The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-07
GOOD WORDS FOR PEANUTS.
Its Virtues S0t Yet Fully Apprecf-
st~a-Hts vaIae as Part Of = Nstri-
ffeas Dfef-where II Comes From
and How Prepared for Market.

sors. Interesting faets about tire en-
sure ard use Of ,he peanut also known
az the ear.hnut. gr0lsnesnGs. srounG Pea.
soo5er and rssrGar, are set forth in
bulletin by r. b. .Handy. issued By tie az
rzcufturzi department
II apgears that this familiar vegetable,
although extensively cultivated sn cota
tae Eastern ard Western hsEnlsp f2eres- IS
probably native Of BEzza. and shSi1i
thus he added 70 the four ether plants az
commercial Importance that America has
eoatri bGeed 20 the agriculture OK TIE
world namely eo..on Indian corn pota-
to@s and tobacco. Its Use quickly spread
20 other countries AS cary az the sew
enteeTth century Il was grown 10 soca al
extent IN Africa tha. Il rad become an
important article OF native food. and was
carried In slave ships IN great quantities
g. food for the mattress + also early be-
came d largely cultivated plant IN other
warmer porttEns Of The old world, occi-
pyIng distinct place In the agriculture
Of those countries long before its merits
we're recognized In The land OF lis origin.
II she United States Il mas been cuiti-
waited extensively since issa. This fact
Is probably Que 10 the knowledge or II
acquired by the soldiers OK the different
armies which occupied the eastern par
Of Virginia during the civil war. From
that ;iFne or. each year doubled. and as
times increased threshold, its crop over
thar ~ the preceding year. so that this
country. from being a large importer Of
West African nuts. Has soon able to sup
Ply the domestic deusand with the home
raised article. 4 large part Of the crop
Is raised in Virginia. North Carolina, ard
Tenn .ssse, on account OF the favorable
conditions IN those states as regards soil
and climate
Of late years the crops have fallen CT
considerably NOW Instead of an aver
age Of 20 bushels per acre. with frequent
yields OF over 800 bushels. the average In
the peanut section Is no. over 90 bushels.
while the cost Of production has been but
slightly reduced Improper methods OF
cultivation are chiefly responsible for this
state OF affairs. BY a proper rotation CT
crops and a~;ention 10 fertilization. the
peanit-gr3winy in6ustry Gould be greatly
benefited. AZ present the yearly produc-
iton Of peanuts In this country is about
i.fsnos0 bushels Of - pounds each. an
amount sufficient for the domestic de-
nand. Virginia. Georgia. Tennessee and
North Carolina are the largest producers
in the order named
The amount grown here IS however, but
a small part OF the total production The
worlds ANIMAL crop is estimated at over
90 pounds of which over q. 900 Go
are sent To Narseilles for oil-making pur.
poses.
The method OF harvesting the crop III
this country is interesting The nuts
should 10 out % the ground before the
frst frost, as Il IL injurious both 10 the
vines, Wher rega rSed as fodder and TO the
kernels. II may he necessary 20 dig the
crop some time before fros. is feared be-
cause early formed nuts when frost IS long
delayed begin 10 spropt and the loss 20
the farmer from that cause would be
greater than the gain from the maturing
Of The later nuts. Besides II peanuts have
been cultivated In the same land for saw
eral years the vines will often drop thsir
leaves. and are thus greatly injured for
use as hay.
Peanut farmers have plow made esps-
cialiy for harvesting this crop. This pillow,
with two horses attached Is passed up
each side Of the row deep enough 10 es-
cape the peas and cuts the tap roots ran
dering them easy 10 remove from the soil
Following this pIow iaborers with pitch
forks remove the plants from the ground
carefully shaking OF all loose soil. and
piling them In windows three rows In
one. They ars usually plowed In the
morning. and then III the afternoon are
stacked or shocked around poles seven
fees high set in the ground AZ convenient:
places in the field.
After heing thus stacked from, fifteen 70
twenty days the PODS are ready 10 te
picked. This operation Is usually pef-
formed by women and children. who are
paid 50 much per hushel. and are expect
ed 10 pick only the mature and sound
pods II Is slow and tedious work and
one Of tas largest iten1s OF expense 10 the
peanut farmer. Some farmers leave their
mats Gnpicked until spring. but this sub
tects them 10 the 3epredations OF birds
and animals. many OF whlca readily eat
either the nuts or the vines.
Since the establishment % peanu. tac-
90 ID
community in which much attention -
paid TO this crop the planter has ceased
- prepare his nuts eSnciaily FOR market
sailing them as farmers stock 70 those
factories Or re-clsauers. where tnsy are
subjected 20 treatment OF tanning, pol
ishiax ard sorting before being put upon
the market This process IS simple and
Inexpensive
The machinery. neither costly nor sntri-
cate Is placed IN feur-s-orv building in
such 4 way thai the peanuts are not han
died from the slime they are put II their
! crcleaned condition n the houpsrs on the
fourth floor antil on the first floor thew
are sswed II bags. graDdej and marked
ready TO ship. with the exception that II
I the course Of tbs prccess hey have passed
/ over a movable table n the form az el
endless belt. between two rows II opera
I tors somewhat skilled in the detection O;
I Immature and faulty nuts whIch ara
picked ont AID Pc, into a separate rece =
'acie. Taus onlf tine good and me~chsrta-
h'a nass are allowed - pass Inta tHa rag
beaeata, these arr the han6-picks5 fac
+ tory stock" - re trade
As - he USES o. leanUis = Is scarcely
! Necessary "a O. more than gef@- ~ ,Aa'
/ tse . which fully taree-fouTths &c the
American raised crop Is devoted Tae q e
Is sorted II ire factories into four 4-at>rS.
& the erst. second and 'hh3 being sod "a
NcTterS 0I tbs roasted peanut. either 4 70