CURING THE PEANUTS 



445 



generally considered ready to dig whenever the pods nearest the 

 base of the plant show a tendency to shed. Maturity is also shown 

 by the leaves assuming a yellowish appearance. There will always 

 be some green pods on the plant, but digging should take place 

 when the majority are mature. 



Methods of Digging. Various means of digging or lifting the 

 peanuts have been devised. A very common method is to remove 

 the mould board from a common turning plow, and run the share 

 underneath the peanut vine, cutting off the tap root and loosening 



FIG. 191. Method of shocking peanut crop, over a stake. 



the plants. The plants are then lifted with a fork and thrown into 

 windrows, or smaller bunches. 



The large horsepower potato diggers have been found very prac- 

 tical tools for lifting peanuts, and this is the most practical and 

 desirable method where the acreage will justify it. Special machines 

 are also in the market for digging and bunching the peanuts, some 

 of which are very successful. 



Curing the Peanuts. Peanuts cure rather slowly, the process 

 taking from four to six weeks. It is the custom to set up stakes 

 about seven feet high, either in the field or in the stackyard. The 



