The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-01-28
RALEIGH N. C., TUESDAY, JANUARY %, 1902
The Peanut Crop.
(From Norfolk Landmark).


Messrs. Holmes and Dawson. of this
city who are recognized all over tho |
as authorities on all subjects
pertaining to the peanut crop and the
peanut trade, have prepared the follow
ing letter, reviewing the conditions at
this time which will interest dealers |
and handlers generally. They say:
For the month past or more there |
has been quite a degree of uncert ainry |
in the minds of the peanut trade as to
what iroportion of the present crop Of
peanuts grown in the State Of North
Carolina has been already marketed,
some claiming that a good part OF the
crop is yet to come in; others that TIE
crop has practically been already
moved and that there are but se"
peanuts remaining unsold. In order 10
get al somewhat of a solution of this
question and more exact status of ac-
tua, conditions we addressed 2 large
number Of inquiries to reliable corre
spondents of North Carolina. such par
ties who are in a position to know.
asking them to advise US as near
possible what percentage OF the crop has
been marketed.
IT is we'll to explain that all factory
handpicked peanuts shipped from this
section are known as "Virginia' pea
nuts are obtained in their rough
state from about sixteen counties in
Virginia and North Carolina. Peanuts
were first grown to any extent in Nir-
| ginia hence the name Virginia pea
nuts Later on. owing to the adapta
! hillty OF the soil and the profitabienosS
OF the crop, Eastern North Carolina
went largely into the raising of peanuts.
! and from this source a very large pro
portion of the supply of Virginia pea
nuts * obtained North Carolina always
| markets her crop in the early par o.
| the Shipping season, Virginia ordinarily
| pursuing the contrary course, hence the
| special interest al this time IL North
| Carolina crop movement. The replies
| to our injuries give a minimum OF IS
/ per cent. and a maximum Of 50 per cent.
| as ha ring left the country. and the aver
| age Hnen Ia bulated of SO per cent.
| IN addition to this our correspond
ents say that whereas at this time in
other seasons quite proportion Of the
/! crop was unpicked from the vines. that
now Only here and there be found
/ any farmers who have not entilc ~
| finished picking off; that what remains
70 be picked off will be done by hand
and not by machine, indicating that
| there is not enough work TO JUSTLY own
erS or runners of machines to nut them
into CLeration. We consider these csti-
| mates and opinions as conservative and
| worthy of thought and consideration as
our cores spOndcntS almost as en- entirety J
Lave nc holdings of peanuts. having
shipped and sold as fast as picked Of
consequently no long interest TO care
| COR
| We now turn to conditions a. til.
markets themselves. So far as We car
estimate there are at this time in tho
| hands Of commission merchants il Nor
folk unsold, not over 5000 bags. as com
pared With a stock in their hands. anf
| in transit at same time last vear o
Something like 100 600 bags.
In View of these short crop cordi-
tions the question naturally arises, WHY
is the market quiet and inactive a tnis
inc?
I'VE submit the following reasons:
list The North Carolina crop has
teer marketed under unusually favor
able weather conditions. which favore,
q rapid picking and harvesting. Sc tha
he whole crop has been practically plac
! ed Oh the market at one time all mold
ers being willing to sell at the advanced
-rices.
"1d--It has uniformly been the prac
tice Of the peanut farmers in Virginie
| tWc llcan the larger OneS) to wait fo
a cent market and when that mari
was reached. to close out their holdings
That oint having been attained, the,
are disposed to be free sellers, particul
arly in view of the fact that last seasoI
they lost by holding too long. Natural.
| the cleaners and handlers of facJoC1
, goods cannot take care Of the two crop
of North Carolina and Virginia in tTt
, to three months. even though it is
short crop. There must be a correspond
irs outrut to the trade which canno; b,
so easily compressed into so short
time. The factories operate all the yea
round. but. like other lines of business
have their limit Of capacity for the tim
being.
The trade is not taking the cleanc'
goods as fast as they did last year. 70
the reason that they arc now buying OF
4 limited scale and from hand to mouth,
whereas last year. when peanuts Wei
cheaper they bought ahead of their need
and on a speculative basis It must =
remembered, however that because 9
the exceptionally fine quality Of peanut
this season there is q prOportionatcl
larger number of bags which go into fac
tory branded handpicked peanuts thai
was the case last season. shclling stccl
and inferior grades being scarce.
1t will take great many peanut
TO fill tho demands of he trade lac
on, when receipts Will have Stacked W
but for tho present it is well to rcnlcla
Der that the factories can take care .
just so many peanuts at the time. "
conclude that the Situton is strOD
one from q crop sandpoint. and Wit
J., ,~f
: er prices in the near future
"HOLMES & DAWSON"