MINT. 199 



after being allowed to rot, is mixed with farmyard manure, then 

 distributed over the fields and ploughed in. 



The yield of oil varies considerably according to the weather, 

 being much larger in proportion to the quantity of plant when the 

 summer has been dry. The average yield is stated above. The 

 oil, on keeping, much improves in mellowness, even if stored for 

 so long a period as ten or fourteen years. The English oil 

 commands by far the highest price, but the acreage under 

 cultivation is comparatively small to that in America and 

 in Japan. The English oil is frequently adulterated with 

 American and Japanese oil to such an extent as to be no longer 

 recognisable. 



Distillation of oil of peppermint was first accomplished in 

 America by a Mr. Burnett in the year 1816, in the County of 

 Wayne, State of New York, wlio collected on the banks of a little 

 stream sufficient wild plants to produce about 40 pounds of the 

 oil. In the year 1835 the industry was established in Michigan, 

 in St. Joseph's County, on White Pigeon Prairie, about two miles 

 north of a village of that name, a distillery being erected 

 the following year. Up to this time, and for ten years 

 later, the distilling apparatus used was very crude. Distillation 

 by diffusion of steam through the plants was commenced ilT 1846, 

 and is the system now in use. 



The principal peppermint plantations in America are now in 

 Wayne County, Xew York State, and in the State of Michigan. 

 It is also grown in a few Counties in Ohio and in some parts of 

 Canada (Ontario). At diffeient times the magnitude of the business 

 and the limited area within which it was carried on, led to 

 extensive speculations. At one time the production of the entire 

 Wayne County was controlled by a single firm, who contracted 

 with the large growers to discontinue the cultivation of mint for 

 five years. 



There are now under cultivation of peppermint in Wayne 

 County 1076 acres of old plants 

 and 1119 „ of new 



2195 acres. 

 Calculating the yield of one-year-old plants at 24 lbs., and of 

 two-year-old plants at 8 lbs. per acre, the probable yield of 1893 

 may be estimated as follows : — 



