August, 1911.] 



107 



Edible Products. 



from the United States and grown in 

 the same islands. The results obtained 

 were, on the whole, disappointing, with 

 the exception of the yields given by the 

 varieties grown in Dominica. This was 

 to some extent due to poor germination, 

 in the case of the Dixie Giaut variety, 

 and in that of the other varieties to the 

 attacks of fungi. These consisted of a 

 rust fungus on the leaves, reported as 

 Uromyces sp. and Uredo sp., and a sterile 

 root fungus which has since been found 

 on several host plants, but has not so far 

 been known to form any kind of fructifi- 

 cation. 



In the year 1909 the trials were conti- 

 nued, some varieties being rejected in 

 certain of the islands. In Dominica 

 the results were largely spoiled by the 

 outbreak of three different diseases on 

 the experiment plots. Two fungi occurred 

 on the leaves — the rust fungus referred 

 to above and identified at Kew as 

 Uredo arachidis, Lagh., and a leaf spot 

 fungus, Cercospora personata, Ellis. The 

 same root disease fungus also attacked 

 the roots, lower portions of the stem, 

 pods and surfaces of the nuts. The rust 

 fungus also occurred in certain of the 

 other islands in that year. The results 

 obtained throughout the islands were, 

 however, considerably more promising 

 than those of the two previous years. 



Description of the Varieties. 

 A short account of some of the Ameri- 

 can varieties is given in Farmer's Bulle- 

 tin, No. 356, of the United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture. Descriptions of 

 others have been obtained from local 

 sources. 



Spanish.— This variety is a strong- 

 growing plant with upright stems and 

 thick foliage. The pods are small, and 

 ai e clustered about the base of the plant ; 

 they are rough and dark in colour, and 

 each usually contains two nuts which 

 entirely fill it. The pods adhere well to 

 the plant when it is dug up, and are 

 thus easily reaped. The nuts are light 

 brown in colour and rich in oil. The 

 period from the time of planting to 

 maturity varies in the West Indies from 

 twelve to eighteen weeks. 



Carolina Running.— This variety has 

 long trailing stems and thick foliage, 

 which render it suitable for a green 

 dressing. The pods are borne on the 

 long trailing stems, and do not adhere 

 well when the plant is dug. Each con- 

 tains two nuts, on an average, which 

 are about three times as large as those 

 of the Spanish variety. The period from 

 the time of planting to maturity is from 

 sixteen to eighteen weeks in the West 

 Indies. 



Tennessee Red. — This variety is similar 

 in habit to the Spanish, but the pods 

 are longer, though small, and contain 

 four, sometimes five or six, nuts of a 

 dull red colour, crowded together. It is 

 more suitable for stock-feeding than for 

 market purposes. The period from 

 planting to maturity varies from twelve 

 to eighteen weeks. 



Dixie Giant— This variety is so called 

 owing to the large size of its pods, while 

 the nuts are about four times as large 

 as those of the Spanish. It was found 

 that it did not mature well in the United 

 States, and this experience has been 

 repeated in the West Indies. 



The plants are trailing in habit, and 

 the foliage is thin. The pods are borne 

 along the trailing stems, but adhere 

 well on digging. Each pod contains two 

 large nuts, of a very light reddish-brown 

 colour. The plants require from seven- 

 teen to twenty-four weeks to mature. 



Virginia Bunch. — This is a somewhat 

 dwarf plant with upright stems and 

 rather light foliage. The pods are large 

 and clustered about the base of the 

 plant, and adhere well on digging ; they 

 are bright and clean, and contain two, 

 or sometimes three nuts in each. The 

 nuts are light brown in colour. The 

 plants take fifteen weeks to mature in 

 Dominica. 



Virginia Runner.— This is a strong- 

 growing variety with creeping stems 

 and heavy foliage. The pods are 

 scattered along the stems and do not 

 adhere well on digging. In other res- 

 pects it resembles the Virginia Bunch 

 variety. 



African. — This variety is also of a 

 trailing habit, with dense foliage. The 

 pods are borne along the stems and do 

 not adhere well on digging. Each pod 

 contains three nuts, of a light brown 

 colour. These plants require twenty- 

 four weeks to come to maturity in 

 Dominica- 



Gambia. —This variety is of a trailing 

 habit, with dense, compact foliage. 

 The pods are scattered along the stems 

 and adhere particularly well on digging. 

 Two nuts are produced in each pod. 

 These are of light pinkish-brown colour. 

 A strain having three nuts to the pod 

 was found to occur occasionally in 

 Montserrat. This has since been found 

 to breed true. 



Preparation of the Land, Planting 

 and Harvesting. 

 The soil most suitable to this crop is a 

 sandy loam containing a sufficient supply 

 of humus. It should be well drained, 

 free from weeds and in a good state of 



