440 FIELD CROPS FOR THE COTTON-BELT 



planting. Small-podded varieties such as the Spanish 

 variety are usually planted in the pod. When they are 

 planted in the pod, germination may be hastened by 

 soaking the peanuts in water for a few hours just before 

 planting. Approximately two bushels of unhulled seed, 

 or one-half bushel of hulled peanuts, are required to plant 

 an acre. The plants should be left from seven to twelve 

 inches apart in the row, the distance depending on the 

 variety. The large-podded varieties should have the 

 greater spacing. Planting should not be done until the 

 soil has become thoroughly warm in the spring. Little 

 is to be gained by planting peanuts in a cold soil. 



547. -Cultivation. The cultivation of the peanut 

 crop may well begin before the plants are up by running 

 a weeder or section-harrow diagonally across the rows. 

 After the plants are well up, tillage by separate rows begins. 

 There is little difference between the cultural methods for 

 peanuts and for such crops as corn, peas, and the like. It 

 is especially important that such implements be used as 

 will keep the soil thoroughly pulverized close to the plants. 

 This facilitates the entrance of the fruit stems or "pegs" 

 into the soil. Cultivators with small points on the side 

 next to the row are quite satisfactory for this purpose. 

 Hoeing should be done only when necessary to keep down 

 weeds and grass. 



548. Harvesting. An important use of the peanut 

 crop is as a pasture for hogs. When used for this purpose 

 the hogs should be allowed to harvest the crop. When 

 grown for the market, the crop should be dug before frost. 

 The proper stage of maturity for harvesting is indicated by 

 the tendency of the pods about the base of the plant to 

 shed, and the vines to turn yellow. 



Various methods of harvesting peanuts for the market 



