238 Subtropical Vegetable-Gardening 



or pods being thrown out. It will pay to have a breeding 

 plot, and select seed from the best plants, as with corn 

 and Sea Island cotton. Two bushels in the pod will give 

 seed enough to plant an acre. 



In Virginia and the Carolinas, it is necessary to be careful 

 about the time of planting; if a cold spell follows the 

 planting, the seed is liable to fail ; if the planter waits until 

 the possibility of cold weather is past, the greater part 

 of the crop is likely to be frozen in the fall. The expense of 

 replanting in those states is a doubtful investment. In 

 the lower South there is no disadvantage in waiting until 

 the weather and soil are warm enough to ensure speedy 

 germination. The seeds should be tested, however, 

 before they are committed to the groimd. This can be 

 done easily in a coldframe, or in a large shallow box 

 which can be protected from the cold. 



The rows are made about 3 feet apart, and the seeds 

 planted 1 or 2 feet apart in the row. When the land is in a 

 good state of cultivation, it is not difficult to lay off the 

 rows and then make dots in which to drop the seeds. On 

 clay soils the row must be raised slightly above the general 

 level, so that the seeds will be about on the level of the 

 land. The seeds should be planted about an inch deep ; 

 if the soil is sandy or light, it will be better to plant deeper. 

 Peanuts, however, are usually planted with a one-horse 

 planter, similar to a cotton planter, and costing about $15. 

 In about two weeks after planting, the field may be ex- 

 amined and any missing hills replanted. The time of 

 planting depends on the weather, but is usually between 

 the middle of April and the middle of May or even later 

 near the tropics. 



