420 OLERACEOUS PLANTS. 



the seeds are small, brown, or blackish-brown, and retain 

 their vitality four years. 



Propagation and Culture. It may be grown from seeds ; 

 but this method of propagation is rarely practised, as it is 

 more readily increased by dividing the roots. 



The agreeable odor, and peculiar, warm, pleasant flavor, 

 of the leaves are well known. The plant, however, is little 

 used as a pot-herb, but is principally cultivated for distilla- 

 tion. For the latter purpose, the ground is ploughed about 

 the middle of May, and furrowed in one direction, as for 

 drill-planting of potatoes, making the furrows about eighteen 

 inches apart. The best roots for setting are those of a year's 

 growth, and an acre of these will be required to plant ten 

 acres anew. These are distributed along the furrows in a 

 continuous line, and covered sometimes with the foot as the 

 planter drops the roots, and sometimes by drawing the earth 

 over them with a hoe. In about four weeks, the plants will 

 be well established, and require hoeing ; this is usually 

 performed three times during the season, and is finished 

 early in August. 



" The cutting and distilling commence about the 25th of 

 August, except in very dry seasons, when it stands two or 

 three weeks longer, and continues until the 1st of October, 

 during which period the plant is in full inflorescence, and the 

 lower leaves begin to grow sear. It is raked together in 

 small heaps, when it is suffered to wilt ten or twelve hours, 

 if convenient. 



" The next year, little is done to the mint-field but to cut 

 and distil its product. During this (the second) year, a few 

 weeds make their appearance, but not to the injury of the 

 crop, though the most careful of the mint-growers go through 

 their fields, and destroy them as much as possible. The 

 second crop is not so productive as the first. 



" The third year, little labor is required other than to har- 



