The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1916-02-16
Farmer and Merchant Get Together.
Editor Times:

Editor Times:
In regard to planting Spanish Pea
nuts in Clareadon county on more ex-
ceusive scale than heretofore, l desire
tc saw that, for more than six years in
vestigation of this valuable plant there
seems to be nothing with more promise
TO our farmers as third cash crop
than this type OF Peanut. Many of our
farmers have long since recognized the
superior feeding value of Spanish Pea
nuts. and especially patches for hog
ging, and have used them largely for
this purpose, but, few If any know
that this same little shriveled, measly
looking Spanish Peanut now has an all
the year round cash market and. is
growing more in demand every wear.
These Peanuts are now being used by
the Sea Island Cotton Oil Co., OF Char
lesion, S. C. who make both oil and
valuable stock feed from them.
Our land is admirably adapted to the
growing of these Peanuts and, in view
of there being certain cash market
for them they will often turn out more
net cash returns to the acre than any
crops we now plant, Their usefulness
as Insurance against failure OF oiher
grain crops cappoe be successfully dis
puted. Peanuts being legume, hence
nj roeer gatherer is land lmprover.
Where Peanuts are planted, the use OF
lime, which is very necessary leaves
such land in excellent shape for subse-
ouent crops OF oats, wheat or iegumes,
such as clovers. etc.
The length of time it takes TO make
a crop of Spanish Peanuts, about four
mouths, is another big factor TO con>ic-
er in their favor. the same land eau
produce market crop and ho[gin2
crop in one year If need be, or if the
Peanut land is to be used for some 9TH
er crop after first crop IS gathered
there will be ample time 10 put such
land in perfect shape for oats, rye,
wheat or cioverS.
after oats. q crop of Peanuts can OF
ten be made and gathered, but OF course
there is more or less risk OF early frost
running the hay crop. in which case
there will still be ioe hog fattening
crop LETT. From my observations the
only objection TO planting much ac-
reage has been the question OF getting
the nuts picked, where they were TO be
marketed. This is ''the milk 10 the
cocoanut." We must have the ma
chinery to do this work.
II our farmers will avail themselves
of this opportunity TO promote their
material welfare now IS the time 10
show their faith by their works, or 10
palmer language, how many dollars
worth do our farmers want this new
money-making, soil-improvins, failure
insurance crop?
If the farmers show au Interest in
this effort 10 create safer farming | am
sure the merchants will not be found
lacking in generous cooperation. We
need the machinery to put this matter
firmly on its feet. Such machinery,
sufficient to serve an area OF about i've
miles around Manning will cost APP
proximately. (s9O0ool nine hundred
dollars.
No one or two men can foot this bill,
but a number of Interested people can,
and should do SO and, since there is
hardly one in this section whom great
er prosperity would not affect, may we
all hope for real get-together among
our farmers and merchants with view
to pushing this very important matter
to successful issue.
Yours very truly,
G. r. Breedin,
Manning. S. c.. Feb. Is, 1915.