The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-07-25
An Exhaustive Survey Of the Field and
33 Forecast OF Crop.
COMPILED BY HOLMES & DAWSON.
The Pnst Season IEas Been n Kcmnrk-
nhio one III Many KcSpccts-Trs-
nlenJous Domestic Sales ana II IiE
Export Busincxs-n Full Crop Will
Not he Made THIS Season.


the peanut crop:
| For years past it has been our habit
to Issue Il semi annual report on this
crop, which is Il very important one to
the agricultural interests OF North Car
DINA and Virginia. we have met
With considerable encouragement in our
endeavors, both in supplying us with
information and the reception of our
reports by the trade.
IN accordance therefore with our us
ual custom we herewith give the result
of our Investigations as to the acreage
the stand. The planting season and the
! probabilities Of 4 full crop at maturity
| for the year 1897. Ilhc answers to our
| questions cover the period from the LIST
to the 18TH OF July Climatic changes
| are sudden at this time of the year
| and their fullest effect on the plant are
! felt at this critical period or its life
| llencc conjectures Of the probable size
| OF the crop ut its maturity can only be
| conjectures, and at best all we can give
| Is It's present condition.
The first inquiry was: What is the
| acreage planted III peanuts in your
ncighborhood? IS it moro or less than
! last year and what proportions? The
average result of the inquiry is that
! ol per cent. report 81 reduction in
acreage averaging % per cent 80 per
| v
and IL per cent. report IN Increase
The second Inquiry was: How is the
stand? III per cent report the stand
good, 10 per cent. fair and IS per cent
poor to bad.
The third inquiry was: Was The
planting season favorable or unfavoru-
Die? II per cent. report the planting
season favorable, and 60 per cent. un-
favorable.
The fourth inquiry was: with ia
'ornble conditions, do YOU look for q full
crop! III Der cent. reply that Il full
crop will be made if future conditions
arc favorable. and &C per cent. say that
full crop cannot be made
comparison OF conditions In Vir-
ginla and North Carolina show that the
percentage Of reduction in acreage i,
greater in the latter State Tie stand
is slightly better in Virginia. and the
planting season was also more f;lyora
bic
The peanut field rs 4 whole shows a
| SHIT deficiency in acreage compared
| with last season. The numerous fail
urcs last year to make q crop and in
many instances the quality being SO
wretchedly poor, has resulted in these
cases in Il cutting down OF acreage.
| he stand as n whole is Il fair one
| The most OF our reports came in before
che drought was broken, the plant
showing up very small and but little
| advanced. From later information we
are inclined to believe that since the
rains have set in the vines have taken
a healthy start and are beginning 70
spread and bloom. One excellent dea-
| lure is the fact that It Is seldom the
case that the crops have been cleaner
or freer from grass, and because OF
this their cultivation to the present
Time has been attended with less ex-
| penSc than ordinary
| Win the present light before us we
are inclined to predict that there will
be, with Favorable conditions from nov
| until maturity, close OH to IN average
crop OF peanuts for the season Of 1897.
me stock Of old peanuts is being
steadily diminished There is q: good
| demand for the best stock and tie
indications are that we Will meet tile
coming crop at maturity with a markc,
practically cleaned up
| The season, which is now near it's
| close, has been quite II remarkable one
| ~ The peanut trade. especially so when
! contiaStcd with the stagnation ex.
nerencrd in the spring OF 1896. The
demand has kept up throughout the en-
| tire year, and there has been no time
when farmers stock has not met WITH
Fairly ready sale. There have been also
fewer fluctuations and figures hay,
| maintained Il Steauiness Which is rathc,
unusual.
While the johhing trade throughout
the country, who are buyers Of factory
| cleaned goods, have been conscryatiy,
IN buying, and their dealings have beer,
without any speculative features. YET
| The cleaners have had a steady demand
for their product ana the evenness OF
| prices has contributed in no small de
| gree TO the result
y remarkable feature Of the posi
years business has been the consu,np-
ton and disposal OF a large quantity
OF the inferior grades OF farmers non
nuts, The receipts of this grade were
unusually heavy ut one time and thor.
was Il lear expressed that they could
not be moved, but the facts proved diff
fcrcutly.
Thousands of bags Of these peanuts
were exported tolIuropc The hnycrs
| there W!ii take them just so long ne
h'S can he bought at certain low fig
nres When they set beyond that ,,,i,..
there Is 4 complete Stoppagc Of trade
and they arc not influenced by any M.
vance i'll prices. They Will take only
me lower grades. This has proven Il for
iunatc outlet for this class Of stool, ana
promises 10 continue 10 be so ana viii
within bounds, result IN great good -
the trade.
Inc peanut Is growing in favor as :,
commercial product. now markets arc
being found for them, ana the nutlonl,
ior INC coming season Is fairly en-
c"urasinG. II is thought by some that
peanuts arc destined TO become moro
una more largely used that their con
sumption will not be confined as is ~
most altogether the ease nowD ia holm,
eaten roasted but that they will DO
DFOuSht INTO use as a food nrofllInt