Morris tribune., 1895-04-17
FARM AND GARDEN.
The PLERElAN PEANUT.

1t Plays q Useful Part in the Economy OIL
Man and Beast.
The plebeian peanut, which rcjoices
In such other homely names as earth
nut, groundnut, ground pea, goober
i and pindar, has assumed new dignity,
having recently been honored as
the subject of special report by
one of the experiment officers of the
national department of agriculture.
The report corrects some prevalent
mistakes as to this little article of con-
sumption, gives astonishing statistics
as to it's value as food product, and
presents many interesting facts as to
it's uses.
| 1t is pleasant to be informed, first OF
all. that the peanut is not nut at all,
/ but pea, and that It's shell is not a
shell, but pod. It's also we'll to know
that while cotton, Indian corn, pota-
toes and tobacco have usually been
considered the four plants of CONNER
cial Importance which America has
given to the world, the peanut must
be added, as the weight of authority
fixes its birthplace in Brazil. The
crop has become of primary impor-
lance since 1865, and Virginia, North
Carolina and Tennessee produce the
largest part of it. There are seven
varieties cultivated, some of them bunch
and some running vines. The yield
of this underground pea is astonishing,
and the amount consumed is a testi-
monial to It's popularity. The yearly
production here is about 100000
bushels of % pounds. which supply the
present demand in this country. This,
however. is hut small portion of the
worlds crop. The expectation from
Africa and India to Europe in 1892
amounted to nearly 100000, 900 pounds.
The crop of the world may be safely
estimated at 600, 100000 pounds.
The value of the homely little ground
pea, however, becomes especially APP
parent when it's uses are considered.
It is sorted in the factory into four
grades, the first, second and third be-
ing sold to vendors of the roasted pea
nut, either directly or through jobbing
houses. The fourth grade is sold to
confectioners, and after their manipu
lation reappears as peanut candy,
burnt almonds and in cheaper grades
of chocolates. The report says in this
connections: ''The extent of the use of
the peanut by the American people
will be more fully appreciated when it
is remembered that they use 100000
bushels of nuts yearly lat cost to the
consumers of $4,000, 0Oo), which do not
form a part of the regular articles of
food but are eaten at odd times" The
planter uses the nut as fattener for his
hogs and the vine as peanut hay for
his stock, and the feeding value is in
creased when some of the nuts are
cured and fed with the hay. Millions
of bushels are used in the old world
for the production of oil. which is
regarded as equal to olive oil. In fact,
great quantities are used, unknown to
the consumer, instead of the latter,
Marseilles alone taking PC, 100000
pounds a year for the making of al
legged olive oil. In India. Europe,
Brazil and this country the oil is used
incidentally. 1t is employed by manu-
facturers in fulling cloth. 1t makes a
good lighting fluid, and is largely
and as a lubricant in machine
shops. The oil cake is used in Germany
for fattening cattle and sheep. It is
an excellent cattle food.
A grade known as peanut NEAL is
made by grinding the hulls, immature
peanuts, and those of inferior grades
and certain quantity of sound nuts
mixed with other ingredients. The
residue, known as peanut cake"
makes good soup, griddle cakes, muf
fins, etc, and is one Of the most nutri- !
tive foods for human as well as animal !
The report says: al |
though the experiment made with pea
German army was not so successful as !!
to induce the authorities to adopt it as |
a part of the rations, still analysis has |
shown conclusively that it is most |
food for man, and as COM
pared with other well-known forms of |
vegetable and animal food it has a |
high nutritive value From all of |
which it appears that this little nut or
pea, which hitherto has been looked
down upon as the stock in trade of the |
street corner vender, the food of the I
gallery god, and the luxury of the cir
Gus, has other and higher uses and is
one of the important staples of COM
merce and plays dignifed and useful
part in the economy of man and beast.
Chicago Tribune.