Some Minor Farm Crops. 



79 



from 7s. to 10s. per bushel, according to the season and supply ; 

 but in seasons when plants are scarce peppermint growers 

 require them all for themselves, and it is difficult for others to 

 get them at any price. To plant an acre about 10-12 bushels are 

 required, and the cost of planting works out at about 30s. 

 Cutting costs from 20s. to 30s. per acre. Mats run to about Is. 

 each, and the cost of distilling may be put down at \l. for 20 

 mats. The Winchester quarts cost about 6f/. each. 



Although there are public distilleries in Mitcham, most of 

 the leading growers have their own stills. A building with 

 two copper stills and other apparatus will cost from 1,200Z. to 

 1,500^. 



An acre of land may be expected to produce 20 to 60 mats, 

 which will yield from 10 to 15 lb. of oil, the quantity of it 

 depending largely on the season. In good seasons and in 

 certain districts as much as 25 lb. per acre has been obtained. 

 This, however, is small when compared with the results 

 obtained in the Vaucluse Department of France, where it is 

 stated that the yield of oil is usually 44 lb. per acre. 



The white peppermint yields about 2 to 5 lb. of oil per ton 

 of herb, and the black variety 4 to 10 lb. per ton. 



Prices. 



The appended Table, taken from The Perfumery and 

 Essential Oil Becord,''' edited by Mr. John C. Umney, F.C.S., 

 gives the average wholesale prices, and shows how they have 

 fluctuated in the last thirteen years : — 



English 

 American 



1901 



24/6 

 6/9 



In 1890 the price for English peppermint oil was as low as 

 19s. a lb., and in 1898 only 3s. ^d. per lb. was obtained for the 

 American oil. At the present time 30s. per lb. can be obtained 

 for English oil, and "^s. 6d. per lb. for American oil.' 



6 Queen Anne's Gate, 



Westminster, S.W. 



Gordon H. Grbllier, P.A.S.I. 



' An article upon this subject by the author appeared in the Journal of 

 the Board of A.!?ricultnre during 1 908. 



