156 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[April, 
one-seeded bony cells, and which is surround¬ 
ed by the long calyx lobes. There are sever¬ 
al cultivated varieties in which the fruit va¬ 
ries from half an inch to an inch and a half 
in diameter. The fruit at maturity is rus- 
seted-yellowish or reddish-brown. When ripe 
it is hard, sour, and unfit to eat, and it is only 
when kept until decay begins that it becomes 
edible. It then has an agreeably acid and as¬ 
tringent taste, which makes many persons 
very fond of it. In England, where the fruit 
is cultivated to some extent, the “ Notting¬ 
ham ” variety is regarded as the finest, but 
the “ Dutch,” as it has a larger fruit, is most 
cultivated. It is propagated on its own seed¬ 
lings, or the quince, or the thorn may be used 
as a stock. As to its culture, it requires no 
different conditions from any other fruit 
tree ; its growth is very irregular, and except 
where branches cross one another, it is best 
to let it have its own way. The only place 
where we recollect to have seen the Medlar is 
at Eilwanger & Barry’s nursery, and a tree 
that endures the climate of Rochester, is like¬ 
ly to be hardy in most parts of the country. 
The Peanut and Its Culture. 
The number of inquiries about Peanuts, 
and their cultivation, while they indicate a 
widespread interest in the subject, also show 
that many inquirers know so little about the 
crop as to not be aware that the nut grows 
underground. Its peculiar manner of growth 
makes the plant one of great interest, and a 
knowledge of this is necessary, in order to 
give it proper care. The general aspect of 
the plant is shown in the engraving; in 
reality the vine forms a wide dense tuft, 
while, for distinctness, but a single stem is 
shown. The form of the leaves and of the 
«nall yellow flowers show its relationship to 
the pea, bean, and others of the Pulse Family, 
or Leguminosce. After the ovary (or embryo 
pod) is fertilized, the other parts of the flower 
fall away, leaving the ovary, which at once 
begins to enlarge, and at 
the same time is pushed 
upward by the growth 
of a stalk beneath it; 
this stalk is slender and 
rigid, and soon curves, 
so that the top of the 
ovary, or forming pod, 
points downwards, and 
is pushed into the soil. 
In accomplishing this 
the stalk often grows to 
the length of several 
inches. When fairly 
buried, the pod soon 
reaches its full size, and 
matures, with its one to 
three large seeds. The 
pod, in all its stages, is 
shown in the engraving, 
which is somewhat be¬ 
low the real size. Those 
who propose to cultivate 
peanuts should, in the 
first place, consider if the 
season is long enough to 
allow them to ripen. 
Northern Virginia at the 
east, and Kansas at the 
west, are as far north as 
the crop has been suc¬ 
cessfully raised. The 
character of the soil is 
an important point, 
especially if the crop is 
to be marketed, as the 
price is affected by the 
appearance of the nuts, which in a reddish or 
very dark soil, are so colored as to greatly 
diminish their value. A light, friable soil, is 
needed, which should be 
prepared by two plowings 
to form a perfectly mellow 
seed-bed. The plowing is 
shallow, as it is not desired 
to have the pods go far 
beneath the surface, on ac¬ 
count of the difficulty of 
harvesting. The ground 
being well prepared, it is 
laid off in furrows, from 26 
to 36 inches apart, accord¬ 
ing to the quality of the 
soil: it is then cross-fur- 
rowed, or checked, at the 
same distance. At each 
check or crossing a hand¬ 
ful of fertilizer is placed ; 
this may be guano, super¬ 
phosphate, or its equiva¬ 
lent, to be applied at the 
rate of 150 lbs. to the acre. 
The crop is one especially 
benefited by lime, and if 
the land has not recently 
been limed, a dressing of 
50 bushels to the acre 
should be given after the 
first plowing, and harrow¬ 
ed in. Planting is done 
as soon as danger of 
frost is over. The nuts are to be shelled, 
taking care not to break the thin skin that 
surrounds them. Having mixed the fertilizer 
with the soil, two nuts are dropped in a place 
and covered lightly to the depth of two, or 
not more than three inches. From what has 
been shown as to the manner of growth, it 
will be manifest that the success of the crop 
will depend upon keeping the soil in so mel¬ 
low a condition that the young pods can 
penetrate it with ease. Hence from the first, 
the cultivator between the rows, and the 
hand hoes near the plants must be kept in 
use, not merely to keep down the weeds, but 
to insure the necessary loose and open sur¬ 
face. When the spreading of the plants pre¬ 
vent other working, hand weeding must be 
employed to keep the crop clean. The young 
pods force themselves into the soil, and need 
no help in the way of hilling up. We hope 
to describe the harvesting later in the season. 
As to varieties, the large showy nuts from 
Virginia and North Carolina are more salable 
than the thin-shelled, smaller, and sweeter 
“ African ” nut. The demand for Peanuts in 
this country is mainly, if not entirely for eat¬ 
ing, but they are largely used in Europe as a 
source of oil, which is mostly consumed in 
soap making. In one year there were im¬ 
ported into Marseilles 180,000 bushels of 
these nuts, all from a single African port. 
New Early Bulbs.—The “Snow Glory.” 
When a new bulb comes to us weighted 
with such a name as Chionodoxa, if it is 
ever to become popular it must have an easily 
remembered and readily spoken name, else 
no matter how beautiful it flowers, it will 
never take with the people. Fortunately 
Chionodoxa will translate into “ Snow-Glo¬ 
ry.” We have, as other early spring bulbs, 
“Snowdrop,” and “Snowflake,” and this, 
more showy than either may well be “ Snow- 
Glory.” The genus is closely related to Hya- 
cinthus, while the plants have more the ap¬ 
pearance of some of the small Scillas. The 
most recent species, Chionodoxa Ijucilice was 
snow glory” (Chionodoxa Lucitice.) 
discovered in Asia Minor a few years ago by 
Mr. George Maw, who, while at the head of 
a large manufacturing establishment in Eng¬ 
land, turns his holiday excursions to excellent 
THE PEANUT ( Arachis hypOQCBa ).—LESS THAN THE NATURAL SIZE. 
