Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-09-24
A BOOM IN PEANUT GROWING.
Sue ce sstul Effort TO Raise Them In
Long Island.

peculiarly well dodPSO0 ~ sneAi wi
ture, and the crop planted this year
already promises good return. The
low. sandy soil of Long Island has
never been very valuable for Agrlcul-
tural purposes, but it seems to be the
very thing for peanuts. NO crop is
more easily planted and none requires
so little care. The nuts grown there
are large and white, and compare
favorably with the best grown in Vir-
GINA. The crop was planted little
late, but If there Is no severe frost the
Weld per acre will be large. Many
gentleman doing business l. the city
who have country places On Long Is
land have devoted an acre or so to ex-
detrimental culture, and they are
meeting with almost universal succ-
ess. The nuts have been planted at
various points all over the island, and
the crop will be ready for gathering
about the last of this month.
Mr.. Austin Corbin, President of the
Long Island Railroad, seems TO have
been the originator Of the boom. In
February last he wrote to Nathaniel
w. Foster, President Of the Suffolk
County Agricultural Society, saying
that he had been thinking of peanut
culture for some time, and was per-
fectly satisfied that the nut could be
grown successfully on Long Island.
He said he was desirous of giving the
experiment fair trial, and he propos.
ed to furnish twenty five bushels of
seed for distribution to farmer,
throughout the island. Mr.. Foster
was greatly pleased with the plans
and by the aid of the country Waeklles
ne brought the matter to public notice,
and requested all who desired seed to
send him their names and addresses
The responses were very numerous,
and IT'S packages of seed were dis
tr1buted gratuitously by the railroad
throughout the island, but chiefly IN
Suffolk county. These packages
varied from one quart to twelve
quarts, as the farmers desired. Mr..
Corbin also distributed some books on
peanut culture, and authorized Mr..
Foster to offer four prizes at the next
Suffolk county fair at Riverhead for
the best bushels of peanuts raised on
Long Island These prizes are: First,
$25; second, 500; third, SIS, and
fourth, SO As the crop will hardly
be ready when the fair is held this
month, a special committee has been
appointed to award prizes.
The books on peanut culture went
to the country editors, and they have
published copiOus extracts tberefrom
for the instruction of their readers,
and in this way have accomplished
much good. It aroused public inter
est and led many to give further study
to the culture of peanuts. The nuts
were planted in May and June, and,
crows excepted, the crop has Jared
well. The crows seemed TO find the
peanut very palatable, and did much
damage by digging up and eating the
seed. In some instances they follow
ed Immediately on the heels OF the
planter, being evidently under the
impression that the seeds were put
there for their especial benefit. Mice
and woodchucks have done some
damage, but, on the whole, the crop
has fourished,
Reports coming IN are very favor
able As to the appearance and pros
poets of the crop, Mr.. Foster said yes
terday," and some, even at this date,
report good well formed nuts. I feel
very positive that the growing of pea
nuts on Long Island, will be found on
this trial, to be well worthy of future
and perhaps continuous trials. have
received specimens and reports of
previous trials, showing positively
that they can be raised in Suffolk
county"
II hear favorable reports from all
sides as to the peanut crop" Mr.. Aus
tin Corbin said IT distributed al
together from thirty to forty bushels,
with view of inducing farmers to try
the experiment of cultivating them,
as | believe the soil and climate of
Long Island well adapted to their
growth. If that is found to be the
case, it will solve the problem of what
to do with the great sandy wastes on
the island, Another good point is
that cattle seem to be exceedingly
fond of the peanut vine, and it will
be valuable for fodder. Almost the
only expense about the crop is in the
picking, and that can be done by the
children, SO that the cost will be very
little
E. S. Miller, prominent seedman
Of Wading River, Long Island, said
that most of the crop appeared to be
doing well at present, but he thought
it was too early in the season to judge
of the adaptability of the soil and
climate for their successful culture.
1t is also too early to give an opinion
a to the probable yield.
DR.. Dio Lewis is cultivating one
half acre on his his farm at Smith
town, Long Island. He said yeter-
day:
II planted them during the second
week in June in dry, sandy soil. |
first put on twenty-five bushels OF
lime as a fertilizer. I believe in lime
for peanuts-it gives them fine white
color. and when land is once well
lined it needs nothing more for al
least twenty-five years. They are
lust as easy to plant as white beans,
and need very little care. Not sin
gle hill of my planting missed, and
e ,rny A