The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-11-20
The Peanut Crop.

The Norfolk Journal OF Commerce
publishes the estimates Of Holmes d
Dawson OF the peanut crop Of 1900.
/ hc~e peanut factors sent out qucs-
tons to farmers and others covering
the peanut sections OF this State and
Virginia. The comparison is made
with last Year. when the crop WAS the
largest eyer raised. These inquiries
and answers arc rs follows:
First. What was the acreage plant
"a in peanuts IN Your neighborhood as
compared with last year?
Replies 10 this question show that 10
per cent indicate the acreage To be the
same. or about the same. as last sea
son: s. per cent say that he avreagc
is so per cent, or four-iifths OF that Of
last year, and per ceat mention an
average increase Of II per cent
Second. What proportion Of IN av-
era9e crop Viii there lie.
As alluded to in former reports. it is
always difficult To carry ia the mind
iii" defined idea Of an average crop
ana 10 draw away the thonght Of a
comparison With the crop Just pre-
cedin". Making what We conceive Ia
be due allowance for this fact in
conjunction with our replies II this
inquiry we give il as the result q our
Investigations that there Viii 10 20
per cent Of IN average crop.
Third How is the quality? Are
there many blasted and poppy nuts re-
suiting from drought
ThirtY-onc per cent report The quail
! ity fair: 50 per cent that il is poor.
large proportion Of blasted and poppy
nuts, yet from our replies il seems
very poor. and per cent give quality
! as good
Fourth. What is your estimate OF
the yield per acre in bushels?
The average yield as given in reply
| is 2s bushels.
The reduction in acreage. they say.
/ Will be about 10 per cent
The crop Of 1899 was the largest
ever raised and more land WAS dcvot-
cd to the culture Of peanuts. Ia view
! OF this ana the very considerable adj
vance IN he price Of cotton at plant
inc time. Il was but natural to anti
! cipate n reduction of acreage in PEA
nuts vet from our replies il seems
I shat the reduction IS not material. be-
4 ing. We would Judge. something like
4 10 per cent.
II is in the out-turn Of the crop
+ fhat the shortage occurs. Seldom in
1 the history of the plant has il had to
H contend with such unfat orabls wealth
! or conditions. Week after week no
rain fell and the burning
+ sun dried NJ and destroy
! ed The 2crminal and producing
i faculties of the iur Peanuts require
I moisture. and If il IS withheld ~ II
/ WAS 10 an eminent degree through the
f past summer. We may not look for i
i crop. There is great uniformity in
/ the replies rs - the quality Their
I general complaint is that the NUTS are
i blasted and poupN. Z; great many one
end nuts. or kernel in one end and
nothing in the other. There s. 40 mil
\ dew mentioned and there seems to bc
/ but two qualities Of nuts. th. good
:. and The poor.
a summing mp OF the situation,
shows that tho supply of peanuts th.&
/ Year Viii % less than last season:
that lie quality is generally poor. ow-
INC 10 continued drought and that
The weld j. slightly under the aver
age.
~ larger Quantity Or oh crop peg
nuts than usual has been carried over
INTO the now crop. and these. together
with the new crou. VIII anorl such a
supply as VIII probably meet the needs
Gf the trade 1T advanced hut not fancy
figures