79 
From the data in the above table it appears that the fruit juices are 
the most expensive sources of protein among the fruits and their 
products and that dried fruit is the cheapest, although the latter is far 
outranked in this respect by the nuts. 
The average price per pound of the protein of nuts ranges higher 
than the corresponding average of meats, hut the cost (36 cents) per 
pound of peanut protein is lower than that reported for meats, fish, 
egg^, milk, dairy products, prepared cereals, and gluten flour. The 
only foods mentioned in the table which furnish protein at a less cost 
than peanuts are the flours and dried beans. 
The nuts are the cheapest source of energy for the strict fruitarian, 
the peanut ranging far ahead of any other variety. The price. 3.6 
cents for 1,000 calories of energy, recorded for peanuts is considerably 
less than the corresponding cost noted for any of the animal foods, 
and is below that given in the table for potatoes at 90 cents per bushel. 
Wheat flour supplies energy more cheaply than peanuts, but the cost 
of 1,000 calories, when supplied by sugar at 6 cents and by dried 
beans at 5 cents per pound, approaches very closely to the cost when 
furnished by peanuts. The peanut deserves special mention because 
it is the cheapest of the domestic nuts, containing the highest percent- 
age of protein, with maximum fuel value and minimum refuse. 
As may be seen by a reference to the table, 10 cents will purchase 
more protein and energy when expended for the flours and meals than 
in any other way. but it must be remembered in this connection that 
these are the raw materials requiring considerable preparation before 
they are palatable. This is not necessary with fruits and nuts, except 
in the case of the peanut, which is usually roasted before it is considered 
palatable by most persons, though there are those who prefer it raw. 
While it is true that 10 cents will buy more animal protein than 
fruit protein, it will on the average purchase fully as much energy 
when spent for fresh fruits and more in the case of dried fruits than 
when expended for lean meats. When considering nuts it is readily 
observed that 10 cents will buy about the same amount of nut protein 
as of animal protein, except in case of cheese and skim milk. If 
spent for peanuts, it will purchase more than twice the protein and six 
times the energy that could be bought for the same expenditure for 
porterhouse steak. 
It is of more than passing interest to note that 10 cents worth of 
peanuts will contain about 4 ounces (120 grams) of protein and 2.767 
calories of energy, which is more protein than that furnished by any 
of the diets and more energy than most of the diets used in the experi- 
ments here reported. Although peanuts supply protein and energy 
for a smaller sum than bread, they are outranked by dried beans, which, 
at 5 cents a pound, will supply for 10 cents over 200 grams of protein 
and 3.<>4<> calories of energy. If more peanuts and dried beans had 
