THE PEANUT: ITS CULTURE AND USES. 
By W. R. Beattie. 
INTRODUCTION. 
Very little is known regarding the early history of the pea- 
nut in the United States except that it was brought into the 
country during the period of slave importation and became 
established along the James Kiver in Virginia. It is not until 
after the Civil War that we find any record of peanuts becom- 
ing a commercial crop, and then only on a small scale. Prior 
to this time peanuts were grown in gardens for home use, and 
the nuts when parched were considered a great treat by the 
children. Soon the value of peanuts as a money crop was 
recognized and farmers began growing an acre or two for the 
market, and upon this beginning has been built an industry 
that represents ten or twelve millions of dollars annually. 
During the early days of the peanut industry only one or two 
varieties were recognized, those having the largest pods being 
known as " Virginians" and the smaller podded sorts as "Afri- 
cans." Soon the farmers observed that among the large-pod 
variety there were certain plants that were of a more compact 
or bunch habit than the general crop, which spread or ran 
upon the ground; also that these bunch plants produced 
larger pods than the runner type. Accordingly the two sorts 
were separated, and the names of "Virginia Bunch" and 
" Virginia Runner" given them. 
The habits of the peanut render it especially adapted to 
cultivation on the sandy soils throughout the Southern States, 
and the wide range of uses to which it may be put makes it a 
desirable addition to our list of farm crops. During past 
years the greater part of the commercial peanut crop has been 
produced in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, 
and Tennessee. With the boll weevil injuring the cotton 
crop of the Southwestern States the peanut promises to be- 
come an important money crop and a part of the regular farm 
rotation of this section. In many cases the peanut has proven 
fully as profitable as any other farm crop. The production of 
(5) 
View. 
