396 Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. [June 2, 1920. 



The Pkoduciion of Mint 'for its Oil. 



Peppermint grows must profitably on non-acid peaty soils, but if the 

 moisture is good little trouble will be experienced even on upland soils. 

 Tbere is a large market in this State for both oil and dried leaves, but the 

 crop has n^ver been cultivated to any extent except for supplying mint for 

 the vegetable market. 



The crop is propagated from roots and runners from old plantations, and 

 set in rows 3^ feet apart and 4 to 5 inches deep. The roots are carried in a 

 sack over the shoulder, and are dropped into the furrow and covered by 

 scraping the soil with the foot. One acre of old bed will provide sufficient 

 plants for 10 to 20 acres. 



Harvesting is done about the time the plant comes into bloom and before 

 the lower leaves drop. The yield of oil is always greatest in hot, dry 

 weather, and heavy rains at harvest time reduce the yield. On large areas 

 the harvesting and curing are somewhat similar to haymaking. The mint 

 may be cut with a mowing machine and allowed to lie in the swath for 

 about a day or longer according to the weather, to allow of the evaporation 

 of excess moisture and wilting of the leaves. The crop is placed in 

 windrows, cocked, and then taken to the still. If the hay is fairly dry, a 

 charge of the still (steam process) should not take longer than thirt}' to 

 foi'ty minutes, but a damp sample may require two hours. 



In the United States, where the crop is extensively grown, two crops ai'e 

 obtained annually, though the second crop is only about half the quantity of 

 the first cut. The conditions under which this crop is usually grown in 

 America are cooler than ours and we should therefore produce more crops. 

 The yield varies from 25 to 80 lb. of peppermint oil per acre, averaging 

 about 40 lb., and about 20 lb. from the second cut. The amount of hay 

 averages 1 to H tons per acre, and if dried after distilling can be fed to 

 farm stock. The plantations are profitable for eight or ten years. 



The prevailing prices are 20s, per lb. for spearmint oil and 15s. to 18s. for 

 peppermint. The market for the di-ied leaves also offers inducements to the 

 prospective peppermint-grower. Leaves at present fetch 2s. 6d. per lb. and 

 the normal pre-war figure ranged round Is. .3d. The existing supply (ais of 

 other dried herbs) is considerably smaller than the demand. — 'A. J. PiNX, 

 Inspector of Agriculture. 



Thrift Gardening. 



One way of reducing the cost of living is open to every man, woman and 

 child who can get the use of an idle plot of ground. That way lies through 

 the ])lanting and cultivation of a home garden — a thrift garden. War 

 gardens played their part in the great mobilization of resources in war 

 time — thrift gardens now have their own big job in helping households to 

 feed themselves. — Weekly Neivs Letter, U.S. Department of Agriculture. 



