The herald., 1894-01-01

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the pods and injuries tho vines 80 forage.
The latter ia excellent for feeding the
stock, and is relished by them, In gath
ering the crop plow, with what u
called peanut point, in plscs OF she
usual one, Is run along each side Of the
row, cutting the tap roots. The bands
follow With broad pitchiorks, with which
they lift the peanuts out OF the ground.
leaving them on top of the ridge. The
pods are allowed to dry in the sun,
which IL usually accomplished in Jew
| hours. The plants are then etecked
around pole, the pods in the center.
The stacks are from two TO three feet in
diameter and from five to seven feet
high. The top OF each stack is covered
with fine hay or STRAW, and the crop il.
left to cure. This Is effected in two or
three weeks in dry weather.
M THE NUT PTcKEDs.
Picking the nuts from the vines Il
usually done by women and children
and, though slower process, is prefer
able to machine work, as the latter il
liable to crack the shell and injure the
commercial value. The machine is
worked in the field, the power beingI
supplied by portable engine. and ct 3
distance resembles steam thresher for
| grain. The vines are pitched onto an
elevated platform and are fed into the
hopper. The pods are thrown out OF
the cylinder st the left and are in fair
condition. Usually machine will pick
300 bushels day, and one Is almost
necessity on farms where large acreage
destined to be ground for the oil no loss
/ will follow if fha ,,0da ora rraokod In
picking.
The pickers receive in North Carolina
from SO cents to 40 cents bale. Alter
baling, the nut is ready for market, but
before it reaches the retail buyer il
usually undergoes several cleansing pro-
cesses. The pods are first run through
a 'fan," somewhat similar to the ma
chine that blows the chaff from wheat.
to remove the dirt, dried leaves and
pops" They are then put on revolving
cylinders and are polished by natural
sttrition. Some authorities state that o
sharp, clean sand is used in the process.
Probably the methods vary In the differ
ent factories. 1t was formerly the custom
to bleach the pods to still further inn
prove their appearance. but this 10 fall
ing into disuse since the varieties planted
have been improved.
From the cylinders the pods are tan
out in an endless cloth, which resolvee
| eyer the cylinders. Women AA2 ehil-=
dren cit on each side and qu5ekty and
deftly pick on. the good podas ailowinE
| the faulty ones to pass on and fell futn s
receptacle. The more uniiorsnIs fair
the appearance of b1ehal ef tbo
"beans," the higher the 1etaii price /,
although the whole tribe of "Peanut
Joes" invariably charge 10 cents quart, !,
for every state Of the market.
VALUE OF THE CROP.
A bulletin from the department 81
agriculture states that sthe crop varies
in yield from % bushels to 100 bushels
per acre, % pounds being the standard
weight per bushel." In the northeast
sections of North Carolina the yield
often reaches 125 bushels to the acre,
while the average is SO bushels. Large
| farms often have from 100 to 200 acres
seeded to this one crop.
North Carolina has sometimes been
iouosely called the Peanut state =
not from its politics--though it by no
means monopolizes this valuable crop.
Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia and
some other southern states raise ina
mense quantities. There is never any
thing small about California, 60 it is not
surprising that she claims to raise the
best peanuts, as we'll &c all the sub
tropical nuts and fruits. For several
years past the crop has increased in /,
acreage and value until, in 1892, in the
northeastern section OF Forth Carolina
it dethroned "King Cotton" and dur
ing that same year the importations OF
the nut decreased by ore-half. Whether
| tkl- 1.xN - - xr
home production, others may decide.
The expectation was less than $50. .000.
| The magnitude and universality of the
home consumption OF peanuts arc
something startling. There are few
towns too small to support at least one
vender, while in the cities the pictur- !,
esque stalls and roasters are feature OF
! the busineBs streets.
VALUABLE NUT OIL.
The peanut has great commercial
Importance aside from its roasted state.
The seeds contain from AZ to 30 per cent
of oil, which 10 easily obtained by cold
or warm expression. The first method
yields a superior oil, which none but an
expert can detect from the true olivs
oil. and it may be used for the same
purposee, both on the table and in phar-
| macy. In the latter method the beans
are but slightly heated before being sub
mitted to pressure and the yields much
greater, but the color is darker and the
j odor more pronounced and less agree
able. This second qualiiy Of Arachis
oil, as it is known, is used
for lrbricating watches and delicate
machinery. The west coast OF Africa
produces an almost incalcnlable crop
to eupply the European demand, Mar
seilles alone importing in one year ever
10, GOO, 900 bushels for use in the manu-
facfure Of chocolate, while billions of
bushels are yearly carried to London,
Hamburg, Berlin and other places for
oil. Very large quantities are grown in
India, for home uses. Brazil, which il
the true botanical home OF the plant,
does little more than supply her own
trade. In cumming up the products OF
this one common mt, which is nut
only by courteey, we find them holding
imuortant places in my laty's toilet, in
the dining room and in Flie stsb,e In
this utilitRrian age, MO wiil dare to-
say that it is absurd to moist the tag at
the peanut as tour national nut?"