The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-11-07
Report Of Condition, Yield and Quantity of
The Crops at Its Maturity.
CONSIDERABLE REDUCTION AS TO SIZE
The Yield Per Acre Averages yw enty.
Eight Busheis-Thc lnnIiiy of the
Crop IL Not at All Good-rhe
Scmi.AnnuaI Report Nude by
Holmes IL Dawson.

ioituiitc IN securing reliable lnfOrmu-
Ton and wish to thank those who have
aided us in getting together the desired
data. The replies To our inquiries
Drought together, tnbulated and aver
aged, give results and conclusions as be-
low:
The questions asked were:
First What will be the size of the
crop as compared with last year?
The replies TO this inquiry show in
every case except two considerable
reduction. Our last report. issued Au-
gust /, showed an increase of II to Is
per cent in acreage. Under favorable
conditions this should have resulted in
a corresponding increase in the crop
but such have bcCn the unti.nely and
disturbing weather features of the grow
ing season that this acreage increase is
altogether lost as 4 factor in the calcu-
lution of the final outcome. Ii is well
10 keep i'll mind y fact to which we al
luded in former report. That it is quite
diicult III answering an inquiry as to
comparison of one crop with that OF the
preceding one to draw away the mind
from the idea OF an average crop. We
have no statistical tables kept as is the
case with cotton. ana thus we are ham
pcred in definite comparative conclu-
sionS.
Our answers to this first inquiry indi-
cate an average of gu. per cent. of last
years crop.
Second-Whnt is the average yield per
acre in bushels?
The replies to this question are quite
varied, running from 10 to so, the aver
age being rs bushels.
Third-How is the quality, and will
there he any SapS?
Here there is great uniformity. so
per cent. saying that the quality Is Door
Ia very poor and Il great many saps: 10
per cent. rep":; fair quality. and only
per cent. good. Some DELAYED digging
even after the vines had begun to turn
hoping That the late formed nuts would
mature, ana in consequence II good part
of the nuts made in July ANA August
separated from the vines and were lost
The early formed peanuts are really the
only ones that are of value.
Fourth-Ncrc there many nuts form
ed in September, and will they come to
maturity?
The almost unanimous opinion given
is that none of the peanuts formed i'm
September will mature. only per cent
saying that they will. There was con-
siderable hope INDUCED in that the Sep
TENDER crop would mature and thus to
Il great degree offset the otherwise
small crop. but the replies all indicate
that they came la nothing.
Looking over the whole situation
there is but one opinion u he formed
and that is that til" present crop is the
poorest for many years. the proportion
being but little over onc-halr OF an aver
is about the same as last year. The mos:
serious item being the quality. which is
so far below that of former Years: 50
peg cent. showing great many SnpH
and otherwise poor nuts. Nth Caro-
lima has soma" slight advantages over
NirEInia: the yield is Grratc. and the
quality =: small degree better
IN" statistical position OF peanuts is
u strong one and with Il revival OF trade
II can II" quite confidently predicted
"a I'D sl.., y,
We desire To call attention in this re-
port To an item of interest tn peanut
producers. There is an enterprise on
foot by Pittshurg capitalists to cstab-
fish in Norfolk some time in the carly
part of the coming year Il peanut food
and oil mil. OR information is that
they have already leased the mill prop
crty and contracted for their machin-
cry. The object is 10 extract from the
peanut all substances of commercial
value. principally oil. and manufacture
me residue into a food, both for man
and animals.
for many years the city of NIarseillcS
! France. has had almost n MONOPOLY of
TINS industry and millions of dollars are
invested in the Importation of peanuts
from Africn, from which the oil is ex-
tractcd and used in the manufacture of
Inc French toilet soaps salad oils etc
III TINS enterprise is as it is, paving
one, there is II" reason why there! should
not ne Siinil3r mills in this country
when we take into account that there is
no section "f the world better adapted
to the culture Of peanuts than the sea-
board states of Virginia and North Car
DINA.
Should this contemplated Industry be
started and prove satisfactory the ca
pacity Of the mill would he increased
ana tie raisers would have an outlet
and market for their nuts which does
hot now cNiSt under the restricted use
81 III" peanut. The result of such, to
us. new use for the peanut would en,re
To The benefit Of both tie farmers and
cleaners. as the cleaners could then af-
ford to- ray better prices for the best
grade OF peanuts not being compelled
10 take all classes OF low grades on
which they 90 not more than get back
their money. or AT least make but trifling
profit or course the peanut oil factory
people would care nothing for the an
pearancc of the hull. whether bright
or dark. as IL is the kernel only which
interests them.
fnr III" past six months or more all
business has been depressed This can
not last and we believe ii will shortly
resume to large degree it's normal
Icnndition. If trade revives as IL is OK
pecicd To do peanuts will of course
snare in the general Improvement We
nave good hope that they will materially
haNhhcc some time in the near future.
we nave made Il speciality of peanuts
Tor many years and believe in our abil-
ity To obtain best results for our pat
rons. To properly sell peanuts REQUIRES
an accurate knowledge and Judgment
ana from being constantly on the mar