1 Juny, 1899.] QUEENSLAND AGRICUITURAL JOURNAL. 7 
the fine arts of cultivation without efficient implements to do the work with ; 
and, furthermore, no farmer can afford to operate without‘a modern type of 
implement. Having in view the Planet Jr. type of horse-hoe with its 
contracting and extending features, it will prove invaluable for cultivation close 
to the plants. The shovels and tines of this type of machine can be adjusted 
to minimise hand labour considerably. Not only can the active workman use 
this implement to hill up, but when necessary, often by intruding on a drill 
where the seed is too thickly set, he can to some extent, if quick and careful, 
thin out plants while moving along. A little observation will very soon 
indicate what tines or shovels to interchange in the horse-hoe to perform the 
most perfect cultivation. There are some soils so heavy and waxy that at times 
it is most difficult to get such light tools as the Planet Jr. to operate satisfactorily. 
This, however, rarely happens, and usually occurs by too long delaying the first 
cultivation, and thus the soil becomes hard, cracked, and difficult to break 
up. Experience will soon indicate the advantage of having the drill drawn 
on symmetrical proportions; the opportunity for close cultivation to the plants, 
leaving but a thin line of unmolested soil in proximity to the roots, is sound 
evidence of practical work. This cleaning done with due care, as here suggested, 
will leave little orno hand labour to be done. This in itself is a considerable item 
when large areas are put in, or when farm labour is not always available. 
Although I have not invariably followed the custom, I quite hold that hilling 
the plants when they become 8 feet high or so—in fact, about the period of 
the last tillage operation—is to be recommended. The throwing up the earth, 
either with a light plough or with the shovel tines of the Planet Jr. set very 
angglar, if the soil is loose, will do the operation satisfactorily. his will 
usually be the routine of cultivation needful for this crop. Surmising that the 
grower has thus far encountered a moderately favourable season, he will usually 
have arrived at the close of his tillage operations for the first crop; if the 
progress of the crop has been normal, the denseness of the foliage will be such 
as to preclude any further serious development of weeds, and the farmer's 
attention can now be concentrated on the next operation necessary—viz., that 
of “bending the broom-head.” 
‘ 
PEA OR EARTH NUTS (ARACHIS HYPOGZA). 
By CHARLES BATTEN, 
- 
Axour three years ago, after reading an article on the above in the Scientific 
American, dealing with the cultivation of the peanut m the States of Virginia 
and North Carolina, I was induced to try its cultivation: here (Pimpama) on a 
small scale. 
The third crop I have grown is now nearly ready to be harvested, and, as I 
have an enforced idleness through illness, I consider it well to give my expe- 
rience for the benefit of my fellow-farmers, whom | certainly cannot advise to 
go in heavily for the cultivation of the peanut, for reasons they will notice 
further on ; still they will not ruin themselves by cultivating a small plot. 
The peanut requires a very sandy rich loam— if sandy scrub land, it will be 
all the better. ‘The land should be as well cultivated as for potatoes, the drills 
struck out very shallow, 23 feet between the rows, and the beans or nuts dropped 
from 12 to 15 inehes apart. Of course the beans must be taken out of the pod, 
as there are two and sometimes three in a pod, and care must be taken not to 
rub any of the skin off the beans before planting, as they are then apt to rot 
in the ground. 
They can be planted in this part of Queensland during September, October, 
r . . . ‘ 
and November. ‘The main and essential point to be observed, in order to get a 
good crop, is to plant just ax the land is in a niece moist condition to effect 
