aoTH June, 191^-] Mint Ctdtivation. 365 



Extract from the Royai Commission's Report on Vegetable 



Products. 



(Evidence given \)y the late Joseph Bosisto, Esq., C.M.G., M.P.) 



Now peppermint will grow on loamy and moi.st lands, and grow in 

 abundance ; but, like everything else, it wants proper gardening, taking 

 care of, and keeping free from weeds. Its habitat is in loamy and moist 

 lands. If this be neglected, it will scon lose its fragrance and flavour. 

 The districts of Melbourne, Mount iNIacedon, and North Gippsland were 

 tried, and that from North Gippsland was the best. Even in England 

 the qualities vary in value; thus Mitcham oil realizes 40s. per lb., while 

 Cambridge brings only 33s. per lb., American i6s. per lb., and French 

 10s. per lb. I sent home to London a large quantity that I myself dis- 

 tilled, but other persons grew. I offered to distil it free, provided thev 

 would supply me with the material, and many of them did so — four or 

 five — and here are the reports which I received from home relative to the 

 peppermint. I forwarded several samples, together with the followinj\ 

 letter : — 



" I lierewith semi you a s;imj)le of .m cssenti:il oil of peppermint, distilled from 

 the green and cultivated jjlant grown in the mountainous districts cf Victoria, with 

 a request that you will favour mc= ^vith an opinion as ta its quality and marketable 

 value if forwarded in large quantities." 



Here are the reports. One is from W. J. Busii and Company, one of 

 the largest essential oil buyers in England : — 



" We consider it very good quality — about enual to our Cambridge mint. We 

 had submitted to us lozenges (Meggeson and Company), three kinds : one lot con- 

 taining Mitcham oil, another lot con'taining Australian, and another containing 

 Hatchkiss' (America). We picked out those made with the American at once as the 

 worst, but were wrong with the other two, for we judged the Australian oil-made 

 lozenges to be the Mitcham and vice versa. We think 2i;s. to be an outside price 

 tj be expected at first, but will afterwards improve in price. There is a herby 

 flavour about it that ma}' be got over by cultivation." 



Messrs. Price and Hickman report : — 



" We have examined the Australian oil of peppermint, and consiiler it to be of 

 ■excellent quality, and but little inferior to Mitcham oil. If it could be produced 

 a trifle less yellow in colour, we have no doubt we could dispose of it in this markiit 

 at about 27s. 6d. per lb. In its present state, we think it would be worth 25s." 



Another firm report : — 



" It certainly is the best foreign oil we hove seen ; but still it is foreign, and '.ve 

 ■doubt if at first it can compete with the English. We think it will soon take a high 

 place." 



Now Cambridge mint is the second quality, onl} second to the best 

 Mitcliam 



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