The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-08-08
INTERESTING REPORT
On the GrsHing Crops of Peanuts, Con-
dltlen, Extent and Stand.
EXCESSIVE RAINS RETARDED GROWTH
Rendering Wines Small aud Grassy
mud Prccludins working-AcreaKe
About tho Avernge-A Fsil Crop
Cannot Re Mnde-Tennessee Crop
In Very Good Condition.

Messrs. Holmes & Dawson have pre-
pared the following interesting report:
AS usAai with us at this season of
the year we have prepared u report on
the growing crop of peanuts in Vir-
GINA and North Carolina, and present
below the results of Investigations We
DO not claim these reports to be perfect,
but give out the best information OBJ
tainable from reliable sources in re-
Suonse 10 numerous inquiries sent
through the sections that raise peanuts.
The answers to our questions cover the
period between the 10th and 25th of
July.
The first inquiry was. How does the
acreage planted in peanuts in your vi
entity compare with that of last year?
The answer to this question, when
taoulated and averaged, show that A
per cent. give an increased acreage
or ~ per cent over last year, A per
cent. say the acreage is about the same
and IL per cent. report a decrease.
The second inquiry-How is tine
stand?
Thirty-four per cent report the stand
Door to very poor; 40 per cent. only fair;
10 per cent good. and per cent. very
good.
The third question, Have there been
excessive rains. and IL so, what effect
have they had on the planting and
subsequent growth of the vine?
There is great uniformity In the re-
plies TO this inquiry. In almost every
case excessive rains are reported re-
tarding the growth, rendering the vines
very small and grassy and precluding
working the plant In number of
cases fields have been abandoned, u few
under water. Stifr lands have not suf-
fered much. but on light lands the vines
are small. grassy and in poor condition.
Ten per cent. of the replies, however.
say that the rains have been beneficial.
The fourth question was, From pres
ent condition Of crop ds 1t expected that
with favorable seasons 1T will be a full
one2
Seventy-ive per cent. report that
full crop cannot be made, q. large pro-
portion of them giving 1t as an opinion
that not over a half crop can be eN
pected. Twenty-Five per cent. report
that AN average to a full crop will be
made If seasons are favorable from now
on.
A resume OF the above leads us to the
conclusion that there is an increase of
acreage over last year of possibly II to
10 per cent, induced by good prices OBJ
tanned through the past season; the
stand is under average, being only fair;
the excessive rains have proved serious
draw back, housh rot an unmitigated
evil in many cases, and the almost unani-
nous opinion is that q fun crop cannot
be made. The reports indicate about two
thirds of crop for the coming season.
We find that in dividing the replies
from Virginia from those of North Car
DINA that the condition of the crop is
more favorable in the latter State The
increase of acre2g e is slightly greater in
Virginia than in North Carolina. The
rains have done less damage IN North
Carolina, because of the fact that they
were not SO general, the tier of northern
counties su1e!ing mostly.
We hear from Tennessee that the crop
there is in good condition.
The peanut Is a hardy plant and will
| live under discouraging conditions. 1t
| ls extremely difficult in the face of a
present poor or only fair stand to foretell
lrwhat effect possible future perfect weath-
er conditions Will have on the crop. Our
experience teaches us that it Is often I'M
IdereStimate0
| The present peanut season, which Will
| soon close, has been rather n remarka-
Bile one. Early in the new crop the clea n
ers became convinced that there would
| be a shortage. and this feeling strength
ening, eliminated in the month of Janu-
AIRY in the highest price paid for several
! seasons. q few lots going as hlSn as 4
| cents per pound.
The large amount of money invested
| in stocking up on peanuts by reason
| of the price being nearly double that of
| the previous year, and the exceeding
! slowness OF the jobbing trade 10 take
| lutIn, CduSGu IL compete COnSeSllOll Vi
| the market for farmers goods early in
| February. For four months there was
| practically no market. buyers not even
caring 10 look at offerings, and only
! within the past month or six weeks has
| there been any disposition to purchase.
Buying is not yet general, and figures
are reduced 10 2% to cents.
ON the whole the past season has
been fortunate one for the producers,
the large bulk of the crop having been
moved at remunerative figures. Owing
to the crop having been short of an
average. there has been no excess of
peanuts offered within the past few
months: The cleaners are gradually re-
ducinE their stocks and the likelihood
Is that prices will be maintained until
new crop nuts put in an appearance.
WIKI rl!r trade it is expected :hat
quite. If not all, of the old stock of
peanuts now on hand will be bought up
ana SOLD by the time new ones can he
used. and were all other conditions ia
Vorable, we might expect good prices
when the market opens for new nuts.
mere Is so much uncertainty in fnan-
car circles as 10 what is to be the policy
or the government that 1t promotes tim
ldlty among the jobbing trade, and the
!. poiicy which has prevailed so long
among them of buying from hand to
mouth is likely to be kept up for some
tlme longer. Presidential years are ever
years or more or less stagnation in
trade, and this will prove no exception
| to the rule
we VIII issue another report in the
ran When the crop has matured. giving