308 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



Mentha longifolia, Hudson ( M. . silvestris, Linne. ) 



The " Horse-Mint." Europe, Northern Africa, temperate Asia, 

 Perennial. One of the Crisp Mints is derived from this species. 

 Hardy, like the three preceding species, to lat. 59 55' in Norway 

 [Schuebeler], 



Mentha piperita, Linne.* 



The " Peppermint." Middle-Europe. This well-known perennial 

 herb is important for its peculiar essential oil. This distilled oil 



is in considerable demand, and would be best obtained from plants 

 cultivated in mountain-regions or naturalised along forest-rivulets. 

 The annual production of oil of peppermint is estimated at 90,000 

 Ibs., two-thirds of which are prepared in the state of New York 

 [Masters]. Eminent authorities refer the Peppermint as a variety 

 to Mentha aquatica, L., the Water-Mint of Europe, North- America, 

 West- and North-Asia ; from which the true Crisp Mint (M. crispa, 

 Linne) is again derived, as well as the Bergamot-Miut (M. citrata, 

 Ehrhart). Mr. Slater's experience for years at Port Phillip has 

 been, that from a ton of the cut herb 5 to 7 Ibs. of oil can be dis- 

 tilled, worth about 35s. a Ib. ; he obtained about 3 tons of cut herb 

 from an acre. Peppermint-lozenges are particularly recommendable 

 to attendants in sick-rooms. The writing " Minth " or " Menth " is 

 preferable, the former in accordance with Hippocrates and Theo- 

 phrastos, the latter according to Plinius' writing for M. piperita. 



Mentha Pulegium, Linne. 



The true " Penny-royal." Europe, Western Asia, Northern Africa. 

 A perennial scent-herb, yielding a peculiar ethereal oil. Medicinally' 

 a powerful stimulant. Can even to some extent be utilised as an 

 insecticide. It likes moist soil. To be avoided for naturalisation on 

 pastures, as not readily repressed, and therefore admitted with some 

 hesitation. It serves as an insecticide. 



Mentha rotundifolia, Hudson. 



Western and Southern Europe, Northern Africa, Western Asia, 

 Fond of wet places, which by the culture of this and other mints 

 may be profitably utilised. In odor this mint approaches to Melissa. 

 The French and Italian Crisp Mint is partly derived from this 

 species. Closely allied to the following, and often regarded as a 

 variety of M. viridis. The Crisp Mint of Greece is M. tomentosa 

 (D'Urville). 



Mentha viridis, Linne. 



The " Spearmint." Middle and Southern Europe. Perennial. 

 A particular sort of Crisp Mint (M. crispata, Schrader) belongs to 

 this species. Readily propagated like other mints by division of 

 the root. M. viridis is used for mint sauce. 



