The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-04-18
CULTIVATION OF PEANUTS.
HOW THEY Ace PREPARED FOR THE
MARKET.
Peanut Growing n Remark able En-
dus 'ry in the SOuth-FIour Mant'-
TactuTed FrOi.l the Mats.

Peanut Growing n able En-
dus 'ry in the South-FIOur ManU-
factured FrOi.l the Mats.
A Montgomery (Ala) letter to the
New York Telegram says: Peanut grow
inc promises to become one of the great
sources of revenue in the South before
decade shall have passed. 1t is estimated
by competent authorities that the crop
this year will be worth SO, 900, 900. Nir-
ginia will throw upon the market ut
least $500, 600 bushels; Tennessee, 2OO,-
900 bushels North Carolina, 100, 600 bush
els; South Carolina 1870, 900 bushels, and
Alabama as much as both the Carolinas
combined Northern people have but n
faint idea what great business peanut
raising has become in the South. For
tunes are made in it which would make
some New York brokers open their eyes
in amazcmcnt. Africa certainly sent
blessing in the universally popular pea
nut which grows so well throughout the
Southern regions that we shall soon be
able to cut OFF their importation. In
Virginia they are called peanuts" in
North Carolina they are known as
aground pease," while in South Caro-
lima, Georgia and Mississippi they are
called "pindcrs,n and in Alabama and
Tennessee ground nuts and goo
bers."
A movement is now on foot in Atlanta
to erect a large mill for the manufacture
of peanut flour, which, it is said, makes
most excellent biscuit. In Georgia have
eaten delicious pastry prepared with pea
nut flour. 1t somewhat resembles desic-
Gated cocoanut in taste, although 1t IS
much more oily and sweet. The kernels
of the peanut are ground between ordi-
nary millstones and the flour is "boltcd"
or sifted through wire sleeves in order
that all the ''shucks" and coarse, sharp
pieces may be removed. The rcfusc-if
it may be so called-males excellent
food for pigs and is very fattening There
is one objection, however, to peanut
flour as a steady dict 1t is very injuri-
Gus to the teeth, causing them to turn
yellow and decay The hcalthfulncss of
peanuts is an established fact. The late
DR.. J. Marion Sims, Of New York, was
the author of paper entitled, peanuts
for Dyspepsia, in which he claimed that
the nuts eaten in moderation were a great
help in cases where the digestive organs
were affected. In addition to peanut
flour there is an oil made from some of
the smaller nuts, in which the druggists
say there is now a large trade OF the
nuts there is nothing wasted, for even
the shells are made useful. being put in
immense sacks and sold to livery men for
horse bedding. and very comfortable,
heathful bed they make.
The preparation of peanuts for the
market is an interesting operation. They
are first placed in an immense cylinder
from which they enter the revolving
brushes, where each nut is well brushed
before it becomes free. After tins clean
ing process the nut drops on an endless
belt which revolves very slowly. On each
side of the belt is row of little girls
black, white and n-colored-whose
duty it i, to separate the poor nuts from
the good ones Those of the pindcrs
that pass" 90 on to the next room
where another lot of girls await their ar
rival and put them in bags Of canvas,
which, when filled are sewcd up and
branded with big rooster. These arc
the finest A No. l peanuts, known to
the trade as the ''double jonted Cali
fornias." The poorer nuts, which are
separated by the girls at the endless belt,
are all picked over again; the best are
singled out and branded. after being put
in bags, as ships These are not so
large nor so fine in appearance as the
first, but they are just as good eating,
The third grade of nuts is called the
eagle" and the rags and tags that are
left are called "cullngs' and are sent to
another part of the building, where the
meat is extracted by a patent shelter
The kernels. known to the trade as
''small meats" are packed in 200 pound
cases and sold to confectioners for use in
the cheap kinds Of peanut candy. The
shells are sold to agricuturists for com
post and to livorymcn for bedding.
That the business is profitable is proven
by a case have in mind just now. Six
years ago a Massachusetts man came here
las poor as church mouse" To-day
he may be said to be worth 800, 900.
1t was not luck that made him what he
is. 1t was Yankee brains, Yankee
energy, Yankee pluck, and above all,
that peculiar Yankee quality Of being
able to see an opportunity for making
money, and, having seen it, to make the
most of it. lie saw such an opportunity,
as he thought, in raising peanuts. He
took a tract of land and began working
it on shares. In six years he has amassed
money enough to have a bank account
with five figures and he owns fine farm,
upon which he grows nothing but peal
nuts and the vegetables he needs for his
own use,