Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-11-10
PEANUT CROP OF 1900.
Holmes & Dawson's Report of
Conditions at Maturity.
The ounlit, and Yield Only Abou, 20 Per
Cent. of an Average Crop statistical
Condition Good and Active Trade EA-
pectcd.


In accordance with our usual custom
for n number of years past we here
with submit our annual report on the
peanut crop. We do not claim perrec-
ton for these reports. but they are tho
result of our best endeavors to get in
formation from reliable sources all over
the peanut sections OF both Virginia
and North Carolina.
There is no other Systematic effort
made TO get at existing conditions nor
any published report or record kept
other than that issued by ourselves
and ii is looked upon and recogniZed
by the peanut handlers rs direct and
reliable information which cannot be
gotten elsew
We give the inquiries sent cut ana
the result OF the tabutation of same.
First. What was the acreage planted
in peanuts in your neiGhborhood as
compared with last year.
The replies TO this question show that
30 per cent. indicate the acreage to be
the same or about the same as last
season: 80 per cent. say that the acre
aCe is so per cent or four-ffths of that
OF last year, and per cent. mention an
average increase OF IL per cent.
Second. What proportion of an aver
age crop Will there be?
AS alluded to i'll former reports, it is
always difficult to carry IN the mind
the defined idea or an average crop and
to draw away the thought OF a. conn
parison with the crop lust preceding.
Maxim. what we conceive TO be due
allowance for this fact in conjunction
with our replies TO this inquiry, we give
It rs the result OF our Investigation
that there will be 20 per cent. of an
average crop.
Third. How is the quality? Are
there many blasted and poppy nuts re-
sultinT from drought?
Thirty-one per cent. report the quail
ity fair: so per cent. that 1t is poor.
large proportion OF blasted and poppy
| nuts; II per cent. that the quality is
very poor, and per cent. give quality
Fourth What is Your estimate OF the
Yield per acre in bushels?
The average yield as given in reply is
IS bushels.
The crop OF 1899 was the largest crop
ever raised and more land WAS devoted
TO tho culture OF peanuts. In view of
this and the very considerable advance
in price of cotton at planting time 1t
was but natural TO anticipate reduc-
ton of acreage III peanuts. yet from
our replies it seems that the reduction
IS not material, being. we would judge
something like 10 PER cent.
1t is IL the out-turn OF the crop that
history OF the plant has II had 10 con-
tend with such unfaVorable weather
conditions. Week after week no rain
| fell. and the burning suns dried mp and
destroyed the germinal and producing
| faculties of the vine. Peanuts require
/ moisture, and II this is Withheld, as it
| was to an eminent degTee through the
| past summer. we may not look FOR ~
| crop. There is great uniformity in the
! replies as 10 the quality. The general
J fN,1 Ia MT iG blasted
ana poppy, q great many onc-end nuts
or kernel in one end and nothing in the
other There is no milldeW mentioned,
and there seems 10 he but TWO quail
ties OF nuts. the good and the poor.
The summing up of The situation
shows that the supply Of peanuts this
year VIII be less than last season. that
the quality IS generally poor owing to-
long continued drought. and that the
| yield il slightly under average.
y larger quantity of old crop peanuts
| than usual has been carried over into
the new crop and these. together with
| the new crop, will afford such n supply
as will probably meet the needs of the
trade at advanced figures. We have
| always tried to take Il conservative
Wow of things. and While we believe
THAI the present crop viii sell for more
money per pound than that of last
! year, we 90 not think that such short
| age will show no as 10 warrant the
! fancy prices which some are inclined TO
count on.
The market has opened MP we'll and
good stock is in demand, and such
stock will meet With ready sale all
through the season. EealiZng-that the
| quotations which have recently pre-
vailed on this market We're quite salts
factory and an advance over those
usual at the opening of the shipping
| season. the shippers OF peanuts have
| begun to market their peanuts more
| RAPIDLY. This action has not been in
| the interest of good steady market
/ with few exceptions the nuts have
/ not been in good condition. being too
( green. Those already bought have to
! be stored until they get dryer before
| they can be worked up into factory
! branded goods. So far no new peanuts
| have been sold by tho factories They
| have quite n supply OF old peanuts on
! hand ana ont of these they will fill
! their orders. The trade throuchout the
| country is better supplied with pea
| has the effect OF CurtailnG the demand
I for the new crop.
We anticipate that when the weather
gets cooler and peanuts dry out more
and are in better condition that tho
| market Will settle itself into generally
improved conditions both IS to de-
mand and price. It is likely that IN
usual efforts viii be made 10 buv IN
the good stock in the country bv fa,
tory agents and thus 10 leav, the Moor
stock. We believe that If shiirers this
season would sell their peanuts in
Norfolk letting all grades come 10
market rather than part with their
good stock as we have indicated. that