Although peanuts were found native in South America, they
are now grown in almost every country that has warm weather. India produces the
most peanuts. China’s production is next, followed by the United States.
The peanut is special in more ways than one. It can be
eaten raw, boiled, roasted, or fried. Hundreds of widely different products
have been made from it. Carver, an American scientist, set himself the task of
discovering new used for eating and for many other products.
Peanuts are very highly nutritious and are
also high in protein（蛋白质）. Americans use about seven ? tenths of their
protein in the form of meat. In India, where the poor can’t pay for meat or
milk, peanut meal and peanut milk have been produced. These have been a great
help to the poor.
New products are continually being made from peanuts, among
them peanut cheese and a powder that becomes peanut butter when water is added.
The fact is that peanuts are so healthy that they were used by astronauts. The
unusual nut that isn’t a nut is one of nature’s most amazing gifts.
