Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-07-25
GROWING PEANUTS.
That Crop Increased Wonderfully in the
South This Year.

OVutiI IHlS iCoit
The growing Eo1 peanuts promises
soon to be the second or third crop OF
Importance in the south, if the in
creased acreage devoted to them grows
for few years longer as it has grown
the past year or two.
In many sections of the south the
boil weevll has made the successful
growing of cotton very difficult and as
a result many farmers have turned to
peanuts and they are finding them a
very profitable crop.
Texas has planted more than 6OO,
acres to peanuts this year and the in
creased acreage is so great that the
estimate OF the entire south this year
has been placed at more than 70 mil
lion bushels.
The oil compressed from peanuts
forms a very important part of the
food of the nation. while many bushels
are consumed IN the manufacture of
peanut butter, which Is very health
full and nutritious food. The greater
part OF the oil goes into the manufac-
ture of oleomargarine-the lower
grades being used fol- making soap.
Most of the peanut oil 10 shipped to
Chicago, which is the principal market
in this country for that product. The
main market for peanuts is in Virginia,
where the Price Is fixed for the crop
for practically the whole United
States.
A single manufacturer of peanut
butter uses more than 200 carloads of
shelled nuts year and expects soon to
use 500 cars. They are one of the most
profitable crops that can be grown for
tattening hogs as they put on flesh
very rapidly and little corn hardens
the meat and makes it equal to the
best corn. fed meat.
The meal that is lett after the oil is
extracted Is an excellent stock food as
we'll as a fertilizer as it IS high in pro-
tein and nitrogen.
Before the war commenced the
United States imported more than a
million and quarter gallons OF pea
nut oil and as millions pounds OF nuts.
Since the war opened the imports have
been very light as they have been used
for food by the warning nations.
The earliest maturing kind and the
kind that brings the top of the market
is the tennessee Red Spanish peanut.
It will mature on this plateau. and 1T
should, and doubtless will, within the
next few years, become very import
ant farm crop tor this section.
Peanut butter is recognized as one OF
the most he althtul as we'll as nutritious
foods available. The main reason it
has not been more extensively used
and more generally known is that the
peanut butter sold by the groceryman
is more expensive than most persons
can stand. 1t is very easy to make.
however. With one of the common
small food choppers that IS used tor
grinding sausage and other meats, the
nuts can be ground into peanut butter
with perfect ease. The nuts must be
roasted, shelled and the inside skin re-
moved before grinding for butter. A.
ter the nuts are ground little olive
oil or common butter 10 added and It 10
ready to serve.
II the people of this section would
grow the nuts for home food It would
not only reduce the cost OF LIVING but
add to the daily rarien fosd that can
not DO surpassed for whoiesoneness
and Asalthfulness.
Peanuts grow best on sandy land to
which some lime has been added.
When properly cultivated on suitable
ground they produce from Is to 40
bushels Is of nuts IN the hull. The tops
make excellent feed for stock and as
the peanut is a nitrogen gatherer they
help to improve tho land IN the same
way that soy beans. pease and other
leGumes do. Why not try some anoth-
er year and live more at home and fer
less expense.