344 GARDENING FOB TIIK SOUTH. 



it a very valuable crop for fattening bogs, being for this 

 purpose fully equal to, and probably better than corn. 

 The vines are greedily eaten by most farm animals. 



There are several varieties, viz.: Virginia running and 

 bunch, (Spanish peanut, Tennessee white and red, Georgia 

 improved peanut, and North Carolina. The peas of the 

 Georgia are larger than those of the Spanish, and they 

 are also superior in quality. The plants are productive 

 and yield few imperfect peas. The Virginia are most 

 popular with the trade. 



Cull arc. — The ground pea thrives and produces best on 

 a light, sandy, tolerably fertile soil, with a good clay sub- 

 soil. Like clover, it possesses a long tap-root, which ex- 

 tends deep into the earth, drawing thence the nutriment 

 which is beyond the reach of many of our cultivated crops. 

 The soil should be deep and mellow and well broken up, 

 so as to be ready for planting soon after the heavy frosts 

 are over. The last of March or the first of April is a suit- 

 able time. They succeed well as far north as Virginia, 

 beyond which they may be started early in hot beds, and 

 transplanted to the open ground when the weather be- 

 comes mild. 



For field culture, they may be planted in the pod, two 

 in the hill; but for the garden should be shelled. It is 

 best to drop about four in a hill on the level ground, the 

 rows being laid off three and a half feet wide and the 

 hills two feet asunder; cover them two or three inches. 



When they come up, thin them to two in a hill, and, if 

 there be any vacancy, transplant. It is better to plant 

 them level than on ridges, as they are less liable to suffer 

 from drought. As they continue growing all the season, 

 it is well to get them started as soon as the severe frosts 

 are over. The only after-culture they require is to keep 

 the ground clean and mellow, and a slight hilling up 

 when they are laid by. They will produce from twenty- 



