The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1920-01-29
FARMERS SALVATION
IN PEANUT RAISING
South Carolina Produced Over 100000 Bushels of Peanuts
With Culture on Increase-Peanut Bank Similar to
Virginia Institution, Recommended by Harris.
Registered Hogs in Weevil Fight.

The way of salvation for the South
Carolina farmer during the era of the
boil weevil lies in the substitution of
some other crop for cotton, says B..
Harris, state commissioner of agrl-
culture, commerce and industries, in
his annual report of the department S
work. Chief among the crops recon-
mended by Mr.. Harris is peanuts
which, Commissioner Harris thinks,
will satisfactorily replace cotton seed
in manufacture of oil. The South
Carolina mills, it is estimated, will
need 100000 tons to maintain full
time operation. Live stock raising
and varied grain culture are also rec
commended as anti boil weevil meas
ures. South Carolina, the commits
sioner says, can produce any crop OF
temperate climate and has already
made remarkable records in corn pro-
duction.
Commissioner Harris's report fol-
lows in full:
1t is estimated that South Carolina
this year produced 69S,000 bushels OF
peanuts. That is quite an increase
over former years and will still be
further increased in 1920. The cot
ton seed oil mills, realizing that the
crush of next season will be greatly
reduced on account of the boil weeVll
cutting down the crop, see the neces-
sity of having a substitute for cotton
seed. Three years ago the oil mills
advocated very widely the planting
of soy beans. This department warm
ly indorsed the idea. 1t is stated
that the planting of soy beans was
greatly interfered with because OF
the lack of proper harvesting ma
chinery. The department deplores
that fact, for there is no doubt but
that the soy bean would be better
for the farmer. For while it might
not produce as much oil, and there
fore would not Immediately become.
as desirable a cash getter, yet the
soy bean puts back into the soil,
while the peanut constantly takes the
soil and must be followed with COM
mercial fertilizer. It is obvious, there
fore, that it is easier to get oil mills
and fertilizer makers to interest them
selves in peanuts. The soy bean is
not only a remarkable soil enricher,
but it is a great forage crop.
Added Million Bushels.
The South added million bushels
to the peanut crop in 1919. Ala
bama leads as a producer, but her
crop is reported to show decrease
of 100000 bushels this year. But
the states west of the Mississippi,
Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas,
show great increase. Texas alone
has an increase of 100000 bushels.
The estimated production by states is
as follows: Virginia, 4,795,0O0
bushels; North Carolina, 5,493, 900;
South Carolina, $4,000; Georgia, g.
$4,000; Florida, 5,336,oo0; Tennes-
see, 100000; Alabama, 14,70S,000;
Mississippi, $4,000; Louisiana, S1,-
900; Texas, 1s,47S,OO0; Oklahoma,
$4,000; Arkansas, 9S6,000.
The commissioner while in Texas
the national good roads con-
vention, gathered quite lot of infor-
nation about peanuts which he in
tended to give to the people Of the
State, in. the way of talks at county
fairs and such gatherings, but he was
prevented from doing so by the Sc
we're and prolonged illness, which
practically incapacitated him for
more than two months.
The oil mills in South Carolina
need 100000 tons of them to keep
running all the year and are willing
to pay good prices for them at all
times. The average price during the
last three years for farmers stock
was over 500 per ton, and today
they are worth $500
The commissioner observes that
the farmers of the State must organ
ize for self protection in marketing
peanuts just as they would have to
do in marketing cotton, tobacco or
cotton seed. While, no doubt, there
is great and universal interest in the
welfare of the farmer, yet it Is the
nature of any individual or enter
prise, no matter how altruistic, to
look out for his own interests when
the farmer is being given a little
friendly turn.
Peanut meal has proved to be
satisfactory and profitable food for
finishing beef cattle. The North
Carolina oYner;ment sfation at Edge