The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1904-05-12
PEANUTS OF VIRGINIA
of ola Dominion--tfabits
of the Coober.

|
The peanut counties OF Virginia are
the tldewater ones OF surry. Isle OF
Wight. Nansemond and Southampton:
and these four counties probably pro-
luce more peanuts than any other area
of equal size In the world, says the
Southern Workman. In Smithneld, Isle
II Wight county-an historic little town,
remote from the railway--is to be found
The largest peanut factory in existence
owned by one company, and the head of
the firm, Mr.. p d. Gwaltney, Is known
as the peanut king OF the world" The
yearly output of this establishment
averages $4,000 bags Of peanuts, valued
Al $500 900, They are shipped by boat
10 Norfolk. which is the largest market
for this product in the United States.
This country furnishes about 100000
900 pounds OF peanuts yearly. which is
pne-sixth OF the entire crop Of the world.
Small quantities OF peanuts are raised In
number OF other counties IN Virginia.
and the industry has attained consider
able Importance In North and South cRs.
olina and In east Tennessee.
The home OF the peanut or ground
pea talso often called plndar and GOO
oer) Is believed TO be Brazil. although II
very soon spread 10 Africa. China, Ja-
pan and India, and was recognized as
valuable agricultural product in these
countries long before Il was cultivated
IN a large scale In its native soil, which
Tas not until the year 1870 In the old
world however, Il has always been
planted and harvested for the sake oi
the oil that Il yields, this Is said 10 rival
olive oil In quality and TO be used Tor
the same purposes. The nuts raised In
the east are far richer In oil than the
American varieties.
The most popular Of the American peo.
nuts is the Virginia running variety"
Il Is a leguminous plant having leaves
resembling those OF the alfalfa, but
borne on wide spreading branches which
grow fat on the ground The blossom is
bright yellow and Is formed at the end Of
long tube having the oyary at It's base
After the flower has fallen its stalk
elo2gates and binds downward, push.
lnr It's way several inches into the
ID Here the ovnry enlarges and de-
veiops into the well-irown pod. Tho
pod and nut Of the Virflnla variety are
twice as large as those Of the North Car
oiina or African peanut The Spanish /
uuts. usually sold only after being
fhelled and salted. are still sE nller. but |
II excellent flavor Tennessee has two |
varieties called the white ard the red, |
the kernels Of the latter having dark
red skin
smithnold and the couGtry surround /
tng Il may be regarded as typical II the |
peanut section Here many farms q from |
50 to 100 acres are given up 10 peanut /
culture As the American trade de- I
mands bright-colored shell and the
pod takes on the color Of tho ground in |
which 4 grows the soil necessary for /
the most marketable nuts Is light.
andy loan. Lime Is an essential In. |
gredient and when lacking is often sup i
piled by applying burned oyster shella /
The soil must be KEEP, light and frlabls /
or the oyary cannot bury Itself ard de. I
velon TITO pod. On the smithheld I
arms and others IN eastern virginia the
seed Is put into the rround early ia MAJ. I
be Kernels belnf r'srted With the rlins
On; two bushels q cuts IN the pod are
required TO SOW one acre. The Virginia
'unuire variety ls usually planted r.
-3ws s-on fwo ara ? heif 10 three feet
70-t tAe b.snts r. ne rows tayirrp-
.-frsr sist of - to ssf-etas n
-srra ifre -leif 80. rrt .ivfilo-
+ reeessarv prf q lsa r. Jolly the
3ats e~e ee~frf -'.s f-ilese greer
svfs And tsiiow tleeorrs
IT, noeFnsturetvf5s middle G. Cc'c-
f- vr he hsrrts'isr seRs0a bsrirf
'iress ~ tort ne1th Frosi
e ,4tr - Nsfs rUt whleh
nH' @f's- = o. ffthf reerFd he
SEQ At-s esr fsoni thfs ,surra