The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1916-12-01
PEANUTS FOR PROFIT.
Rapid Increase Of This Product In Lass
Decade.


No one knows where the peanut
originated. The family history OF the
popular and ever present "goober- has
been traced TO tropical America, but
there II was lost. Peanuts were intro
duced into the United States shortly
after the Mayflower landed, or at least
In the early colonial days, but did not
become Of commercial Importance UNI
III few years after the close OF the
civil war.
During the last ten years the pro
duction and use OF peanuts have IN
creased rapidly. Thousands OF bush
els are now shelled for use in the man
ufacture OF CONNECTIONS and food prod
ucts. including peanut butter. The
value OF the peanut crop In the United
States IN 1909 was S1s.000,000 and is
now considerably higher In value.
As n money crop and for feeding on
the farm the peanut is especially de-
slrable where conditions are suitable.
I A growing season lasting for nj least
ninety days, and preferably from ITO
/ to 40 days. Is necessary. A long sea
I son without frost. comparatively
light rainfall during the growing pc
I Rod and high temperature are neces.
sary.
The soil should be OF sandy, loamy
nature. preferably OF light or gray
ish color. Dark soils have n tendency
to dIscolor the shells and reduce the
market value OF the crop However,
when the crop is being fed TO stock
the staining OF the shells Is OF little
Importance. A well drained clay sub
soil Is best, but the crop may be grown
under a wide range OF soil conditions.
A reasonable amount OF humus and u
soil that is sweet are desirable, Lime
should be used when needed 20 correct
the acldity OF soils In which peanuts
arc to be grown.
Peanuts should be grown In rotation
with other crops. rather than as spe-
cialty. The cropping system, the time
for blowing aud the preparation OF thu
soil will depend somewhat upon the TO
tation, but peanuts do best when they
follow some well cultivated croT
which has been kept free from weeds
When barnynrd manure IN available II
should be applied 10 some other croI
In the rotation system and fertilizers
used with the peanuts. This In be
cause the use OF manure has a tenden
cy to bring ON weeds and 10 interfere
with the best growth Of the crop. A
] fertilizer adapted Ia the production OF
/ either Irish or sweet potatoes II gen
! orally suited for the growing Of pea
I nuts. The rate OF application and III,
] analysis viii depend partly upon III,
fertility OF the soil and the amount OF
J fertilizer applied To ether crops In III,
l rotation system. Drilling In the ferti
j lizer gives better results than scatter
ing II broadcast. as Il is important thai
the fertilizer ba thoroughly mixed with
Z the soil.
As n farm crop the peanut IL vnlun
BILE In that II II iegume. with th'
same power OF gathering nitrogen nj
clover, alfalfa and other similar crops
j However, It should DO borne In minC
that In order 10 benefit the soil tn,
j main portion OF the roots should b,
Z left in the soil and the tops fed 10 tn,
!, stock on the farm II the vines ar,
Z carefully handled during the curinl
process and then put In the barns. Of
at least out OF the rain. the straw vii
4 have a feeding value about equal /,
clover hay.
For market purposes where the pea
nuts are TO be roasted and sold