r 
14 
Peanuts should not be handled when there is dew or rain 
upon the foliage, but, aside from this, they may be stacked 
within an hour or two after digging. Before starting to build 
the stack nail a couple of Bhorl piece- of Lath at right an 
across the -take about 8 inches from the ground, then simply 
3J build the stack upon these, keeping the pea- or root- cl 
around the pole and giving the outer part of the -tack a down- 
.'5*J ward slope to carry off the water during rains. As the stack 
i- Hearing completion it should be kept higher in the center 
and drawn in to a point . If convenient, the top of the -tack 
may be finished with a bundle of dry grass, or a few peanut 
vine- may simply be rolled together and pressed down over 
the top of the pole. Wet or green hay should never be placed 
:>;> on top of the stack. When completed, the -tack should be 
)i about 6 feet in height and 'M) inches in diameter. 
LENGTH OF TIME THAT PEANUTS SHOULD REMAIN IN 
THE STACKS. 
Once the peanut vines are in the stacks they will be com- 
paratively safe for 5 or 6 weeks, or until they are dry enough 
to pick from the vines. As a rule the curing period will require 
at least 4 weeks, and if the peas are not molested by birds, 
field mice, rats, or thieves they may remain in the stacks for 
3 or 4 months without injury. The crop will not be ready 
to pick from the vines until the stems have become brittle 
and the peas have attained a nutty flavor. 
PICKING PEANUTS FROM THE VINES. 
Formerly peanuts w 7 ere all picked from the vines by hand, 
the work being done largely by negro women and children. 
Recently there have been developed several machines for 
35 doing this work. These peanut-picking machines are of two 
types, one having a cylinder like the ordinary grain thrasher. 
and in the other a picking mesh of diagonally woven wire is 
employed. 
PEANUT-PICKING MACHINERY. 
The essentials of a satisfactory peanut-picking machine are. 
first, that the pods should be picked clean from the vines 
without breaking or cracking the shells, and. second, that the 
•'5ti peanuts be cleaned of all the coarser dill and separated from 
37 the pieces of Btems. There is always a small quantity of very 
line diit adhering to the hulls of the peanut which must be 
