Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 September 1881 — Preparing Peanuts for Market. [ARTICLE]

Preparing Peanuts for Market.

Southern Farmer’s Monthly. Peanuts, to be prepared for the. market, are placed in a large cylinder,from which they enter the brushes, where every nut receives fifteen feet bf brushing before it becomes free. Then they are dropped on an endless belt, passing along at the rate of four miles an hour. . On each side of the belt,stand girls,who .with a quick motion of the hand, pick out all the poor looking nuts, allowing only Ihe best to pass the crucible. Those that do pass drop into bags on the floor below. When the bag is filled it is sewed up and branded as “cocks,’’with the figure of a rooster prominent both sides. The peas caught, up by the girls aye thrown to one side, again picked over, and the best singled out, bagged and br'anded as “ships.” These *, are as fine a nut ss the first for eating, but in tiie shape and* color do not compare with the “cock.” The third grade is brandy as “eagles.” These are picked oS|t of the cullings of the “eoCks” and “ships.” The cullinge, that are left from the “eagles” are bagged, sent to the top story what little meat is in them is shaken out by a patent shelter. The nuts being shelled by this new process the meat drops in bags below, free from dust or dirt of any kina, and it is then shipped in 200 pound sacks to the it Is bought by the confectioners for the . purpose of making taffy or peanut candy. It may be here stated that a peculiar kind of oil is extracted 1 from the meat of the nut and in this specialty a large trade is done among the wholesale druggists. There is nothing wasted, for even, the shells are made useful. They are packed in sacks tnd are sold to stable keepers tor horse beddiner and a very hcalthv bed they make.