Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-26
SENATOR PRITCHARD.
Significance Of Ills HOb-Nobbins with
Governor Mckinley.
THE INDISPENSABLE PEANUT.
Interesting Paper Thereon from the
Fen of n WelI-knOwn Nircininn-
Famous Product.

Culture, Uses. and Varieties of the
Famous Product.
WASHINGTON. y. C.. March 2J.-(Spe-
cidl )-Senator Prtchard, Of North Caro-
Ina, Is in the city for a few days. The
fact that he was dancing attendance upon
Governor Mckinley during the latter gen.
tlemans recent visit TO the South has
started considerable gossip amona the
politicians 10 the effect that Mr.. Pritchard
leans toward the Ohio Governor for the
Republican presidential nomination
next year. Ii IS remarked here
that the Senator is pronounc-
ed advocate Of high tariff. and
the prophets argue, therefore. that
Prtchard is about to throw his influence
Some Of the friends of the Senator. how
ever, are not willing TO concede the fact.
They are rather Of the opinion he merely
paid a complimentary visit to the Gov
ernor and that he has not yet made up
his mind as 70 his choice for the honor.
The politicians now in Washington
seem TO think tnat North Carolina will
be very much divided next year. 50 tar
as the Republicans are concerned. and
they Will be- apt 10 have a hard time IN
agreeing upon presidential candidate.
Congressman Tom Settle and Siate-Chair-
man EoltOn are known to bs warm ad-
vocates 81 the nomination Of Mr. Reed,
OF Maine. al this time. nut the situation
may change between now and the time
&. -. a 4. la.
Senator Cameron is looked upon as ?
candidate. and is said 10 have the back
ing Of his powerful colleague. Mr.. quay.
The average southern Republican taxes
very kindly. too, 10 the Cameron boom.
for. IN addition 10 liking his free-silycr
record, they know that he Is lavish with
money when ii comes To putting up funds
for what is termed Legitimate expenses"
such "a buying railroad tickets. paying
hotel bills at the convention. and the
general entertainment Most Of The other
candidates are poor in purse. ana Reed
and Mckinley cannot afford 10 eXpeud
the cash.
THE ALGER REGRETS.
The North Carolina contingent at Min
neapolis in lS92 or certainly Il consider
able portion Of the delegates. cast very
longing eyes on the Alger boom. but
things were such they could not then
br, ak away and avail themselves of the
OF portunity to enjoy the hospitality
which his ample purse could extend.
Although Senator Prtchard is ranked
a. a believer i'm the high-protectiv, tariff,
he H. also a firm advocate Of the free
coinage Of silver. Governor Mckinley
is not reliable man on the silver ques-
ton. The North Carolina Republicans,
in their last State convention. declared
erphatically for the free coinage Of
silver. Congressman Linney when here
recently. said his party in the state would
continue TO demand that silver should be-
recognized. and he said he was for the
absolute free coinage of the American
product.
4 straw that has caused much com
mont is the utterance Of Colonel Robert
g. Ingcrsoll that the candidate of the
Republicans next year would have to run
on a free-cOinage platform. II IS regarded
as a most significant remark, and, al
though Pagan Bob" is not in high
standing with his party because OF his
inndel views. yet it Is conceded he IS
man OF keen observation and great
ability The comment Is made here.
also. that I'm addition TO the strong senu-
ment for the cause Of silver among the
Populists Of the South. the Democratic
and Republican parties are likewise con-
trollcd by leaders who appear to be de-
termined to force this issue a the next
national campaign.
PEANUTS.
\ bulletin has been issued by the De-
partment OF Agriculture on peanuts:
Culture and Uses" It was prepared by
Mr.. Il. -. Handy, a well-known Vir-
cinian. appointed from Northampton
.ttl.
the Office Of experiment stations The
pamphlet contains . pages Of printed
matter. and it Is quite interesting. there
being. of course. a great deal about the
crop in Virginia and North Carolina. two
States which produce peanuts in large
quantities.
The following extracts from Mr. Han
dy's well-collected information viii no
doubt prove interesting to readers OF
the Dispatch:
Like many other extensively cult
vated plants. the peanut has not been
found in a truly wild state. and hence
il is difficult 10 fix upon its habitat So
widely has IL been cultivated in eastern
that some bOtanists have A.
tempted TO trace its spread from China
To Japan thence through the East India
Islands 10 India. and thence 10 Africa.
where. I'm the seventeenth century IL
was 50 extensively cultivated and had |
become such an important article Of ma
tiy" food that the slave-dealers loaded |
their vessels with il. using il as food |
for their Cargoes OF captiyes. But the |
weight ~ authority seems tO b. in favor !
Of accepting II as a. native Of Brazil. |
thus adding th@ peanut 10 the fOur other |
plants Of commercial Importance that |
America has contributed 10 the agricul-
ture Of the w0rll-namely cotton. In
dian corn, potato, and tobacco. Though |
IL may be- a native Of the western cOnti-
nent. it early becama a ldrgely-cultl-
waited plant I'm the warmer portions pf /
the old World, occupying distinct
place in the agriculture Of those coun-
tries long before its merits were recog-
nized in the land Of It's origin.
SPREAD OF CULTURE.
"Wtile the peanut has been cultivated
n the United States - limited extent
'or - number Of years. IL IS only since
vi that the crop has become Of primary |
in the eastern section OF this
'ountry. which seems peculiarly adapted
- its production.
between l'tj and $50 the rapid spread
4 the cultur" Of peanuts was phcnOme-
lal. due probably 10 the knowledge Of
hem acquired by the individual members
u the various armies which AZ one time
n another occupied the eastern section
# Virginia. Each year doubled and at
lines increased threefoll. its crop over
hat Of the preceding year. 30 that this
'ountry. from being large importer Of
Vest African nuts, was soon able 10 sup
by the domestic demand with thu home
aised article.
Virginia. North Carolina. and Tenncs-
zee produce large part II the peanut
rOp Of the United States. This Is due,
possibly. - the fact that their soil and
Innate are admirably adapted 10 the sue
'essful cultivation Of this plant, and
lso. no doubt. because OF the large
,rohts which the farmer was able 10 Se-
ure from the culture Of peanuts at
ime when other agricultural industries
we're in a very depressed condition. With
n the last few years this crop has ceased
o be as profitable as heretofore The
method Of culture-the annual planting !
4 nuts on the same land, the lack Of
roper rotation Of crops, the complete re-
noval Of ali vegetation from the land.
nd the failure 10 replenish the soil by
negps of fprfiltZer,-has peau a 0raat