The Washington times., 1894-07-15
POSSIBILITIES IN PEANUTS
The Little Goober Fruit May Rival
the Little Cotton Seed.
USEFUL OILS ARE EXTRACTED
The Companion Of the Rad Lemonade and
Popcorn il Rapidly Coming Into Its xststs.
States Adapted to IH Cultivation.
Testimony Of an Expert

"Have peanut" Editor Hill, Of the Agri-
cultural Department, said to me tho other day
during one OF my interesting conversations
with him. He rummaged through his desk
and handed me tine specimen Of this fruit,
goober.
81 would offer you some pea soup and an
excellent quality Of olive oil II l had them
here" he said, "all made from tho meal OF
the peanut. Perhaps you don't know 1t, but
there arc great possibilities for peanuts in
this country. A little while ago some ono
brought to the Agricultural Department some
peanut meal and had US served here with an
excellent quality of peanut soup. 1t was ap-
petizing and entirely free from any peanut
odor or taste that you wouldn't like. The
same gentleman had bottle Of olive oil, sup
posedly made in France, with T-ench label
and French named firm. 1t had all the ap-
pearance and taste Of the best olive oil.
II don't suppose he had any serious inten-
tions; perhaps it was only a joke Of his; but
the department is really investigating the
question Of the culture Of peanuts for the
making Of peanut meal. Let me give you
few figures about the extent Of this industry
in the East Indies and Africa, and the extent
OF the use OF peanuts in Germany and
France.
Il haven't the exact figures for the total
consumption in Europe, but Germany last
year imported 26,000 tons of peanut meal.
and France about the same quantity. Several
other countries imported it largely. The
East Indies sent {, 900 tons TO Europe and
Africa almost the entire remainder. be-
lieve the United States made one small ship
ment OF twenty-five tons to Germany.
IL
dous rapidity and promises to be immeasur-
ably larger than 1t is now. The European
countries are using peanut meal and peanut
oil in virtually the same way that they use
cotton seed There doesn't seem to be any
reason why this country should not have a
large part OF this trade. 1t has always been
thought. you know. that Virginia and the
Caroinas are the paradise OF the peanut.
Over here we thought that nobody else In the
world could raise peanuts. They have seemed
an American industry like the turkey and the
bison, and it is undoubtedly true TINT there is
every advantage OF climate and soil and
knowledge and experience in their growth
for the southern states, almost all OF them, II
the farmers could be persuaded to take it up
and II it could be advertised that We had pea
nuts for sale.
VARIOUS USES FOR THE GooBER.
First Of all. though, there is no reason
why there should not be tremendously
large market for peanuts in this country.
Just let me give you an idea: They take the
peanuts, crush them, and by simple processes
extract the oil, which is a fine lubricant. The
residue is now used solely as food for cattle.
1t is compressed into cakes and fed to them
alone or with other foods. but that needn't be-
its principal use although it Is an invaluable
one. The peanut meal contains twice and
half the nutrinent that beef does, ranking
with peas and beans. It is full OF nitroge-
nous matter When the oil is properly ex-
tracted there is not the slightest peanut odor
or taste left, and it makes an excellent substi-
tute for peas or beans in soups and in other
ways.
"Ot course there are great possibilities,
too. for the domestic manufacture of pure
French olive oil. Experts say that it Is an
excellent and a legitimate substitute.
Il have little story about cottonseed
olive oil which will illustrate this. During
the time of the Par.s Exposition several OF US
here had charge of certain classes Of Amer
lean products for exhibit One day during
the absence of the cotton man box came ad-
dressed to him personally which we could
see contained bottles. l supposed it was