Maurice Dupras, age 10, of St. Caarnes, Ont

Where did peanuts originate?

The peanut plant is a native American. Some say it got its start in the tropical regions of Brazil. At any rate, jars of peanuts have been unearthed from ancient tombs in Peru and the plant must have been widely cultivated long ages before Columbus discovered the New World. A gift of peanuts, we are told, was one of the first presents made by the Indians to the white settlers of Virginia.

Actually, the peanut is not a nut at all. The plant is a member of the pea family, which you plainly can see from the flowers. The papery shell is the pod, with the seeds inside like a pair of twin peas.