‘ .. ..¢ BULLETIN ' ' AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE OF TEXAS A A 1N. s. v01. 2 JANUARY, 1915 EXTENSION SERVICE BULLETIN E. s. s PEAS AND PEANUTS By J. OSCAR MORGAN, Professor of Agronomy. J. C. BURNS, Professor of Animal Husbandry. WILM ON NEWELL, Professor of Entomology. A. H. LEIDIGH, Experiment Station Agronomist in Charge of Soil Improve- * ment. H. M. ELIOT, Rural Organizer. Published quarterly by the Agricultural and Mechanical College, of Texas 7 _ Entered as second class matter August 7, 1913, at the postofiice at College Station, Texas, under the Act of August 24, 1912. " E VON BOECKMANN-JQNES 00., PRINTERS, AUSTIN, TEXAS _ 1914 a; BLANK PAGE IN ORIGINAL A21-1214-15m BULLETIN QF THE AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE OF TEXAS N. s. v01. 2 , JANUARY, 191s _ NO. s EXTENSION SERVICE BULLETIN E. s. 3 PEAS AND PEANUTS BY J. OSCAR MORGAN, Professor of Agronomy. J. C. BURNS, Professor of Animal Husbandry. WILMON NEWELL, Professor of Entomology. A. H. LEIDIGH,\Experiment Station Agronomist in Charge of Soil Improve- ment. H.'_ M. ELIOT, Rural Organizer. Published quarterly by the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas! Entered as second class matter August 7, 1913, at the postofiice at College Station, Texas, under the Act of August 24, 1912. ' E vow BOECKIIANN-JONES 00., PRINTERS, AUSTIN, rams 1 914 OFFICERS. W. B. BIZZELL, A. M., D. C. L., President. A Extension Committee. CLARENCE OUsLEY, Director and Chairman. CHARLES PURYEAR, M. A., C. E, Dean of the College. G. S. Fmrs, PH. D., State Chemist and Ohenmlst to lflcperinz-ent Stations. E. J. KYLE, M. S. A., Dean of the School of Agriculture. D. W. SPENQE, C. E, Dean of the School of Engineering. B. YOUNGBLOOD, M. S, Director of the Experiment Stations. IKE S. ASHBURN, J12” Publicity Agent, Secretary. DEPARTMENTS OF THE COLLEGE CONDUCTING EXTENSION WORK. Department of Agronomy. J. OSCAR MORGAN, M. S. A., PH. D., Professor. Department of Animal Husbandry, J. C. BURNS, B. 8., Professor. Department 0f Biology, O. M. BALL, M. A., PH. D., Professor. Department of Civil Engineering, D. W. SPENCE, C. E., Professor. Experiment Stations, B. YOUNGBLOOD, M. S, Director. Department of Dairy Husbandry, J. W. RIDGWAY, M. S, Professor. Department of Electrical Engineering, F. O. BOLTON, B; 8., Professor. Department of Entomology, WILMQN NEWELL, M. S, Professor. Department of Horticulture, E. J. IQYLE, M. S. A, Professor. State Chemist ancl Chemist to Experiment Stations, G. S. FRAPs, PH. D. Department of Textile Engineering, J. B. BAGLEY, B. 8., Professor. Department of Veterinary Science, MARK Framers, D. V. M, Professor. ~ BLANK PAGE IN ORIGINAL PEAS AND PEANUTS. This bulletin is issued in answer to many direct inquiries and in sequence of a previous bulletin 0n “Money Crops in Place of Cotton,” which laid some stress upon peas and peanuts as money crops of promise for several sections of Texas. . There is reason to fear that without the exercise of intelligent fore- thought and preparation for marketing the output of peas and peanuts, farmers may find themselves at harvest time in possession of another surplus crop which would not sell for a profit. It would" avail nothing for the farmer to escape low priced cotton onlyto become victimized by low priced peas and peanuts. A ,_ But peas and peanuts can be fed to live stock, which experience proves t0 be the most profitable method of selling feed crops. Therefore, this bulletin contains advice about feeding as well as producing. - ‘ Another important consideration is the protection of peas from weevil in order that they may be held for profitable marketing. This sub- ject is carefully treated and should have thoughtful attention. Still another important matter is the crushing of peanuts in order to develop a wider and more stable market. That, also, is treated, and the studies and observations herein recorded are recommeded to the special consideration of cotton seed oil mills. With a reduced cotton output, oil mills will find it to their advantage to look to peanut crushing as means of utilizing their plants. This Department is now in correspondence with oil mills and is hopeful that many mills will be prepared, by harvest time, to crush peanuts. . The Department is endeavoring also to arouse interest among busi- ness men in the establishment of plants for the processing and storing of peas. Most important of all is organization among farmers by neighbor- hoods and counties for intelligent cidtivation, for processing and for marketing. Peas and peanuts cannot be sold lilce cotton, for which there is more or less demand at every railroad station at any hour in the day. They must be sold in bulls, or they must be fed to live stock, in order to obtain the best results. To this end it is necessary for farmers in every community to organize. If a hundred farmers in a community plant five acres each and undertake to market separately at the convenience of each, they are apt to be disappointed in the returns. But if they organize and work together they may be sure of receiving the best possible results. As an organization they can easily obtain aid from the College in any particular problem of cultivation, for while the College could not send an instructor to each farmer, it could send one to a group of one hundred farmers, and through the Demonstration Agent in the county the or- ganization can be advised from time to time as to methods of cultivation, processing and marketing. Moreover, with a. known acreage in a. com- 6 AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE or TEXAS. z .n»’/ ./' unity—say 500 acres in the case we are supposing—-capital can be induced to establish a processing plant for preserving peas or a crushing plant for handling peanuts. . In like manner, a hundred farmers feed- ing these products to live stock, could sell their live stock in carload lots and receive tar better returns than it they sold separately. Through organization and co-operative selling, the farmers can suc- ceed with diversified crops; without it, success is uncertain. But as to the uncertainty of returns, we submit that nothing is more uncertain at this time than the price of cotton in 1915. The College Extension Service; the new State Warehouse System, of which the Honorable F. C. Weinert, Austin, is the general manager, and the State Department of Agriculture, of which the Honorable F. W. Davis, Austin, is commissioner, will all be glad to render aid in effecting organization where there is not already a local organization which can be utilized. . This bulletin is prepared in some haste because of the urgency of the season, and it is not to be taken as the College’s “last word” on peas and peanuts. Investigation will be continued in the field of feeding and converting these crops, and as time permits and occasion invites there will be other advice and full information for those who are interested in this phase of Texas agriculture and industry. It is suggested that inquirers may save time by applying for information directly to the County Demonstration Agent, to whom this Department will commu- nicate any new facts that may be developed. The extension service will appreciate any suggestions for further in- vestigations and will be glad to answer any particular inquiry that ’ may be submitted. CLARENCE OUSLEY, Director of Extension Service. I) \€m\ » \, THE COWPEA. i A. H. LEIDIGI-I, ‘ Agronomist in Charge of Soil Improvement, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station. Our system of farming in Texas has led the farmer to pay far too little attention t0 the growing and use of grasses and legumes as S0i1 improvers and for live stock feeding. We are neglecting the best, and at the same time the most profitable means of improving our soils and our farming business as a whole.” ‘One of the important crops we are neglecting to use is the cowpea. This brief article on cowpeas is written for the farmer who raises the crop. The feeding of the crop is not discussed. (See article, by Prof. Burns, on feeding peas and peanuts, elsewhere in this bulletin.) The cowpea is a hay crop, a. pasture crop and a soil improvement crop. 'As its use for the above purposes increases there will be an ever-increasing demand and market for its seed as planting seed. We may say, therefore, that in addition to its value for feed and fertility when used on the farm, the crop has two features that put it on the market as a money crop. These are, first, as hay; second, as seed. Some varieties of cowpea seed are used as food, so the use of the seed may be divided into two parts, as follows: First, as plantingseed ; second, as a food product for human use. It is not usuallypossible to secure the largest hay crop from the cowpea and also get a large seed crop at the same time. Neither is it possible to secure each of the above and also give the soil the full value of the fertility contained in the crop. Therefore, before plant- ing cowpeas, the farmer should have in mind the purpose to which the crop will be put when harvested. The various ways of producing and handling the crop in the different sections of the State are briefly discussed in what follows: . In sections 1 and 2,* use old fields for this crop, since it is a builder up of run down soil. Do not use fields that become waterlogged every time it rains. Plow five to eight inches deep in the fall orwinter, turning under all trash and burning nothing. On deep sands, do not plow deeply, unless clay can be reached at six to eight inches, in which case turn some of the clay up. Leave the land rough over winter and, if obtainable, scatter manure and humus-forming material on the field. After February 1, give tillage with the harrow, the disk, the cultivator, or the “buster,” to keep down weeds, to break up the surface crust, and to permit the land to absorb and hold moisture. If plowing is not done until in the spring, the field should be worked down within a short time after plowing. With this crop, as with almost any other crop, it is important to give a great deal of cultivation and surface work during the spring, before the seed is planted. Varieties.—There are several good varieties of cowpeas. The New Era, the Groit and the Brabham are doubtless the best for hay, and, of course, forseed purposes. The various white seeded varieties are ‘Extension Service Bu]. N. S._. Vol. 2, No. 2, “Money Crops in Place of Cotton.” See may. P. 8. 8 AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE on TEXAS. used for food. Of these the Blackeye is the most popular. As a green manure crop almost any sort is satisfactory. Although many prefer the Whippo-orxvill or other trailing varieties, it seems best to use the same sorts as are being used for hay. Before planting in the field, the planting seed should be tested to see ifrit will grow. In a fair sample of seed at least sixty out of every one hundred seeds should sprout; if less grow, one had best get other seed, or plant very thickly. For a main hay crop or for a pasture crop, plant “broadcast,” or with a grain drill, using 60 to 100 pounds of seed to the acre, planting on or soon after April 1. Cover the seed not over two inches deep in cold, wet soil or three inches deep in warm, rather dry soil. For a seed crop, plant at the above time, in rows 36 inches apart, » dropping the seed so as to get a stand of plants about three inches apart in the row; this should use 10 or 15 pounds of seed to the acre. As a. late catch crop, coming after some other crop has been har- Wvested, such as after potatoes or garden crops, or after small grain, cowpeas may be grown for hay, for pasture or for green manure. Many farmers say that this cannot be done. It is being successfully dlone where the field is prepared at once after the other crop is out of the way. Either disk or plow to a depth of three or four inches and plant at once, putting the seed down on firm soil. Frequently it will be best to prepare the ground as above and plant in rows at 20 to 3O pounds of seed to the acre. If planted in rows the crop must be cul- tivated. Cowpea. plants are easily injured by disease. Disease, if present, may be made more destructive by working while the leaves are wet with dew or rain. Cultivation of cowpeas in rows should be commenced while the plant is small and continued as long as the vines will allow it. Set the cultivator to go rather deep, say, three to five inches, at the time of the first cultivation. Then, as the season progresses, cul- tivation may go to this depth with no fear of reaching the roots, since roots "will not grow in the soil mulch. Saving the Hay.~—The crop is ready for hay or pasture when the first pods begin to ripen. Some farmers like to divide the field into small blocks and let the stock eat up the crop one small section a.t a time. Others turn stock into the whole field. The hay is cut with the mower and raked with a hay rake. The best practice seems to be, as soon as the dew is off, to cut only what it will take the force at hand a day to put up. As soon as well wilted, which will require a day, in hot weather, the crop is raked into small windrows. After these have cured for a day or more, they may be turned, “flipped over backwards” with the horse rake, or they may be roughly shocked. After this has been done, cure the hay until no water may be twisted from it. This may necessitate turning a. few times. If a mow is available, place the cured hay in the mow. If mow room is scarce or not available, one of two methods of baling may be followed. The crop, if very dry, may be baled from the shock. Otherwise it will be best to stack in long narrow ricks with a pole foundation, or to place in small round stacks, using a tree or pole for a center. From these the hay may be baled after about a month has passed. The cured hay is very valu- able, being equal to alfalfa of the same grade and worth $10 to $20 W» Pnas AND PEANUTS. 9 the ton for feeding purposes. It should be fed on the farm Where produced, if this is possible. The Seed Crop-The cowpea. seed crop is saved in two ways. The small grower may pick the pods one or more times and then mow, graze or plOW under the vines. The picked pods may be beaten out and “winded.” A better method is to purchase a pea huller at a cost of about $25.00.‘ A partnership machine is advised where several growers in the same neighborhood are growing planting seed. Whenever a con- siderable acreage of peas is grown for seed it is best to secure a. pea thresher, the smaller sizes of which cost $200.00 to- $300.00. Where the thresher is used, the crop is cut with a mower or with a bean har- vester and either threshed when cured in the field or threshed from the stack. The straw from such crop- is usually worth at least one-third the price of a fairly good grade of pea vine hay- Cowpea seed for planting seed is worth from $2.00 to $5.00 the bushel on the market in the spring. The production of planting seed has never been large enough to supply the demand. There is a very large demand for the New Era and the Groit varieties in Oklahoma. and in West Texas, which will aid in keeping the price well above the cost of production in East Texas. Yields of ten to twenty bushels to the acre should be obtained. The Texas Agricultural Experiment Station has tested a. large number of varieties and placed pure seed of the best kinds with farmers who make a specialty of producing planting seed for the market. - If not properly protected in seed tanks or seed houses, and unless pro-perly fumigated or treated by heating, the weevil will entirely destroy the seed. (See special article, by Prof. Newell, on this subject.) With Other Gropis.—As a hay crop, cowpeas are frequently planted with Johnson grass, millet, sorghum or Sudan grass. All of these mix- tures are reasonably satisfactory. As. a general rule it is possible to produce a greater total tonnage by raising each crop separately. The two kinds of hay may then be mixed when fed, if that is desired. When desirable, cowpeas may be grown at the rate of a plant every three or four inches in a single row in the middles in the corn field. Such planting will produce considerable fertilizing elements for next ye-ar’s crops which go on that field and will produce some seed. If planted after the corn is knee high, no damage to the co-rn crop is probable. ' As a. green manure crop, cowpeas are plowed under when fairly well matured but while still green. Sometimes it is necessary to roll or disk the field before the vines can be successfully handled. Where grown for seed and later used for green manure, it seems probable that the greatest all around money value for the present year and fertilizer value for the future is to be secured. On sandy lands the crop sometimes is afiected with wilt. This is l prevented by the use of varieties resistant to it. The Iron cowpea is the best for such soils. Crop rotation may be also of some assistance in controlling this disease. Boot rot, erroneously known in some localities as alkali, kills cotton, cowpeas and other crops, when it attacks them. Deep plowing and crop rotation will lessen its destructiveness. Where this disease is 1O AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE or TEXAS. bad, corn, sorghum and small grain should be alternated with the cotton_ crops or the cowpea crops. - Fert-ilizrarer-Occasionally, in some locations, the cowpea crop responds to an application of potash fertilizers. As most Texas soils do not need potash it is advised that none be used, unless experience shows it to be of value on the farm under consideration. Phosphate fertilizers are usually beneficial t0 any crop grown in these parts of Texas. They may be applied to cowpeas to advantage. The amount to use depends upon conditions, varying from 100 to 400 pounds of acid phosphate to the acre. For Whatever purpose the cowpea. is used, it will doubtless be found advantageous to pasture some of it, or to feed part of the hay on the farm. While the hay Will sell for ten to twenty dollars a ton, it is poor agriculture to sell hay to your competitor who feeds it. This is especially true with cowpea hay, one ton of which contains nine to ten dollars worth of nitrogen alone. The farmer who feeds this crop will get practically all of this back in the manure pile. The arrangement of fields and pastures so that the growing of several other crops in addition to cotton and the maintenance of live stock on the farm may be done to best advantage, necessitates farm planning. To get full benefit of a diversity of crops, the same crop should not be on the same land two years in succession. Corn, cotton or a sorghum crop best follows cowpeas; they will grow better because they follow cowpeas. Such a plan gives a rotation of crops and if properly carried out will enable the farmer to grow two crops on part of his field each year, besides saving materially in labor. His labor also will be distributed more evenly over the year than is the case in one crop farming. In section number 3 cowpeas are grown in practically the same way as in sections numbers 1 and 2. As there is less rainfall in the west- ern counties, the erop there should be more generally grown in rows and cultivated than is the ease in sections 1 and 2. One of the greatest uses for cowpeas in this section is as a catch crop following small grain. In sections 4, 5, 6 and '7, either dry farming or irrigation is prac- ticed and the cowpea is justly popular because of its drouth resistance. It will be found very valuable to use as a green manure crop after vegetables in sections 6 and '7. In sections 4 and 5 it may be planted on fall listed, or fall plowed, land which has been leveled and worked down in the spring. In the southern part of section number 6, plant- ing may be done as soon as the ground is well warmed up, and in sections 4, 5 and '7, it may have to be delayed until well along in May or to the first of June. In dry regions the seed may be placed three or even four inches deep, if that depth is necessary to reach moist soil, Practically all of the crop in these sections should be planted in rows and well cultivated. Sumnza-ry.—The cowpea crop is well adapted to all of Texas. As a feed or soil improvement crop it is best not to sell the hay which should be fed on the farm. The hay is high in feeding value and should sell at a good price. The seed crop is valuable and may be produced at a profit. The vines remaining after the seed is picked should be plowed under. ' PEAS AND PEANUTS. 11 THE ESSENTIAL FACTORS IN THE PROFITABLE PRODUC- TION OF PEANUTS. BY J. OSCAR MORGAN, PROFESSOR OF AGRONOMY. The peanut is an annual plant belonging to the pea family. Like all other legumes it is a soil imp-roving plant. It makes its growth in the warm season a.nd is easily killed by frost. This plant is peculiarly different from the other common legumes in that it bears its fruit underground. The flowers are produced above ground, being borne on stems originating from the axils of the leaves. These flower stems turn downward and after the flowers have been pol- linated, or fertilized, the stems or “pegs” enter the soil and subsequently develop the nuts. The fruit is really not a nut. It is a ripened pod, corresponding to the bean or pea pod and contains edible seeds. Varieties.——The Spanish peanut is the most valuable variety for Texas conditions owing to its high yielding qualities. It is the earliest of American varieties and is admirably adapted for growing on stubble land following the harvesting of small grain. The branches grow up- right and the pods cluster closely around the base of the plant. The . pods are very short and slender, usually containing two nuts. This variety is more easily cultivated and harvested than the trailing varieties. Another small podded variety which has been grown some in Texas is the “Tennessee Red.” This variety is a good _yielder and the nuts are said to keep longer in the soil than those of Spanish peanuts. How- ever, the Tennessee Red peanuts have a very low market value owing to the red color of the peas. This variety is of considerable value as a pasture crop for hogs. Other varieties that are little grown in Texas are: The “Virginia Bunch,” a large podded, erect-growing peanut; the “Virginia Runner,” a. large podded trailing variety, and the “North Carolina,” a variety somewhat similar to the Virginia Runner except that the plants are not so large and vigorous and the pods and peas are both smaller. S0iZs.——The peanut will grow on a rather wide variety of soils. It will‘ not thrive on low, wet soils or soils that are distinctly acid. Nuts of the- highest market quality are produced only on rather light colored sandy or loamy soils. Highly colored clay soils stain or discolor the nuts, thereby reducing their market value. When grown a.s stock foods, how- ever, the color of the shell is of no importance and high yields are often obtained from the heaviest clay soils. Preparing] the Seed-bed.—Clay soils or soils on which there is con- siclerable vegetable matter are preferably plowed in the fall for peanuts. This permits the vegetable matter to decompose before the crop- is planted. Soils thus plowed should be thoroughly disced in the spring’ before planting. _ ' Sandy or loamy soils are usually plowed in the late winter or early ' spring. It is best that they be plowed at least a month before planting. This permits the seed-bed to settle and also hastens the germination- of weed seeds which can then be easily and cheaply destroyed by means 12 " AemoULtrUnAL AND MEOPIANIOAL COLLEGE or TEXAS. of the harrow before planting. The depth of plowing will depend somewhatupon the character of the soil and the time of plowing. In general, clay soils should be plowed deeper than sands. Care must be exercised, however, to see that an excessive amount. of inert subsoil is not plowed up- at any one time. Clays that have been plowed shallow in previous years should be deepended gradually by plowing from one to one and a half inches deeper each year than was practiced the pre- ceding year until the proper depth is reached. Very deep plowing should be avoided if do11e a short while before planting. See that the soil is thoroughly pulverized by means of the harrorv before the crop is planted. Barnyard Jlfamzrea-Jt is usually; unwise to apply stable or barnyard manure directly to the peanut crop for two important reasons: 1. Barnyard manure usually contains large quantities of Weed seeds which greatly interfere with peanut production. 2. The use of manure also has a. tendency to produce a too rank growth of tops and also a large percentage of “pops” or poorly filled pods. The best practice is to apply the manure to- the preceding crop, I thus giving it time to thoroughly decompose and become a part of the soil in which form it is very beneficial to peanutsj FeriiZizers.—On sandy and loamy soils the peanut responds readily to the use of commercial fertilizers. It must be remembered, however, that the peanut is a legume and consequently the fertilizer should con- tain little or no nitrogen, as this element is secured from the air. On very poor so-ils it has been found advisable to add a small quantity oflnitrogen, say 30 or 40 pounds of Nitrate of Soda per acre, at the time of planting to nourish the plants until they develo-p sufficiently to secure their nitrogen fro-m the air. In general the fertilizer mixture that gives best results for peanuts is 250 pounds of acid phosphate and 50 to 7'5 pou11.ds of muriate of potash per acre. All fertilizing materials should be applied before or at the time of planting the crop. The best method is to apply them in the drill and thoroughly mix them with the soil before planting. L'ime.—A considerable amount of lime in the soil is necessary for peanuts. Soils deficient in lime produce low yields and also a rather large percentage of unfilled pods. Most sandy and loamy soils are de- filcient in lime and for this reason soils of this character usually re- ceive an application of from 600 to 1000 pounds of slacked lime per acre at least two weeks before planting the crop. This lime should be spread broadcastand thoroughly harrowed into the soil. PZ¢znting.—On well drained soils, peanuts should be planted level. The usual practice is to open furrows 30 or 36 inches apart in which the fertilizers are drilled, if these materials are to be used. The fertilizers are best distributed by means of a common fertilizer distributor. They are often distributed by hand. It is well to have a dultivatoi“ or some other suitable implement follow the fertilizer rlistributor to better mix the fertilizers with the soil. ' Soils that are not well drained are usually ridged for iweanuts. This is done by means of a small turn-plow or other suitable implement, The ridge is formed immediately over the fertilizer and should be 0r “x r t‘ \ a / PEAS AND PEANUTS. 13 partially liarrowed down or flattened by means of a fine-tooth harrow before planting. The peanuts may be planted by hand or by means 0f a Community planter which can be bought for $15.00. The large podded varieties should be hulled before planting. Small podded varieties such as the Spanish variety are usually planted in the pod. When planted in the pod, germination may be hastened by soak- ing the peanuts in water for a few hours just before planting. Approx- imately two bushels of unhulled seed or one-half bushel of hulled peanuts are required to plant an acre. The plants should be left from seven to twelve inches apart in the row, depending on the varie-ty. The large podded varieties should have the greater spacing. Planting should not be done until the soil has become thoroughly warm in the spring. Little is to- be gained by p-lanting peanuts in a cold soil. - C'uZtivati0n.—The cultivation of the peanut crop may well begin before the plants are up by running a weede-r or section-barrow diagon- ally across the rows. After the plants are Well up, tillage by separate rows begins. There is little difference between thelcultural methods for peanuts and for such crops as corn, peas, etc. It is especially im- portant that such implements be used as will keep the soil thoroughly pulverized close to the plants. This facilitates the entrance of the fruit stems or “pegs” into the soil. Cultivators with small points on the side next to the row are quite satisfactory for this purpose. Hoeing should be done only when necessary to keep down weeds and grass. H a.roesting.—The great-est value of the peanut crop to Texas farmers is as a pasture crop for hogs. When used for this purpose the hogs should be allowed to harvest the crop. When grown for the market, the crop should be dug before frost. The pro-per stage of maturity for harvesting is indicated by the tendency of the pods about the base of the plant to shed, and the vines‘ to turn yellow. Various methods of harvesting peanuts for the market are practiced. In many cases the plants are merely plowed from the ground with a one-horse turning plow and afterwards separated from_ the soil by hand. Another and very common method is to remove the moldboard from a turning plow and run the plowshare under the row on each side at a sufficient depth not to sever the pods from the vines. The side from which the moldboard is removed is kept next to the row. The plants are lifted by hand or by means of forks, and the dirt carefully shaken from them. They are then thrown in small piles to dry. The potato digger may be very satisfactorily used in harvesting peanuts. i9tacking.———As. soon as the plants have sufficiently dried, which re- quires about three or four hours, they are put in small stacks. Poles about seven feet long are driven securely in the ground. Around the base of each pole a few pieces of short poles are placed to keep the pea- nuts off the ground. The peanuts are stacked with the vines out and the nuts in next to the pole. The stacks should be made rather slender and tapering toward the top to shed water. Each stack is usually capped with grass to protect the nuts. Picking.—Peanuts should not be picked from the vines until the pods have become dry and the peas firm. A better grade of peanuts will be secured if picking is deferred until late autumn. The" greater part of the- crop is picked by hand. Machines are in use for picking 14 AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE OF TEXAS. u‘ peanut-s. They are profitable Where the crop is grown extensively. Most machines have a tendency to crack a portion o-f the pods. Names of manufacturers of picking or threshing machinery will be furnished on application. " The picked pods should not be exposed to dampness as this discolors them, reducing their market value. PEAS AND PEANUTS. 15 CONTROL OF WEEVILS ,IN PEAS AND BEANS. BY WILMON NEWELL, STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. One of the greatest difficulties encountered in raising peas, beans, and cowpeas, is the damage done to the seed in storage by weevils. Weevil- infested peas and beans are not only unsuitable for food, but only a small per cent. of them will germinate wihen planted. It is not true that the Weevil larvae avoid the “germ” when working in the seeds. The germ is eaten as readily as other portions, and even where it is left untouched, injury to the remainder of the kernel or seed so reduces the amount of plant food that,- though the seed germinates after planting, it pro- ' duces only a Weak and inferior plant. . In Texas, the farmer has three principal weevils tocontend with, the common bean Weevil, the cowpea weevil and the four-spotted bean weevil. The common bean weevil lays its eggs while the crop is still un- gathered, inserting the eggs through holes cut in the pods or through openings made by the natural drying and splitting of the pods. At harvest time the Weevil larvae are carried in with the beans and continue their development after the cro-p is sacked or placed in bins. Here also the maturing weevils lay their eggs upon the dry seed and these in turn continue their damage. A generation is produced about every three or four weeks. The bean Weevil does not restrict itself to beans, but also attacks cowpeas and other peas as well. The cowpea weevil prefers the cowpea, but also attacks beans. Its habits and mode of development are similar to those of the bean weevil. The four-spotted bean weevil is somewhat smaller than the two mentioned above, but differs from it only in that it will not work in peas or beans which are thoroughly dried or cured. The two former" weevils work readily in any pea or bean seed, no matter how dry or well cured it may be. The farmer does not need to concern himself with the question o-f which species of weevil is at work in his peas for the measures to be taken in destroying them are the same with all. Besides, he will usually have at least two kinds in his peas at once. ReInzed/ial flleasures.—Prevention of damage is far better than cure, for peas or beans once well infested cannot be restored to good condi- tio11, even by killing the weevil in them. As the peas and beans are invariably infested when gathered, they should be fumigated as soon as harvested and before being stored away or sold. Carbon bisulphide, or “highlife,” is the only suitable sub- stance to use for this fumigation. Where only a few bushels, or less, are to be treated,‘ the writer prefers to use a simple and inexpensive outfit consisting of a tight whisky 0-r alcohol barrel, a. 12x12-inch iron baking pan, a few large sheets of newspaper, a piece of heavy canvas or a tarpaulin and an extra barrel hoop somewhat larger than the open end of the barrel. Such an outfit is shown in the accompanying illustration. on page 16. 16 AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE on ‘Bums. The peas or beans to be fumigated are placed in the barrel and on to-p of them is placed the shallow iron pan. It matters not Whether the barrel contains a few quarts of seed, 0r Whether it be filled t0 within 6 inches of the top. Sufficient space should always be left so that the top edges of the pan, when placed 0n top of the seed, are at least 3 inches below the top edge of the barrel. The canvas or tar- An inexpensive outfit for fumigating peas and beans with carbon bisulphide. paulin is next smoothly folded into a square somewhat larger than the top of the barrel and the three or four thicknesses of the newspaper laid out flat, ready for covering the barrel. The amount of bisulp-hide, accurately measured, is now uncorked, poured quickly into the iron pan, the paper laid smoothly over the open end of the barrel, on top PEAS AND PEANUTS. 1'7 of it the folded canvas a11d the latter then forced down snugly and smoothly by putting on the extra iron hoop. The barrel should be left unopened for twenty-four hours when the seed may be immediately removed and sacked in tight sacks to prevent re-infestation. The ordi- nary whisky‘ barrel, of 52 gallons capacity, contains approximately seven cubic feet of space and the proper charge for this is one fluid ounce (30 cubic centimeters) of carbon bisulphide?“ One should not guess at the amount. A glass measuring vessel, graduated to either cubic centimeters or fluid ounces, should be purchased from a druggist or dealer in photographic supplies and each charge should be ca.re- fully measured. The importance of this cannot be overestimated, for too small a charge of the liquid will fail to kill the weevils, while too heavy a charge will destroy the yer/urinating pozeer 0f the seed. . Immediately after fumigating, the peas should be sacked in bags of very tight mesh, such as canvas, free from holes, so- that weevils can- not gain access to the seed for the purpose of laying eggs to start a. new infestation. Properly fumigated and sacked, no more weevils should appear, but, nevertheless, the owner should open the sacks and examine the seed at least once in every three Weeks and if signs of weevil work are noticed, re-fumigate the seed, using the same method as above. There is no danger in handling carbon bisulphide except that all fire, such as lamps, lanterns, lighted pipes and cigars, etc., must be kept a safe distance from where it is kept or used. The vapor from it is highly explosive when coming in contact with fire. It will not explode from a. sudden jar or rough handling. In general, one should use the same precautions as with gasoline, but should remember that the bisulphide changes to a gas more rapidly and the gas sinks to the ground instead of rising. t is well to have the fumigating barrel out of doors, at least 50 feet from the nearest building, keep-ing it there at all times and doing all fumigating in it there. Bad weather does not interfere with this plan, for the canvas cover will shed all rain water—if it does not, it isn’t a. tight enough cover to fumigate with. Precautions at Planting; Time.—“Weevily” seed does not germinate well and even when it germinates the plants are deficient in vigor on account of the reduced food supply for them within the seeditself. If possible, only sound, non-infestedpeas should be used for seed. Where this is not to be had infested peas, before planting, should be thrown lightly into water when the badly infested ones will float. These can be discarded and only the heavy ones which sink to the bottom o-f the vessel used for ialanting. Fttm~igatirtq Large Qu.ant-ities.—Peas or beans stored in bins, either loose or in sacks, can be fumigated by practically the same method, except that the building or bin contaiining them must be made practically air-tight beforehand. Where the seed are in a tight bin the latter may be covered xvith tarpaulins or blankets to confine the gas, the covering“ being supported above the iron pans sufficientlv to allow the free evapora- tion of the liquid. This is easily accomplished by means of a stick stuck down into the seed by each pan, the top of the stick remaining about six inches out of the seed. *Equiva1ent to approximately nine pounds of bisulphide per 1000 cubic feet of space. 18 AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE or TEXAS. The cubic contents of the bin should be carefully ascertained. Mul- tiply its width, in feet,by its length and this product by its height and the resulting figure will be the number of cubic feet in it. As in the case of the barrel fumigation, nine pounds of the bisulphide should be used to each 1000 cubic feet of space. This_rule applies regardless of whether the bin is full or only part full. If there are cracks in the bin or building that allow any escape of gas, a little more of the liquid ' should be used to make up for that lost through leakage. Fumigation of buildings, or in buildings, is fraught with much more danger than fumigating in barrels-or tanks outside, mainly on account of the difficulty in keeping all smokers out of the building and away from it and also on account of the larger quantity 0f bisulphide causing the gas to spread to a greater distance. Where it is possible to fumigate out of doors, using barrels, we strongly urge that it be done in this way, even if several barrels have to be used or several days taken to complete the fumigation of all seed. For the use of merchants and seedsmen handling peas in large quantities, we recommend the use of a galvanized iron tank 0r cistern with a tight fitting top. This can be placed sufficiently distant from buildings to obviate all danger to the latter. - The cubic contents of such tanks are easily figured and the proper charge of bisulphide com- puted from the above directions. _ Carbon bisulphide should be obtainable from any druggist at a price varying from 18 to 20 cents per pound. The manufacturefs price on bisulphide in quantity, at the factory, is usually ten cents per pound, with a charge for shipping tank of about two cents per pound. Where much bisulphide is to be used in a neighborhood money will be saved by the farmers clubbing together and ordering the bisulphide direct from the maker. The writer of this will be glad, on request, to place - anyone in touch with the manufacturers. Heat for Destroying the Weemlls-It has been found by Dr. F. H. Chittenden, of the Bureau of Entomology, United States Department of Agriculture, that a temperature of 145 degrees (Fahrenheit) will kill all weevils in the seed without injuring the germinating power. In the case of peas which are not intended for planting purposes a slightly higher temperature will do no harm. As the four-spotted bean weevil rarely breeds in peas or beans which are» old and thoroughly dry, a thorough drying and curing of the seed by means of dry heat would probably prevent future reinfestation. There is no reason, however, for supposing that such a treatment would in any way protect the seed against reinfestation by the common bean weevil or by the cowpea weevil. Weevils may be destroyed by pouring scalding water over the peas or beans. The hot water should be immediately poured off and the peas or beans spread out and thoroughly dried before storing away. Kerosene Treatment.——The Oklahoma Experiment Station recom- mends the following method of killing the weevils with kerosene: “Spray the peas, evenly and thinly spread on a canvas or floor, with kerosene at the rate of 1 pint to 10 bushels or 600 pounds of peas. An atomizer, hand spray pump, or very fine sprinkler should be used, after which the peas should be shoveled so as to bring the treated and untreated seed together until all have an equal coating of the kerosene.” PEAS AND PEANUTS. 19 PROTECTION OF PEANUT SEED FROM MOLES AND POCKET GOPHERS. BY WILMON NEWELL, STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. One of the most serious troubles encountered by the grower of pea- nuts is the destruction of the seed by moles and pocket gophers, the latter being often called “salamanders.” The fresh dirt mounds of the “salamander” are easily located in the field and the animals are readily poisoned or trapped. One should g0 to a fresh mound, dig down in it a few inches until the open tunnel is encountered and place in this a piece of raw Irish potato poisoned with arsenic, Paris green or strychnine. Straw or sticks should then be placed over the hole and enough dirt put on to exclude all light. In trapping these animals a steel rat trap, with spring jaws, is used. The freshly made mound is- dug open as before and the tunnel ' followed down to where it branches, about five or six inches below the top of the ground. Here, at the intersection of the tunnels, a hol- low place is scooped out large enough to hold the trap and deep enough so that the top of the. trap, when set, is on a level with the floor of the runway. The chain of the trap is attached to a small stake driven conveniently near. A board is then placed over the hole and dirt put on to exclude all light. No dirt should be placed on the trap jaws. In most cases the animals willibe found in the trap the fol- lowing morning. Moles are not so readily disposed of, but many of them can be suc- cessfully killed with the spring mole traps upon the market, these being set over the fresh runways in such a manner that the mole pushes up a lever when passing through the runway, only to be pierced by a sharp spike released by the lever. The peanut seed can be quite effectively protected, until after ger1n- ination, by soaking it, before planting, in a twelve per cent. kerosene emulsion. In this treatment the hulls must not. be removed from the seed. The unhulled peanuts are placed in a barrel and just covered with the 12 per cent. emulsion, a board or rack being placed on top with just sufficient weight to keep them submerged. They should be allowed to stand for about 12 hours, or over night, when it will be found that the hulls have absorbed nearly a.ll of the liquid. They should be planted at once, while the odor of kerosene is still strong upon them. Treatment of the shelled peanuts with kerosene emulsion would be likely to prevent germination. The kerosene emulsion is made as follows: Shave one pound of laundry soap (or soft soap) into one gallon of soft water (rain water). Have the water boiling hot. As soon as the soap is all dissolved remove the solution from the fire "and add it to two gallons of kerosene. At once agitate the material violently. Continue for at least five minutes. This is best done by the use of a bucket spray pump, turning the hose or nozzle back into the bucket or tub so that the material is constantly pumped vigorously through W AGBTUTULTWIEAL QKNM lifl[EMU-T£~IANIF0_ILL Ummmwxw m" TEXAS. the pump. In ra‘ ifvew minutes smmmrth, EWBELMTIZQL’ mmllsiwn is fmrmefl, wwwiflilzwinmt kangv fmee wail. “Iflnis wilfl ;.ge’c fitlutbcker as int finnmaflls, but if pmywerly miawiie 1mm: Esme m1 wtiflfl ‘sepvawaflae wzaufiu. ‘Titus is fcfllue “sfmmécflla snhltiom” and WW1 keegw imufihefimniiielgv if 1sVeallse~cl imam thwe m 11ml: tr}; tm maflke ‘she ‘eummfiksimm w}; stimmiumg wtiflu 1a (pmrflwfille, m lsimnflar means, £011‘ this wines nmt cause Alscireantlgv wiofihceunrt eagfifioarijimm ho [filwmomomqghly »emullsify the mil. Earcflu ‘vgafllboém “of this “sitxwcék \euu11mlsfii~0n1” :sh»=0ufl»d1 he ~~dhih1te~r1, fand thou"- w-ughlgv mixed, wm-"itflm 50w ranzudl lome-hafif =( ‘gzallwznus mf rain water and 1% wwiiflfl (flwem ‘armufuadm 12 per semi of kemwmséewzne. Q) ann PEALNU‘TS~. . FEEDING VALUE 0F COWPEAS AND PEANUTS. BY JOHN o. nunns, enonoeson on nniimn nnonannnn. The edwpgg ivalnaloile h-oth as a hay and? a. lflilféllgé‘ crop» The liagi, if loiopetrly eured, is relished hy horses, cattle, and? ehieep, and? feeding value is equal to that of alfalfa. lithe alfalfa it is: relativelyy rich protein and is, therefore, espeeially suited to’ oonolbine witln etairclty" feeder, stich as corn, lzafir, maize and feteiita, in lhlfnilllg“ ltatlanced. rations. v _ The higlo value of the peas, or fruit, fool hogs wae denionetratedl in tests at the Alabama. and South Olarolina. Experiment Stations. Fell. seperateljv, cowpeas proved equal to ooin the- Alltlhttma: tests and, superior to it in the South Carolina test”. ln the; tester at the} Alahania. Station 100i pounds of gain were pirodueeel. fnoni e81 pounds; of eow~ peas, while a similar gain required l8ftt pionncle of coon. A