Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-03-10
Raising Peanuts for OIL IN Georgia

4 great deal OF interest is being evil
denced in peanut oil production in
Georgia at the present time. To this
end an endeavor is being made by the
State College OF Agriculture to collect
such information as will likely be
OF value and service 20 the
people OF the southeastern states
on this important subject The
following summary OF the data col
lected has been prepared by Prof. joan
r. Fsin. Of the State College Of Agri-
culture, for the benefit Of the readers of
these columns
In considering this question a distinc-
tion will have TO be made between a
temporary and a permanent opportuni-
~. Business relationships OF the
world are so upset at this time that a
good many conditions are very abnor-
NAL, and an opportunity in production
Of peanut oil might exist only tenn
porarily. The question is. ''Will it be a
permanent opportunity" In trying to
present this phase OF the subject, a sur
vey OF the field will be necessary
II might be we'll TO call attention to
the growth OF the peanut trade in this
country. Before the Civil war peanut
growing amounted to practically moth
ing. After the war there was gradual
development up TO 1880. From 1890 to
the present time the production has in
creased very rapidly. For a consider
peanut was put was consumption in its
roasted form In recent years the de-
mand from the confectioners has in
creased considerably. and a number Of
companies have created a new demand
BY the production Of peanut butter.
Just how rapidly the demand will in
crease IN the future is. OF course, hard
10 say. Production in this country dur
ing normal years just about meet de-
mands- When there is a shortage OF
the crop. importations from China and
Japan keep the nuts from going very
high in price. 1t is understood that this
year imported nuts are supplying prac-
tically all the demand west OF the Mis-
sissippi on account of the shortage Of
the Virginia crop.
In considering the use OF the peanut
for oil production, il is well to keep In
mind the competition that would have
10 be met The edible trade noted above
could not be competed with at all unless
an over-prOduction reduced the price
materially.
In this state there is an established
and growing business I'm producing
pork by grazing peanuts. As this BUSH
ness has not by any means reached its
limit. IL becomes a question whether il
would be a better policy TO push that
which we already have under way and
perfect IL, or turn aside and begin the
development OF another line of work
Another competition will come from
the imported oil manufactured from
African nuts bought for 80 cents to
80 cents per busheL This oil Is not on
the market this year on account Of the
greater demand in other countries
Another line OF work now developing
that may or may not cause competition,
Is the production Of oil from soy beans
IN the eastern part OF this country IL
s still tentative proposition and the
development has hardly gone far enough
70 show what influence ii will have on
the future Of the trade.
The controlling factors. however. in
peanut oil production will be the price
Of the cotton seed Cotton seed. being
a by-product, must always be reckoned
with. The price OF cotton seed and
consequently cotton seed oil, will domi-
nate the price OF oils from such prod
cts as peanuts and soy beans that will
have TO be raised primarily for oil pur-
poses.
While II was found that Spanish pea
nuts were being bought at $50 a ton,
which amouts to 75 cents a bushel $50
pounds per 5ushel Spanish peanuO the