The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1908-12-04

ton of nuts throughout the United
citation of their food value. The
time when nuts were considered
merely as a luxury, or as something
to be eaten out. of hand at odd times,
is rapidly passing away. In earlier
days the native hickpries, butternuts,
walnuts, chestnuts, pecans, and many
other nuts found in the United States
were to be had in country regions for
the gathering and were of no COM
mercial Importance. On the other
hand, the English walnuts Ito give
them their most common name), al
monds, cocoanuts, ETC., brought from
other countries, were relatively ex-
pensive luxuries.
Some nuts, like the native hazelnut
and beechnut, still have practically
no commercial value and, though pal
atable, are almost never offered for
sale, doubtless because they are so
small and difficult to gather in guam
tity. The chinquapin, a small nut al
lied to the chestnut, finds limited
sale in southern cities, but is doubt
less seldom if ever seen in other
markets. In general, however, condi-
tions have changed and our principal
native nuts are now staple market
commodities and bring good prices. At
the same time, owing to changes in
market conditions, and to the growing
of foreign nuts in quantity in this
country, the price of the imported nuts
has dropped so that they are well
within the reach of the majority.
From available statistics it appears
that in 1905 the total quantity of al
monds, cocoanuts, Brazil nuts, filberts,
peanuts, walnuts and other nuts,
shelled and unshelled, imported into
the United States was, in round num-
bers, S6,23S,000 pounds, with value
of $6,13S,000. In 1905 the total almond
crop in California reached 100000
pounds and the walnut crop 12,S00,000
pounds. The richest yield of peanuts
was reported from the southern states,
chiefly Virginia, Georgia and Tennes-
see, and amounted to 225,000,0OO
pounds.
The total quantity of homegrown
nuts, including both native and intro
duced varieties, must far exceed the
quantities imported, but in the nature
of the case no estimates of the total
quantities gathered and eaten are pro-
durable. When we consider the con-
stantly increasing demand for nuts
and the large quantity which we i'm
port from other countries, the posi-
bilities of the industry for the Ameri-
can nut grower are obvious. AS the
use of nuts has increased, many per
sons have turned their attention to the
growing of native and foreign nuts on
commercial scale. This work has
been forwarded by the department of
agriculture, through the bureau of
plant industry, and by the California,
Florida, Michigan and other agricul-
tural experiment stations. With nuts,
as with other crops, 1t has been found
that, by selection and breeding, i'm
proved varieties are obtainable, OF
6lLCB UCNlCl haNOib
shells, or other desirable character
istics.
The increased demand for nuts is
due in the main to two causes, namely,
a better appreciation Of their appetite
ing qualities and the numerous ways
in which they form a palatable addi-
ton to the diet of the average family,
and, secondly, to their use by the vege-
tarians and persons Of similar belief
group small in proportion to the
total population, but still fairly large
numerically-who use nuts. and more
particularly the peanut, as a substitute
for meat and other heterogeneous and
fatty foods.
Even a cursory examination Of the
Journals devoted to cookery and other
branches Of home economics and OF
the various books which are published
on the subject will show the fairly
general use of nuts for making soups,
for stufing poultry. for nut buffers.
nut salads. cakes, sailed nuts. and