.362 Journal of Agriculture , Victoria. [ioth June, 1912. 



and smooth surface, otherwise the cutting is difficult. Little, in the way 

 of cultivation can be done after planting, but the soil round the crop 

 may be kept stirred with a fork, so as to give the young plant freedom in 

 pushing out its runners for the summer cutting. In some cases, in fairly 

 level land and dry situations, furrows are run between the rows and water 

 run down; but where there is danger of " scour," this must be avoided. 

 Light forking will materially assist the plant in its development prior to 

 cutting. 



The sets may be dropped in a shallow furrow and the soil turned down 

 with a plough at the distance decided upon, but the land must be left 

 with a level surface for the reason stated above. The time of planting 

 must depend largely on the parent plant, as the runners have to be taken 

 from the season's growth, and it is undesirable to rob i't to the extent of 

 impairing its yield for the coming harvest. Li Gippsland, and other 

 timbered localities, ear'ly in November would be time enough, in ordinary 

 seasons. If the treatment of the soil has been suitable, there should be 

 a fair cutting in March, and this may be treated for oil extraction straight 

 away. The yield should then be sufficient to meet the expenses of labour 

 for the first year's working. 



After cutting the first year, the plants are, in .son^e cases, covered up 

 with a little loose earth, which gives them a start in making runners for 

 producing the second crop. When the plants have been set out at a 

 sufficient distance apart a cultivator should be worked between the rows. 

 It will be found more economical to arrange this distance and employ 

 horse labour, than to work by hand. After the second cutting, 

 the land may be ploughed and the plants covered, and being 

 well established they will stand rough treatment as far as the cultivation 

 is concerned ; this applies to all subsequent seasons. It may be found 

 advantageous to renew the [ilantation every five or six vears, as new fields 

 will be found to give better results. 



Harvesting. 



The time of harvesting caraiot be definitely stated but the crop should 

 be taken in full bloom. This is usually late in spring or early in autumn. 

 The crop is usually cut with a hook, .sometimes with a short-bladed scythe, 

 frequently with a nipping machine ; it is gathered in rows, then placed on 

 sheets of hessian, and carried direct to the still. While many allow it to 

 dry somewhat, asserting that there is no loss of oil, but only moisture, in 

 the evaporation, others again claim that this is a mistake. It may not 

 always be convenient to distill the whole crop in the green state; but there 

 is no doubt that, where this can be done, it is advisable to do so. What- 

 ever is done, care must be taken to prevent self heating of the produce, 

 which readily occurs if it is kept in heaps while green ; and it must not be 

 permitted to get wet by rain and become mouldy, as the oil is affected 

 thereby, both in quantity and quality. 



After Treatment. 



The bulky nature of the mint crop necessitates the treatment of it 

 on or near the place at which it is produced. For this purpose, a fair- 

 sized still is necessary — the size must be regulated by the amount of crop. 



