406 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



660. SPEARMINT 

 MENTHA SPICATA L. 



Found in patches on the beach on each side of the lake, on 

 shore by Murray's, and on the beach beyond Norris Inlet. On 

 the east shore there is a long continuous patch on the sandy beach. 

 One of the most delightfully fragrant of the mints. 



661. PEPPERMINT 



MENTHA PIPERITA L. 



Patches of this plant are found in various places along the shore 

 of the lake, both on the east and west sides. A large patch was 

 found growing in low ground in waste places some little distance 

 northeast of the lake. Found growing at Long Point, north of 

 the icehouses, near the Culver railroad bridge, etc. Has a long 

 flowering period, from July to September, and propagates freely 

 by underground runners. 



In some parts of the state, about the small lakes, this is becom- 

 ing an important crop. The black soil of the flat lake plains which 

 are too low to drain, and which are for this reason unsuitable for 

 any other crop, yields good financial returns when set out to pep- 

 permint. We saw such peppermint fields around small lakes north 

 of Maxinkuckee and were told they were profitable. When the 

 peppermint has reached its growth, the distiller comes around with 

 a portable still and distils out the oil, which brings good prices. 

 The refuse left after distilling is said to make good hay, keeping 

 horses sleek and glossy and in excellent condition. 



Some of the moist waste places about the lake might yield profit- 

 able returns if this plant were cultivated on them. 



662. AMERICAN WILD MINT 



MENTHA CANADENSIS L. 



Common in moist ground along the shore of the lake, on both 

 sides, as Long Point and near the Maxinkuckee road. Plentiful 

 by McSheehy's pier, back of Winfield's, near the Culver railroad 

 bridge, on the flat east of Lakeview Hotel, in the marsh south of 

 Farrar's, at the edge of Overmyer's woods, and along the beach 

 below Norris Inlet. One of the few native species of the genus, 

 nearly all our members of this genus having been brought over 

 from Europe. 



