Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-02-26
QUESTION AND ANSWER DEPARTMENT.
The Origin and Demonstration of the Peanut

as human food has been such in the past
as to effectually prevent this. Since there
is almost an unlimited area OF country
admirably adapted to its growth, not
only In the United States, but In foreign
lands as well, and since its cultivation Is
not difficult, there is no reason why It
should not be grown extensively enough
to meet all the demands for human food
and commercial industries which may be
developed. The highly nutritious value OF
the peanut and its favor among all peo-
pie who are familiar with II lend color to
the belief that its cultivation under the
best modern practice will long remain
profitable business, and should stimulate
and encourage many farmers who are
favorably situated to devote a portion Of
their land to this important crop. More
over. the peanut has some special ad-
vantages which make its utilization in
rotation peculiarly desirable. 1t belongs
to the family Of legumes, and has the
power of gathering atmospheric nitrogen
from the air in very considerable Quantl-
ties, and It produces a rich and nutritious
hay valuable for the maintenance Of live
stock. Since It is adapted for growth on
rather thin and sandy soils as rule de-
ficient in vegetable matter, its power OF
largely supplying its own needed nitrogen
from the inexhaustible stores OF the air
is most Qe6lEdDle
COMPOSITION.
The richness of the peanut as a food IL
better appreciated when II is stated that
the kernels contain about % per cent OF
protein. 40 per cent OF fat, and only IA
per cent of carbohydrates. Peanut vines
with the leaves contain between II and II
per cent Of protein, s to per cent OF fat.
and q to 80 per cent OF carbohydrates.
They are thus more nutritious than timo-
thy hay and should rank with that made
from red clover Peanut meal, which IL
the residue after the oil has been ex-
tracted, Is a foodstuff Of high value and
is appreciated and extensively used la
foreign countries. It contains something
like SO per cent Of protein, per cent OF
fat, and about q per cent Of cerbohy-
drates. and therefore ranks above cotton
seed meal which is one Of the richest
concentrates found on the market today
Like other legumes, the peanut contains
considerable amounts of nitrogen. phos-
phoric acid and potash, the latter two Of
necessity having to be largely supplied
70 the soil in which IL thrives best In
commercial form. But on the whole, the
PEANUT, as seen from the foregoing state
ments is one of the most desirable and
satisfactory crops which can be grown
SOIL AND CLIMATE.
The peanut prefers a rather sandy.
loamy soil which should contain enough
vegetable matter TO make it light and
porous, and also to prevent its becoming
too dry. Since the trade demands a light
colored shell. nuts of equal flavor and
quality grown on other soils do not find
ready sale, and 1t may be proper to
state at this time that the peanut can be
grown on a very wide range Of soils, pro-
vided they contain a sufficient quantity
Of lime This information should encour-
age many who only wish to grow limited
areas, either for grazing down by hogs
or for home use, to experiment with this
important crop. There is an abundance
Of good peanut soil throughout the At
lantic seaboard. This area extends from
New Jersey to Florida, and there is also
much land on which this crop may be
cultivated profitable in the Mississippi
valley. Only a small proportion Of the
available land is now being titled.
The peanut will thrive under great
variety of climatic conditions provided
there is a season of at least FIVE months
free from frosts. II has been thought By
many that the peanut only grows well In
, a warm climate. but this is an error since
the nut develop chiefly during the cool
weather in the late summer and early au-
tumn. The weather conditions most Ia
vorable to maximum production are an
early spring. warm, even summer temper
ature with a wen distributed rainfall and