The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1898-12-01
PEANUT CROP 1898.
REPORT ON THE CONDITION,
YIELD AND QUALITY OF THE
CROP AT IT'S MATURITY.
Complied by Holmes & Dawson,
Norfolk, Virginia.


Norfolk Journal OF Commerce.
We herewith submit for the consld-
Grafton and information of our friends
engaged in the cultivation OF peanuts
in North Carolina and Virginia, and
all others intercsled in this important
industry, our -anual report on the
crop.
We desire to thank those who have
so kindly taken the pains to give us
intelligent information In answer to
our inquiries. The inquiries which
we sent out were as follows:
No. /. What proportion of an aver
age crop of peanuts will there be in
your neighborhood this year? 5 per
cent. OF the replies state that there
will be over an average crop made, ~
per cent. report full average, 81 per
cent. say about -fourths of an
average, and 10 per cent. report simply
shortage.
No. 9. What is your estimate OF
the yield per acre, in bushels? The
answers to this question give an aver
age of 81 bushels.
No. 3. How is the quality, anf will
there be any pops Or saps? 19' per
cent. report the quality very fine; "A
per cent. good, and Z per cent. fair.
No. 4. Was the acreage planted in
peanuts this year greater Or less than
last year? 81 per cent. report consid-
cradle increase, 81 per cent. say that
the acreage is about the same as last
year, and SO per cent. report diminu-
ton.
A resume of the informatio derived
from these reports leads us to the
opinion that the crop Of peanuts this
season is close on to an average, that
the yield is slightly greater than last
year, that the quality is exceptionally
good, finer than for years past, with
bat very few saps and pops, and that
the acreage seems to be slightly in
creased.
The continuance of low prices for
cotton has encouraged the planting of
peanuts. Unlike cotton, it seldom
os,c::rs that there is large or excessive
surplus of peanuts to be carried over
into the next crop. The crop is guilty.
! ated OF late years wit: much less ex-
! pense than was the case in the earlier
| history OF planting, aud its care after
digging is teil7s better understood,
! though much remains to be learned in
this particular In is market value it
is subject at times to wide fluctuations,
which are more of spasmodic nature
than otherwise, and the result OF ca
price, inaagings Or squeezes on the part
Of the buyers. The course OF the mar
kets for the past year Or two has been
fairly uniform and regular. During
July and August last there was some
apprehension of short supply, and
sales were made at 81 for strictly prime,
a few bags being sold as high as 4
cents. This fear proved, as it often
does, to be groundless, and the close OF
the season found prices for old goods
down to p to p cents. The prices
obtained for the last crop were, on the
whole, satisfactory, and there was no
time during the year when there was a
stagnated market, as some time occurs
when there is no sale for the goods at
all. The market opened at about 2a
Tor good stock, went to q in January
hardening to p to 8 cents In April and
May, reaching its highest in mid sum-
mer. The jobbing trade was more
satisfactory, and and the years transac-
tons in peanuts, both to producers and
handlers, we're to good degree pro6ta-
BILE. The noticeable feature of the new
crop Is its uniform excellent quality
there was no blasting drought MOI
were there any late and Immature nuts
made, the result being grade of nuts
lar superior to any crop raised In years
past. Up to this time very few nuts
have been marketed and there has not
been 4 disposition to rush green and
soggy stock On the market, which Is
always a mistake. Such good stock as
has been sold has brought from Al to
q cents. We are looking Tor large
receipts in the near future, and the
weight Of these will have Its effect on
prices. We see no reason at present
why there should not be good, steady
trade, and because OF the general good
quality OF the crop, satisfactory out
turn for the peanut season.