EARTH-Nuts, or Ground-Nuts, the roots of the ARACHIS hypogaea of LINNÆUS. They are composed of several small round bulbs or knobs; whence they were termed by DODONÆUS, terre glandes, or earth-nuts. They are esteemed an excellent food by the Siberians. In Holland likewise, they are sold in the markets and used for food. The native country of this plant seems to be Africa; though, at present, all the American settlements abound with it; but many persons who have resided in that country affirm that they were originally brought by the slaves from Africa. The plant multiplies very fast in a warm country; but being very impatient of cold, it cannot be propagated in the open air in Britain. The seeds must therefore be planted in
a hot-bed in the spring of the year; and when the weather proves warm, they may be exposed to the open air by degrees. The branches of the plant trail upon the ground; and the flowers, which are yellow, are produced single upon long footstalks; and as soon as the flower begins to decay, the germ is thrust under ground, where the pod is formed and ripened; so that unless the ground is opened, they never appear: the roots are annual, but the nuts or seeds sufficiently stock the ground in a warm country where they are not carefully taken up.