The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-02
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

Let's consider the peanut. Time was when it was not such a prime favorite except with the small boy at the circus, who fed them to the elephant on his way into the big ring, when he ate his full as he scattered the hulls to the four winds.
 I wanted to get scientific line on the little nil. which is making Alabama ono of the "nuttiest states in the union and last year went way ahead of the "Gooosr State in their production. The peanut has long passed from being the standby of the vendors on the street corners who tempt Jus with their cry: Fresh, hot roasted peanuts, cents a bag" to be one of the great money crops
 
 I thought I would try out the Amsri- cana, and see what it had to say about the vulgar little nut which was breaking into society, but nary a word had it TO offer. 1 then thought I would try out the old reliable Britannica, but 'grand- ma" was equally reticent. Now, some dic- tionary or encyclopedia expert may tell me I looked under the wrong title. looked for peanuts and never even got smell, and I made up my mind that wasn't goira grubbing for "goobers.'
 had my nose tuned up for the olcr of the fragrant nut which tempts the appetite of both men and hogs, for 8 porker will wear his snout away roofing for them in field, and when once a man gets taste of them, he can't stop on. No one knows this better than .ha news butch,' who passes through tle train giving out samples. A person is safe Ii ke pitches it out of the window or under the seat, but if he puts it m his mouth, the enterprising and knowing train rest makes sale.
 I meant I had my literary nose on a hunt for the definition of the plebeian nut which Is pushing salted almonds and the rest, of the aristocrats off the table. At last, after about reaching the point when I despaired of ever discovering n line in any of the reference works tell ing about i;,> met with my reward and found tha, one bright compiler had in cluded it in lis heavy tonnes.
 
 Now, tEe beauty about an encyclopedia is it taxes 8 subject and makes it so easy to understand. If you doubt it, he-e S uh,t i. .uvc. ..paopnt tha seed of tha leguminous liant Arachis hypogea," and for fear that the ordinary reader might not be able to identify H. adds: Tt bears yellow, papilionaceous flowers" The sjs- tenn is easy after you once get on to the curves All you have to do if you havs any trouble in locating peanut is to re member that the shell is thin and ys. Jewish, and .eticulated" I always fec; so refreshed after wading up to my head in an encyc.cpedic definition of the sun, plest thing
 Now, I have written several stories about solng through the great peanut sec. tions in south Alabama, where they aic cultivated by the thousands of acres, gathered and carried to the great mills, where they are made into peanut oil or cakes. or shclled and shipped to the va-t- ous markets for many different purposes. The story of the rise and growth of the industry is enc of the marvels in ths agricultural world. and it is yet in it's in, fancy.
 It Is hardly necessary to tell you thai the peanut is generally regarded as com ing from the country which lays a large claim to distinction on account of be!np :, the hom, of the Brazil nut. It Is ao~ 1 cultivated ii, all warm regions of the world, especially in Africa, India. China the East Indies and in the tropical an subtropical rRrts of America. It Is 1T important crop in all of our scuthe.s states
 ! The peanut is rich in protein and faf and its food value. for both man aus