the
growth of the Peanut plant. We see that albuminous matter and starch
form a very large per cent., over three-fourths, of the seed. Of course
an article so rich in fat-forming ingredients, must be well suited for
the food of man or beast. This explains why hogs fed on peanuts take on
fat so readily. Nothing will change the appearance of a poor hog sooner
than a diet of peanuts. The amount of oil in the seed--sixteen per
cent., makes the Peanut one of the best oil-producing plants in the
world.

Of the mineral constituents, potash forms by far the largest part--44.73
per cent. Soda, magnesia, and phosphoric acid also enter quite largely
into the composition of this plant. It will be noticed that common salt
plays some part in the make-up of the Peanut.

Some may wonder at the small amount of lime reported to be present in
the ash. This may be explained by stating that lime is not _per se_ a
manure, but a powerful chemical agent when applied to the soil, reducing
inert matter into plant food. Lime appears to be the driving-wheel in
the laboratory of the soil. Its presence is essential, but it does not
do all the work itself. Of marl, the best fertilizer yet discovered for
the Peanut, the principal ingredient of value, is carbonate of lime.
Some of the Virginia marls range as high as seventy and eighty per cent.
in carbonate of lime. This form of lime is very valuable for all
agricultural purposes. Like its more caustic relative, it plays the part
of a solvent and liberator, refines and vitalizes the soil, and causes
other ingredients to perform their part in building up the framework of
plants.

FOOTNOTE:

[1] While "goober" may be one of the names of the Peanut in some
localities, the plant so-called in Georgia is _Amphicarpaea monoica_, a
native leguminous plant with two kinds of flowers, one set always
subterranean, and the other above ground. The under-ground flowers bear
woody, rounded, one-seeded pods, with a seed closely resembling a
bean.--ED.

CHAPTER II.

PLANTING.

=Soil, and Mode of Preparation.=--A warm soil is required by the Peanut.
A light, porous soil in which sand predominates, but not too sandy, warm
and dry, and yet not too dry, but containing some moisture, and open to
capillary circulation, suits the Peanut best. In all cases the soil most
suitable for the Peanut must contain a certain amount of calcareous
constituents. The color of the soil should be gray, with few or no
trace