Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-15

fornia Method-White and Red Varieties.
Peanut Oil and Peanut Flour.
The peanut is a leguminons plant, botanic
ally known as the arachis hvpogoea It has
several other common names than that BY
which we are accustomed to call it, among
them being ground pea and ground nut. In
the southern states it is known as pindar and
gouber, while by the French it is called the
plstache de terre. 1t is generally believed to
be indigenous to Africa. although there are
five or six species Of the genus found grow
ing wild in Brazil It has been successfully
introduced into Spain, has for sever years
been raised in the states of Virginia, Georgia,
Tennessee, and has more recently been cult
waited in California ) small variety also
grows in China.
Roughly speaking, it might be said that
the peanut looks ike clover and grows ike
sweet potato, but for those who prefer a
stricter and more botanical description. the
following may be quoted: The plant is a
diffusely branched, trailing annual, with ab-
ruptly pinnate leaves with four leaflets: the
small yellow flowers are in auxiliary heads
or spikes; calyx with one narrow lobe max
ing lower lip, the upper lilo four toothed
and with a long, thread like tube; heel of the
corolla tncuryed and pointed; stamens united
into tube by their filirnents, each alternate
shorter than the others; ovary at the bottom
OF the long calyx tube. After the flower
falls away the forming pod is forced into
the soil by the elong0tion OF the rigid de
fexed stalk to which it is attached The
forming pod then rapidly enIarges and forms
thick shelled, indehiscent pod, with a
.~--x.,. !
tween the seeds, of which it contains two or
three. These have very thick cotyiedons
and an extremely short radicle.
THE FORMING POD"
The burying of tho forming pod" or nut
by the "elongation Of the rigid, deIlexed
stalk" is the popularity of this plant, and is
one Of the curiosities Of the vegetable king
dom. The flower and leaf stalks are Of en-
tirely different characters. The flower stalk
Is a trailing vine like that of the melon and
cucumber, the blossoms appearing at short
intervals along its length. The flower opens
and blossoms close down to the stalk, and it
is not until after the petals have fallen and
Tie seed pod is formed that the pushing
power is made manifest. Gradually the seed
pod or nut is lifted away from the stem and
little stalk shows itself. As this stalk
grows SO the nut at the end of it is pushed
forward until Ii curves over like q fish hook,
with the little nut in the place of the point
and barb. Gradually tie nut is pushed
down to the ground, and then pushed into it.
Ii by any accident this is prevented the fruit
ceases to grow.
The culture Of the peanut is not difficult.
Good corn land is generally selected in this
country, care being taken that there is moth
Sfrr 10 a,,I tl,,~
In this state a sandy loan that never suffers
from drought should be chosen. In fact,
good melon land is generally good peanut
land. The bottom lands on the borders Of
rivers that receive a winter or spring over
fow are admirably adapted for the growth
of this nut. The plan of planting ADOPTED in
the south is TO mark of the land in burrows
three feet apart, and in these two peas are
dropped at intervals of eighteen inches and
covered an inch and a half deep.
When tho nuts are ripe, which win be in
October, the California peanut farmer runs
4 furrow on each side of the row Of vines
with bull tongued plow, close enough to
loosen the soil and plants Then he takes a
light and narrow grubbing hoe digs up the
vines and turns them over to dry. taking care
never to gather in rainy weather or when the
ground is very wet. After allowing the vines
20 lie in the sun for a day the bed plan is to
stack them, after the dew has dried, in the
following fashion: Drive stake of four or
five feet long firmly into the ground, spread
Ing dried grass or hay around it, 50 as to
keep the vines from the damp ground Then
lay the vines around the post with the roo1s
inward, taking care to leave space around
the stake for purposes Of ventilation. and
when the stack is Of q proper height thatch L
with straw cap tied To the stake. Let IL,
vines remain III stack from three to five
weeks and then pick the nuts and send to
market.
WHITE AND RED VARIETIES.
A clean, bright appearance OF the pods is
largely to be desired, and to get this the nuts I.
are sometimes put into SORT Of winnowiny
cage, which IS turned either bv hand or
power. There are two sorts of peanuts
grown III California--the white and the red
and to make the white variety still whittier
the nuts are sometimes treated TO sulphur
fumes. The red variety, by the by, is moro
easily cultivated and sells for about the
same price. The white variety runs along
the ground, while the red grows upright in
q bunch. The picking is rather arduous
task but the labor will in all probability be
modified by the use of machinery
The peanut is useful product-much
more 50, indeed, than people imagine We
oil know how extensively it is eaten in its
roasted state, but therein by no means lies
the extent of Its value. The nuts contain
from II to so per cent. Of nearly colorless,
bland, fixed oil, resembling olive OIL and
used for similar purposes. The best is 90
tanned by cold expression. but a large guam
tity of inferior oil Is procured by heating
the seeds before pressing. 1t is a non-drying
oil changing but slowly by exposure TO the
and remaining fluid IL u cold
several degrees below 81 dogs Fahrenheit
1t contains besides olelc aid palntic acids
two other oily ACIDS. which have been called
the arachic and hypogRic, though it is
doubtful if they are really distinct. The
PRINCIPAL consumption of the oil is in soap
making.
In 1855 Virginia began the manufacture of
peanut -four, the result being peculiarly
palatahle biscuit, while Georgia has long
made pastry Of pounded peanuts. The kernels
roasted are largely used in the manufacture
Of chocolate, while the amanda de terre, as
has been shown, Is used by the coufectioners.
Ii is also eaten as & fruit and roasted for
coffee. The poor mans fruit, the peanut, IS
capable of sustaining life fer a long time,
owing 10 It's peculiarly nutritive qualities,
the negroes using il alike in porridge, Gus
lard or as beverage. Nor does its useful
hess end here, for the vine. form q splendid
fodder, as good as clover hay, while hogs
will fatten on what they find il the fields
after the crops has been gathe-ed.-San
Francisco Chronicle
INTERVIEW WITH MRS. GRANT.