PEANUT 439 



545. Preparing the seed-bed. All coarse litter, 

 such as corn stalks or cotton stalks should be removed 

 before the land is plowed. Clay soils on which there is 

 considerable vegetable matter are preferably plowed in the 

 fall for peanuts. This permits the vegetable matter to 

 decompose before the crop is planted. Soils thus plowed 

 should be thoroughly disked in the spring before planting. 



Sandy or loamy soils are usually plowed in the late 

 winter or early spring. It is best that they be plowed at 

 least a month before planting. This permits the seed-bed 

 to settle and also hastens the germination of weed seeds 

 which can then be easily and cheaply destroyed by means 

 of the harrow before planting. 



The depth of plowing will depend somewhat upon the 

 character of the soil and the time of plowing. In general, 

 clay soils should be plowed deeper than sands. 



546. Planting. On well-drained soils, peanuts should 

 be planted level. The usual practice is to open furrows 

 30 to 36 inches apart in which the fertilizers are drilled, 

 if these materials are to be used. The fertilizers are best 

 distributed by means of a common fertilizer distributor. 

 They are often distributed by hand. It is well to have a 

 cultivator or some other suitable implement follow the 

 fertilizer distributor in order that the fertilizers may be 

 better mixed with the soil. 



Soils that are not well drained are usually ridged for 

 peanuts. This is done by means of a small turn-plow or 

 other suitable implement. The ridge is formed imme- 

 diately over the fertilizer and should be partially harrowed 

 down or flattened by means of a fine-tooth harrow before 

 planting. The peanuts may be planted by hand or by 

 means of a Community planter which is not expensive. 



The large-podded varieties should be- hulled before 



