather. This is usually 

 soon after corn planting period. In Virginia the crop is generally 

 planted in May, but somewhat earlier farther south. Early varieties 

 of peanuts, such as the Spanish, can be planted up to the first of 

 July, but the yield is usually correspondingly decreased if the plant- 

 ing is later than July first. 



Method of Cultivation. The method of cultivation for pea- 

 nuts is very similar to cultivation for corn or cotton and practically 

 the same tools are used. It is important to keep a loose mulch of soil 

 under the vines, in order that the " pegs " or young pods may be 

 easily pushed into the soil. It is the general custom to use rather 

 narrow shovel cultivators for the early cultivation, and to " lay-by " 

 by throwing a considerable ridge of loose soil about the plant. 



HARVESTING 



Time of Digging. It ie the general custom to dig peanuts 

 before frost, in order to save the tops for stock feed. They are 



