The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1895-12-22

vegetation from tho land and the failure
to rrplenish the soil by means OF fer
tllize rs-has been great factor III re
duclng the profits OF the crop by rcduc-
ing the ability OF the land to produce
such crops as were previously secured IN
that section, so that now, instead of an
average Of htty bushels per acre. with
frequent yields OF over 100 bushels, tho
average IN the peanut sections 10 Niot
over twenty bushels, while tho cost of
cultivation has been but slightly re-
Az regards food vnlue. peanut kernels.
with AN average of ~ per cent of protein,
~ per cent of fat and IA per cent OF car
hohydratnS III the dry material. take u
high rank, and should be clasSed with
such concentrated foods as sofa bcafrs
cotton seeds. etc. The vines are shown
by analysis 10 be superior 10 timothy
nay AS feeding stun, and but slightly
inferior to clover hay, The food value
of the hay is OF course, higher the grcaS-
or the percentage of nuts loft on the
vines In harvesting. The hulls also app
pear TO possess considerable value az
"A feeding stunt being much richer IN val
liable food constituents tprot"in, fat and
carbohyuratcs) than cotton hulls, which
ere extensively used in some localities
IN the south as a coarae fodder and
about equal 10 the poorer grades of hay.
The ground huls are used To n CON
siderable extent az a coarse fodder In
European countries Peanut mehl. the
ground residue from oil extraction, IN a
valuable feeding stun, highly apprecla-
ted, ard extensively used IN tofcign
countries; IT contains, as the averages
cent OF protein, per cent OF Fat and n
por cent OF carbohydrates, aud Is one OF
the most concentrated foedins s,uns with
which We arc familiar, tnnking with cot
ton seed meal, linseed meal. etc. ana
in some cases ahead OF them
AS regards fcTtllZ,ng constituents, the
peanut. like other lcguminous plants, Is
rich In nitrogen and contains considerable
amounts of phosphate acids ana potash.
Tho Kernels arc as rich ~ these consult
s,taf ne tIra IL MI good
vines are nearly as valuable ms FERTILIZER
ns those of cow peas.
The virginia running variety of the pea
nut, being most widely known and most
Popular with the trade may be taken as
The typical Amt rican peanut. its vines
are large, with SPREADING branches. grow
ing fiat on the ground and bearing pods
over almost IT'S entire length. The pods
are large and white. weighing about
twenty-five pounds to the bushel. Tho
Virginia bunch variety grows erect ana
fruits near the taproot, but produces pods
very closely resembling these above de-
scrihod
the red and whitc--the white closely re-
sembIing the virginia running variety ana
the red producing somewhat smaller pods,
with kernels having "a dark red SKIN. rms
variety natures earlier than the whilc.
Yields fewer pops OF imperfect pods. has
4 less spreading habit, and. on account Of
this difference in growth, ~ perhaps some
what more easily cultivated,
The North Carolina COR African variety,
grown in the Wilmington section or the
State. has much smaller pods than those
just described, Weighing twenty-e.ght
pounds 10 the bushel. the kernelA contain
I'M. more oil than those of other va ic-
tieg.
The Spanish variety has a relatively
small uprigh vine, forms small pods near
the itaproot and can ne planted much
closer togethcr than any OF tho others,
thus producing very neavy crop TO the
acre.
The North Louisiana station found in the
Spanish desirable variety. easily harvest-
Cd, all OF the peas adhering 10 the vine. II
required a much shorter period to mature
and, planted as late az july !, natured
full crop In that latitude before frost.
The pods flled out well, forming TOW If
any pops.
The Georgia red nut. like the similar
variety IN 'rennessee has medium sized
vines growing up from the ground and
fruitinc principally near the faproot. with
three or four Kernels to the pod.
These comprise all tho varieties cult
waited IN this country. The peanut OF India
and Africa res a1nbieS the North Carolina
variety IN sl2e and is raised principally
for tho oil which ~ contained In hs ker-
nels.
In describing the uees OF peanuts It Is
scarcely necessary to more than refer 20
the use 10 which fully three fourths of
the American raised crop Is devoted The
nut IL sorted in the factory into four
grades. the first; second and third BENG
sold 10 vendors OF the roasted peanut,
eithep directly or through jobberr. while
the fourth Is sold to confectioncrs TO be