is one of the earliest of the Eatable-podded sorts; coming to the
table, if planted May 1, about the middle of July. It is of good
quality, but not hardy or productive; and seems to have little to
recommend it, aside from the singular color of its pods.

* * * * *

PEA-NUT.

Ground Bean. Earth Nut. _Vil._ Pindar Nut. Ground Nut. Arachys hypogea.

A native of Africa, and also of Central and Tropical America. It is an
annual plant; and the stem, when full grown, is about fifteen inches in
height. The leaves are pinnate, with four leaflets, and a leafy,
emarginate appendage at the base of the petioles; the flowers are
yellow, and are produced singly, in the axils of the leaves; the fruit,
or pod, is of an oblong form, from an inch to an inch and a half in
length, rather more than three-eighths of an inch in diameter, often
contracted at the middle, but sometimes bottle-formed, reticulated, and
of a yellowish color; the kernels, of which the pods contain from one to
three, are oblong, quite white, and enclosed in a thin, brown skin, or
pellicle.

A remarkable peculiarity of this plant is, that the lower blossoms
(which alone produce fruit), after the decay of the petals, insinuate
their ovaries into the earth; beneath which, at the depth of several
inches, the fruit is afterwards perfected.

The seed, or kernel, retains its germinative property but a single
season; and, when designed for planting, should be preserved unbroken in
the pod, or shell.

_Soil and Cultivation._--The Pea-nut succeeds best in a warm, light,
loamy soil. This should be deeply ploughed and well pulverized, and
afterwards laid out in slightly raised ridges two feet apart. As the
plants require the whole season for their perfection, the seed should be
planted as early in spring as the weather becomes suitable. Drop nine
inches apart in the drills, and cover an inch and a half or two inches
deep. Weeding must be performed early in the season; as, after the
blossoming of the plants, they are greatly injured if disturbed by the
hoe, or if weeds are removed about the roots.

It is rather tropical in its character, and cannot be cultivated with
success either in the Northern or Middle States.

"The seeds are sometimes dibbled in rows, so as to leave the plants a
foot apart each way. As soon as the flowers appear, the vines are
earthed up from time to time, so as to keep them chiefly within the
ground. When cultivate