The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1916-11-28
PEANUTS FOR PROFIT.
Rapid Increase of This Product In Last
Decade.


Rapid Increase of This Product In Last
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 1t was lost. Peanuts were intro
duced into the United States shortly
after the Mayfower landed, or at least
in the early colonial days, but did not
become Of commercial Importance I'M
til a few years after the close of the
civil war.
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 $18,OOO,0OO and is
now considerably higher in value.
AS a money crop and for feeding on
the farm the peanut is especially de-
sirable where conditions are suitable.
A growing season lasting for at least
ninety days, and preferably from Ito
to 120 days, is necessary. A long sea-
son without frost, a comparatively
light rainfall during the growing pc
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 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 q
soil that is sweet are desirable. Lime
should be used when needed to correct
the acidity Of soils in which peanuts
are to be grown.
Peanuts should be grown in rotation
with other crops, rather than as a sper
cialty. The cropping system, the time
for blowing and the preparation Of the
soil will depend somewhat upon the ro-
tation, but peanuts do best when they
follow some well cultivated crop
which has been kept free from weeds.
When barnyard manure is available 1t
should be applied to some other crop
In the rotation system and fertilizers
used with the peanuts. This Is be-
cause the use of manure has tenden-
cy to bring on weeds and to interfere
with the best growth Of the crop. A
fertilizer adapted to the production of
either Irish or sweet potatoes Is gen
orally suited for the growing Of pea
nuts, The rate of application and the
analysis will depend partly upon the
fertility Of the soil and the amount OF
fertilizer applied to ether crops In the
rotation system. Drilling in the ferti.
lizer gives better results than scatter
Ing it broadcast, as it is important that
the fertilizer be thoroughly mixed with
the soil.
AS farm crop the peanut is valua.
BILE In that it is legume, with the
same power Of gathering nitrogen as
clover, alfalfa and other similar crops
However, 1t should be borne In mind
that in order to benefit the soil the
main portion Of the roots should be
left in the soil and the tops fed to the
stock on the farm If the vines are
carefully handled during the curing
process and then put In the barns, OF
at least out Of the rain, the straw will
have a feeding value about equal to
clover hay.
For market purposes where the pea
nuts are to be roasted and sold
the large varieties, including VireAnis
Bunch and Virginia Runner, are In
great demand. The smaller varieties
including the Spanish, North Carolins
and Tennessee Red, are grown an6
shelled before selling. The Spanish Il
to be preferred when peanuts are
grown exclusively for feeding pur
poses. The Spanish variety can alst
, be grown under much broader range
of conditions than the larger varieties
and require shorter season. Will,
the average yield is only about thirty
five bushels per acre, with the proper
methods yield of sixty bushels PEE
acre and from one ton or more of for
age may be secured. Figuring the val
ne Of ton Of vines at from So to $1t
and sixty bushels of peanuts WORT
$40 to $50 the income per acre shoulf
be around $50 to $40 and the net in
come from $50 to $50.-Melvin Ryder.